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In the study of urban development, it is very important to evaluate the influence of production factors reasonably and efficiently for the region to achieve efficient development. The principal aim of this investigation is to amalgamate the conventional measurement model characterized by robust interpretability with the non-parametric model characterized by limited interpretability, thereby enhancing the precision of research outcomes. Towards this objective, the study employs an optimized directional distance function integrated with a global Malmquist–Luenberger index to formulate a comprehensive total factor productivity measurement framework. In elucidating the homogeneous attributes of regions, departing from prior methodologies reliant on manual or direct algorithmic partitioning, this paper employs the K-means clustering algorithm for index discernment, abstracting the concept of K-means clustering centroids to encapsulate regional homogeneity, thereby delineating results through the visualization of regional development potential maps and the evolution of centroid-based clustering trend maps. The findings of the investigation illuminate common patterns of change across disparate regions, proposing a strategy for leveraging regional resource endowments towards a cohesive framework, thereby transcending constraints imposed by production efficiency limitations. Amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study draws upon provincial-level data spanning from 2000 to 2018 in China. The conclusive analytical outcomes underscore the pivotal role of energy factors in regional development efficiency, particularly within high-potential development regions, followed by the capital and labor factors. Concurrently, the study discerns a discernible hierarchical pattern among areas of development potential, which exhibits correlation with factor mobility dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of China's economy has been accompanied by high levels of energy consumption and pollution. This development mode poses great challenges to the sustainable development of China's economy and environment, and it also creates contradictions in regional environmental governance. To realize healthy, harmonious and sustainable economic development, improving technology, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions have become choices that China has to make for intensive economic growth. In this study, we first estimate energy efficiency at the provincial level in China with the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis (SE-DEA) model; we then analyze the current status of carbon emissions and estimate the reverse technology spillover effect of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). Second, Tobit regression and fixed effects models are used to test the impact of the reverse technology spillovers of OFDI and energy efficiency on carbon emissions, and the instrumental variable method is used to test for endogeneity. The regression results of various methods prove that our conclusion is robust. Finally, the mediating effect of energy efficiency is estimated, confirming that the reverse technology spillovers of OFDI not only directly affect carbon emissions but also indirectly affect carbon emissions through energy efficiency. Based on the research above, we propose policy recommendations for using the reverse technology spillovers of OFDI to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020, this paper uses entropy method to construct the integrated development indicators of energy Internet, and explores the impact of the development of the energy Internet on reducing carbon emissions in China and its internal transmission mechanism. The research results show that the development of energy Internet can significantly reduce regional carbon dioxide emissions, and increasing the use of renewable energy is an important mechanism for the comprehensive development of energy Internet to curb carbon emissions. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the emission reduction effect brought by the development of energy Internet is more remarkable in the regions with lower carbon emissions and western China. Furthermore, this paper finds that in the setting of the development of energy Internet, the development of renewable energy can promote natural gas consumption and advance energy conversion efficiency. The government's emphasis on regional technology development has an external strengthening effect on carbon emission reduction. The research in this paper expands and diversifies carbon reduction pathways and provides reference for more developing countries to utilize the development of energy internet to achieve carbon reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The platform economy is growing fast in the world. Its expansion, exemplified by industry giants like Amazon, Airbnb, and Uber, is reshaping societal lifestyles and commercial businesses. However, its environmental impacts are uncertain. Currently, the relationship between electronic commerce (e‐commerce) activities and environmental pollution has attracted a lot of attention. This paper attempts to construct a comprehensive theoretical model to investigate the nexus between e‐commerce and regional environmental pollution, with a particular focus on the effects of air pollution and waste pollution. Fixed effect models and China's provincial data during the period from 2008 to 2018 are employed to examine the roles of energy efficiency and resource consumption in such a nexus. The findings suggest that the development of e‐commerce is linked to a reduction in regional air pollution through the channel of improving transportation energy efficiency. The results also show that e‐commerce is associated with an increase in regional waste pollution due to the mechanism of resource consumption in the express packaging industry. As a result, the relationship between e‐commerce and environmental pollution is quite complex at the regional level, transcending a binary distinction of solely positive or negative impacts. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the complex environmental impacts of e‐commerce and helps governments design more efficient and targeted policies to reduce regional pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the exogenous shock of China's formal implementation of the environmental information disclosure system in 2008 to construct a quasi-natural experiment. Based on the panel data of prefecture-level cities from 2003 to 2019, the propensity score matching and difference in difference (PSM-DID) approach was used to systematically evaluate the impact of environmental information disclosure on energy efficiency. Overcoming the difficulties in measuring environmental information disclosure and the endogenous problem, this paper investigates the energy-saving effect of environmental information disclosure and illustrates its mechanism for the first time. The results show that environmental information disclosure significantly improved energy efficiency, and public participation played an important role in energy conservation, a conclusion that remained true after a series of robustness tests. The test of the impact mechanism shows that environmental information disclosure can achieve the goal of improving energy efficiency by promoting industrial structure upgrading and technological innovation. This paper enriches the discussion on the relationship between environmental information disclosure and energy efficiency, and provides useful policy inspiration for improving the level of energy efficiency and achieving sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent literature, energy efficiency got the attention of scholars due to its discouraging impact on CO2 emissions, which is considered the most prevalent greenhouse gas that human activities produce. Data reports that China is the leading CO2 emitting country across the globe, and still the environmental degradation is in progress. Thus, the current paper empirically investigates the impact of energy efficiency (ENEF), financial inclusion (FD), GDP, export diversification (EXD), and human capital index (HCI) on the environmental degradation of China over the period from 1988 to 2018. This study uses various time-series tests to empirically investigate the determinant of CO2 emissions, including normality tests, unit root tests, and combined cointegration tests. Besides, the long-run coefficients are analyzed via the fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), dynamic OLS (DOLS), and the Canonical Cointegrating Regression (CCR) estimators. The empirical findings reveal that all the variables are cointegrated in the long run. However, the coefficient estimate shows that ENEF and HCI significantly promote environmental sustainability. While GDP, FD, and EXD significantly promote environmental degradation by enhancing the CO2 level in the atmosphere. This study recommends practical policy implications based on the empirical findings: energy-efficient products and energy sources could be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highlighted energy consumption of Internet data center (IDC) in China has become a pressing issue with the implementation of the Chinese dual carbon strategic goal. This paper provides a comprehensive review of cooling technologies for IDC, including air cooling, free cooling, liquid cooling, thermal energy storage cooling and building envelope. Firstly, the environmental requirements for the computer room and the main energy consumption items for IDC are analyzed. The evaluation indicators and government policies for promoting green IDC are also summarized. Next, the traditional cooling technology is compared to four new cooling technologies to find effective methods to maximize energy efficiency in IDC. The results show that traditional cooling consumes a significant amount of energy and has low energy efficiency. The application of free cooling can greatly improve the energy efficiency of IDC, but its actual implementation is highly dependent on geographical and climatic conditions. Liquid cooling, on the other hand, has higher energy efficiency and lower PUE compared to other cooling technologies, especially for high heat density servers. However, it is not yet mature and its engineering application is not widespread. In addition, thermal energy storage (TES) based cooling offers higher energy efficiency but must be coupled with other cooling technologies. Energy savings can also be achieved through building envelope improvements. Considering the investment and recovery period for IDC, it is essential to seek efficient cooling solutions that are suitable for IDC and take into account factors such as IDC scale, climate conditions, maintenance requirements, etc. This paper serves as a reference for the construction and development of green IDC in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food waste (FW) increases with urbanization and population growth, which puts pressure on the treatment system, causing a variety of harmful impacts on the environment. Proper FW treatment is imperative for ecological integrity and public health. Even though FW treatment is an extensively studied topic, the sustainable FW treatment considering holistic-lifecycle-based environmental impacts has rarely been evaluated. This study addresses this gap through a comprehensive analysis of various FW treatment methods, including co-treatment with sewage, anaerobic digestion, incineration, and aerobic composting. The impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and energy use efficiency are assessed by analyzing diverse FW treatment methods in Shenzhen, China. The study indicates that FW addition to sewage does not adversely affect the current sewage treatment plant, but benefits GHG avoidance and energy recovery. Compared with the other FW treatment methods, FW anaerobic digestion avoids the most GHG emissions with −71.3 kg CO2 eq/FU and recovers the most energy with −223 kWh/FU, followed by FW co-treated with sewage. The energy conversion efficiency of the combined heat and power (CHP) unit greatly affects FW incineration, while energy consumption in incineration and anaerobic digestion (AD) process is relatively minor. Perturbation analysis pinpoints key parameters influencing outcomes, including CHP efficiency, GHG emission factor of local electricity, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in FW with ratios of −13~−0.942, −0.518~0.22, and −13~1.01, respectively, that should be given special attention. This study sheds light on sustainable FW management strategies, not only in China but also transferrable to regions confronting similar challenges. Advocating ecologically balanced and resource-efficient approaches, the study aligns with broader aims of fostering sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the World Bank, energy efficiency is a critical facilitator of most Sustainable Development Goals. Its contribution to CO2 emission reduction is astounding. Environmentalists have recently emphasized the essential need to determine energy efficiency causes. This research broadens the debate's horizons by proposing additional possible energy efficiency factors using data from the Chinese economy. From 1990 to 2020, we examined the influence of investment in renewable energy resources, financial inclusion, industrial production, and trade openness on China's energy efficiency and climate risk. Additionally, this study is added to the literature by examining the causal relationships between variables while considering the temporal dimension. The findings indicate that industrial production, financial inclusion, public R&D on renewable energy, and trade openness contribute significantly to China's energy efficiency and climate risk. All other factors, except industrial production, are positively associated with energy efficiency. The path of causality is established from energy efficiency and climate risk to financial inclusion, industrial production, renewable energy, public research and development budgets, and trade openness. According to the findings, changes in energy performance have frequency-changing impacts on all variables. Policymakers believe that the financial system must be strengthened since this will significantly influence renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ports in China are facing significant pressure to reduce carbon emissions in alignment with carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. Onshore power supply (OPS) is regarded as a promising approach to accomplish these targets, necessitating a thorough evaluation of its impact for port authorities to make informed decisions regarding its adoption. This research focuses on Ningbo Zhoushan Port, the largest port globally, as a case study. Two metrics are proposed to quantify the energy efficiency of ships powered by onshore energy while berthed. The installation and connection status of OPS in the port area are analyzed. Subsequently, the energy demand of berthed ships is assessed, and the potential for energy efficiency improvement resulting from OPS implementation is evaluated using Monte Carlo methods. The findings reveal untapped potential in the studied port area, with OPS demonstrating the ability to improve energy efficiency of berthed ships at a rate parallel to the connection rate, excluding indirect emissions. However, considering indirect emissions and energy loss diminishes the effectiveness of OPS. The paper discusses practical implications for enhancing the energy efficiency of OPS, enabling port authorities to make well-informed decisions. These findings are invaluable for Chinese port authorities striving to achieve carbon reduction goals and enhance sustainability in the maritime industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy has become important in the world's major economies. Improving energy efficiency is the key to achieving stable and sustainable economic growth and carbon emissions reduction. However, the impact of the digital economy on energy efficiency remains unclear. Accordingly, this study examines the relationship between the digital economy and energy efficiency from the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) perspective. In doing so, this study confirms that the digital economy follows the EKC in energy utilization efficiency, and there is a U-shaped relationship between the digital economy and energy efficiency, although this relationship differs from one region to another. This study also discusses the moderating effects of environmental regulation and innovation capability in this U-shaped relationship, confirming that they have a moderating effect on this relationship, reducing the inflection point of the U-shaped relationship, and reducing the negative influence of the digital economy on the energy efficiency and enhancing the positive impact. This study can serve as a reference for policymakers and professionals in emerging economies, helping them achieve a win-win situation for economic development and reducing carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing organizations are threatening the earth and its wildlife because of their growing concern about environmental pollution and industrial waste. Hence, in the present study, the three potential solutions, Green Intellectual Capital, Environmental Management Accounting and Energy Efficiency, are evaluated for excelling the organizational operations towards business sustainability and attaining the Competitive Advantage. With the assistance of 'Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling' on the dataset of 364 respondents from the manufacturing organizations in China, the outcome reported the positive and significant impact of all of the studied potential solutions in excelling and enhancing business sustainability and competitive advantage. Based on the findings, it is proposed that manufacturing organizations need to apportion due attention to developing the green intellectual capital, improve the level of consumption of energy and need to disclose their environmental management through proper Environmental Management Accounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indepth research on the impact of energy endowment on provincial green development provides a new perspective for achieving high-quality provincial economic development. Based on 30 provinces' panel data in China from 2009 to 2020, this study first constructs an index system to analyze energy endowment and provincial green development; then it explores the mechanism by which energy endowment affects provincial green development, including the moderating role of environmental regulation and the mediating role of energy efficiency. The results show that energy endowment can significantly curb provincial green development when environmental regulations are not taken into account. Moreover, environmental regulation has moderated the process of energy endowment affecting provincial green development. Energy efficiency has mediated the process of energy endowment affecting provincial green development. From a geographical viewpoint, the moderating effect of environmental regulation has regional heterogeneity but the mediating effect of energy efficiency does not. The conclusions of this research may supply applicable recommendations for provincial green development in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high demand for energy resources due to the increasing number of electronic devices has prompted the constant search for different or alternative energy sources to reduce energy consumption, aiming to meet the high demand for energy without exceeding the consumption of natural sources. In this context, the objective of this study was to examine research trends in the machine-learning-based design of electrical and electronic devices. The methodological approach was based on the analysis of 152 academic documents on this topic selected from Scopus and Web of Science in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Quantity, quality, and structural indicators were calculated to contextualize its thematic evolution. The results showed a growing interest in the subject since 2019, mainly in the United States and China, which stand out as world powers in the information and communication technology industry. Moreover, most studies focused on developing devices for controlling, monitoring and reducing energy consumption, mainly in 5G and thermal comfort devices, primarily using deep-learning techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the impact of ICT capital services on economic growth and energy efficiency in China at both national and industrial levels during the period 2000–2020. To achieve this aim, this study introduces a measurement method for capital services, explores ICT's contributions to economic growth, and analyzes the impact of ICT on energy efficiency. The empirical results of this study indicate that although the ICT capital services scale is relatively small, accounting for only 8.87% of the total in 2020, its growth rate is faster than that of non-ICT capital services, and the distribution of ICT capital services varies widely among different industries. Additionally, based on the economic growth decomposition framework, this study finds that the contribution of ICT capital services to economic growth is 6.95% on average. It is significantly higher in certain industries, such as Financial industry; Information transmission, software and information technology services; Construction; and Manufacturing compared to others. The total factor energy efficiency (TFEE) reveals that industries with higher energy consumption have lower energy efficiency, while the panel regression model illustrates that the development of ICT has a positive impact on improving energy efficiency, with variability across industries. Overall, the findings of this study provide crucial scientific evidence and policy implications for promoting the development of ICT and integrating it with various industries, which can significantly contribute to boosting economic growth and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve China's carbon peaking and carbon neutrality (double carbon) targets and to advance ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, it is essential that China reduces its energy intensity and increases its energy efficiency. This research developed an evaluation index system for energy efficiency and green development in the Yellow River Basin based on panel data collected from 64 of its prefecture-level cities and covering the period from 2011 to 2020. Each city's energy efficiency and green development level index was calculated, and was analyzed together with the characteristics of its spatial pattern progression. The STIRPAT model was then used to investigate the influence mechanism of energy efficiency on green development. The final step in the analysis was to assess the process by which technical innovation influences the rise in energy efficiency from a green development point of view. The findings of this study indicate that: (1) There was a marked improvement in energy efficiency and green development levels across the Yellow River Basin over the study period of 2011 to 2020, but there are notable disparities among prefecture-level cities, with higher levels found in capital cities and cities in the lower reaches of the basin. (2) The improvement in energy efficiency has had a positive impact on the transition to green development, with factors such as human capital, urbanization levels, and the upgrading of industrial structures contributing significantly, while the level of foreign direct investment has had a limited impact. (3) Technological innovation plays a partial role in mediating the relationship between energy efficiency and green development in the Yellow River Basin, and passes the single-threshold test. When technological innovation surpasses the threshold value, the effect of energy efficiency on green development is significantly strengthened. This study indicates that improving energy efficiency, stimulating emerging industries, and enhancing technological innovation capabilities can significantly promote transformative green and high quality development in the Yellow River Basin of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing literatures mainly focus on the impact of foreign direct investment or technological progress on energy efficiency. However, the research on the impact of reverse technology spillover of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on energy efficiency is relatively lacking and not in-depth. Therefore, this study assesses the impact of reverse technology spillover of OFDI on total factor energy efficiency, employing the panel data of provincial and industrial levels in China from 2004 to 2017. First, the impact of reverse technology spillover of OFDI on total factor energy efficiency is evaluated by extended L–P model. The results indicate that reverse technology spillover of OFDI has positive impact on total factor energy efficiency on the whole, but this impact exhibits obvious differences at both regional and industrial levels. Then the threshold regression model is utilized to examine the nonlinear relationship between reverse technology spillover of OFDI and total factor energy efficiency. The results show that, at the regional level, there is a single threshold effect of the OFDI scale and technology development level. Moreover, the double threshold effect of the OFDI scale and the single threshold effect of the technology development level are significant at industrial level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly zero-energy-consumption buildings are the inevitable trend of future buildings. There have been a large number of studies on nearly zero building technology issues. However, there is no detailed study on how to effectively promote the development of nearly zero-energy consumption buildings according to China's national conditions. Here, by establishing an evolutionary game model, this paper discusses the dynamic game scheme selection and stability strategy of three stakeholders, namely local government, real estate companies, and construction consumers, related to the development of nearly zero-energy-consumption buildings in the development process. The conditions required for evolutionary stabilization strategies were identified. Finally, Matlab data simulation analysis is used to further illustrate the stability and equilibrium strategies of each subject and the sensitivity analysis of the main influencing factors at various stages in the development process of nearly zero-energy-consuming buildings. The research results show that the government plays a leading role in the early stage of the development of nearly zero-energy consumption buildings, and as the market matures, government intervention gradually withdraws from the market; furthermore, if the cost of supervision is prohibitively high, the government's willingness to supervise the market will be reduced. This will hinder consumers and developers from choosing nearly zero-energy-consuming buildings and if the penalties and subsidies are too low, it will be meaningless to the evolution of the optimal solution of the three parties. On this basis, targeted promotion programs are established to realize the rapid development of China's nearly zero-energy-consumption building sector. Our research results can provide important scientific basis for the development of the nearly zero-energy building industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy loss and performance deterioration caused by the stack effect are emerging issues in high-rise office buildings (HROB). However, a single countermeasure may not completely remove the stack effect problems, so combinations of countermeasures are often considered in building commissioning or retrofit projects to achieve the desired results. Therefore, a comprehensive study on combinations is necessary for the final decision-making. In this study, a multi-criteria decision-making model is proposed, which is utilized to calculate the ranking of countermeasure combinations for the final decision-making index by assigning weights and conducting comprehensive analysis on four criteria: infiltration energy loss, maximum pressure difference, investment cost, and implementation resistance. Based on a two-level Fractional-Factorial design (FFD), the interaction effects between countermeasures were verified, and the regression models of infiltration energy loss and maximum pressure difference were obtained as well. The investment cost and implementation resistance were defined according to the investigation and survey. An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to establish the weights of each criterion. A weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method was applied to establish the decision-making index. Through the case study of a HROB located in northern China, it was concluded that the ideal combination can reduce infiltration and pressure difference by 26.88% and 87.58%, respectively, with low-level investment costs and implementation resistance. The results indicate that the multi-criteria model provides a comprehensive ranking of countermeasure combinations, which can serve as a quantitative basis for the final decision-making. Furthermore, this multi-criteria decision-making approach can be extended to other buildings in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is a type of clean energy that can address global energy shortages and environmental issues. Wind turbine blades are a critical component in capturing wind energy. Carbon fiber composites have been widely recognized for their excellent overall performance in large-scale wind turbine blades. However, in China, the wide application of carbon fiber composites in wind turbine blades still faces many problems and challenges. This paper examines the current state of carbon fiber composites for wind turbine blades and the geographical distribution characteristics of wind resources in China. The economic revenues from increasing the length of wind turbine blades in four typical wind farms, including offshore wind farms, are compared. Using a mathematical model, the energy efficiency of carbon fiber composites in the application of large wind turbine blades is evaluated from the aspects of cost, embedded energy, and carbon footprint. Further, the current relationship between supply and demand for the industrial structure of carbon fiber in China is revealed. The manufacturing technologies for carbon fiber composite wind turbine blades are analyzed, and corresponding countermeasures are proposed. Finally, the incentive policy for applying carbon fiber composites to wind turbine blades is explained, and the development prospects are explored. In this paper, the economics and energy efficiency of the application of carbon fiber composite materials in large wind turbine blades are analyzed and comprehensively evaluated by using mathematical models, which will provide a valuable reference for China's wind turbine blade industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being continuously abandoned in huge amounts year-round by freight industry, shipping containers meet increasing regenerative utility in forms of temporary buildings, small public facilities, etc., especially in fast-developing countries with large populations and high living intensities like China. Although recycled containers have been nicely entitled with green building visions, their characterized inferior thermal properties (low inertia, poor insulation, etc.) when compared to conventional building forms and materials will greatly hinder their energy-saving potential, especially under the serious future extreme climate expectations. It therefore becomes particularly necessary to uncover the actual energy and thermophysical behaviors of the container building typology, upon extreme future climate scenarios targeting zero carbon forms for small-scale and temporary buildings in the upcoming future. In reference to existing data, this study made reasonable predictions of future extreme climate conditions (2050 and 2080), employing the Morphing method, and examined the cooling energy performances of the typical container housing in a subtropical climate through dynamic simulations. The energy-saving effectiveness of key design variables including insulation types, thicknesses, window opening areas and air infiltration rates has been validated and quantitatively revealed for such a building typology among the tested hot summer and warm winter region. Results imply that the additional energy burden brought by future extreme weather conditions cannot be ignored. The heat gains from envelopes and hot air infiltration are both key design factors of cooling energy increments for such building types upon future extreme climates. Compared with expanded pearl- and vermiculite-type insulation materials, thinner (70~90 mm) plastics and mineral wool-type ones have better energy-saving performance and therefore are worth consideration. High air infiltration rates and window openings in eastern or western orientations shall be carefully selected. The research outcomes can provide key references for design decisions made for the energy-efficient and low-carbon design of the container building typology among subtropical zones, or similar climate regions in response to future climate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the influence of the dual policies of sustainable economic development and the national dual-carbon target, the establishment of an environmental protection department for the treatment of heavily polluting industries is imminent, and the country has launched pollution control policies and regulations to restrict the emission rights of heavily polluting industries. Therefore, this paper focuses on whether the restriction of emission rights in key industries has reduced carbon emissions. To achieve this, this paper uses panel data of prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2019 and adopts a two-way fixed-effects DID model to systematically analyze the impact of the key pollution industry governance policies launched by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on CO2 emissions in 2017. And further analyze the role of variables such as green technology innovation patents and energy efficiency using this model, while parallel trend tests and placebo tests, and related policies are used to ensure the robustness of the regression results. This paper reveals that: (1) The heavy pollution industry governance policy implemented in 2017 can effectively reduce CO2 emissions in the cities of the treated group, and the effect is more significant in the year of policy implementation; (2) Green utility patents and energy-use efficiency are the effective mediating mechanisms to reduce CO2 emissions; (3) Over time, the effect of heavy pollution industry governance policy on CO2 emissions gradually decreases; (4) The reliability of the baseline regression results of this paper is proved by the use of parallel trend tests, placebo tests, and tests excluding the influence factors such as relevant policies in the same period. Therefore, the key polluting industries treatment policy launched by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2017 under the recent dual-carbon policy development goals formulated by China, can effectively reduce carbon emissions; however, in the future economic development process, the government should give more consideration to the continuity of the policy impact and its coherence on economic development when implementing the policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demands for food with high quality standards and high nutritional value have caused agriculture to evolve towards agricultural innovation go hand in hand with technological development, as is the case of vertical farming (VF) development. VF is a competitive system for sustainable food production, reducing space, and natural and human resources for agricultural production, and it is a system that can be developed anywhere in the world and at any time, without seasonality being a factor that influences production. Light is the most important factor to consider when it comes to vertical farming, replacing sunlight with artificial light has had great advances in improving productivity, especially when using LED lighting. Despite the exponential growth of the system, there is a paucity of analysis on the research that has been carried out to date using a VF system, and on information on the most relevant parameters to be considered for optimum production. This review is a bibliometric analysis of 318 scientific articles taken from the SCOPUS database, where information from 109 papers published in relevant journals was used. During the last 10 years, the number of publications that have been carried out in a VF system has increased by 195%, with China standing out as the geographical location where field experiments are carried out. Lettuce crop predominates in the investigations, with a light intensity of 200 μmol∙m−2∙s−1 and with a photoperiod of 16 h·day−1, using spectra between 450 and 495 nm, and a combination of blue and red (450–495 and 620–750 nm). The use of the research in the VF system for fresh, quality, local produce has increased in recent years, and has proven to be highly effective in productivity and quality. Conditions and management have been generalized, with more than 50% of researchers deciding to perform this cultivation method with similar photoperiod, spectrum, and intensity. Among the conclusions obtained by each researcher, it is also agreed that it is a potentially sustainable and controllable system that can be developed in urban locations, benefiting the social economy, food security, and the environment, while the conclusions on the cent per cent utilization of natural resources (such as energy from sunlight) in the system remain open and improving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite market-oriented reforms, China's energy sector is subject to energy price distortions, which are believed to be a crucial determinants of energy efficiency in China. This paper investigates the impact of energy price distortions on energy efficiency in China from the perspective of spatial correlation. Using the nonradial directional distance function approach, we first estimate the provincial-level energy efficiency in China. Paying attention to spatial correlation among the provinces of China, in stage two, we identify the determinants of energy efficiency. Our empirical results suggest that price distortions have a significant impact on energy efficiency in China. This impact holds when the cross-region effect is considered, i.e., besides its own energy price distortion, a region's energy efficiency is also correlated to the adjacent provinces' energy price distortions. Furthermore, we found that the levels of energy efficiencies in adjacent provinces are highly correlated. This spatial relationship can be decomposed into the 'spillover effect' and 'warning effect'. These two effects work together, determining the spatial relationship among the province-level energy efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the construction industry poses an enormous and negative challenge for China's energy and environment. While maintaining moderate economic growth, it is particularly important to realize energy conservation and carbon reduction. Carbon tax policy, a direct tool to reduce carbon emissions, can effectively alleviate the environmental issues caused by construction activities. However, relying solely on a single method is insufficient to handle the complicated circumstances of China's construction industry. This study explores the influence of carbon tax on the construction industry through adjustments to tax rates via developing a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model. Then, it analyzes how the carbon tax affects the economic and environmental variables by designing scenarios for recycling tax revenue and improved energy efficiency. The results indicate that the carbon tax rate of 40 RMB/t-CO2 is the most appropriate. At this tax level, the negative impacts of energy demand and emissions reduction on macroeconomy and construction industry are minimized. It was also determined that carbon tax revenue recycling to households and sectoral investment will realize the "weak double dividend" effect on the construction industry. Furthermore, improving energy efficiency in the construction industry will demonstrate the additional advantages of carbon tax. This study serves as a theoretical foundation for the Chinese government to develop various energy strategies to achieve low-carbon development in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the nonlinear effect of outward foreign direct investment (ODI) and Export Trade Structure on CO2 emissions in China. A national panel of 30 provinces and two sub-national panels for the time span 2003 to 2016 have been estimated by using SGMM estimator and panel threshold regression model. The results indicate that GDP has a positive and significant impact on carbon emissions and that the scale effect of ODI will increase the CO2 emissions. Additionally, ODI and Export Trade Structure are generally conducive to the reduction of carbon emission intensities, except that the impact of Export Trade Structure is not significant the in northern region. Moreover, GDP, ODI, and Export Trade Structure contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions via the technical effects of energy efficiency, and ODI will help reduce CO2 emissions even as the output of energy-intensive industries grows. Therefore, regions should develop a more effective opening-up strategy based on their industrial distribution characteristics and development stages against the background of trade protectionism affecting the evolution of global value chains, use the spillover effects generated by various channels to effectively mitigate CO2 emissions, and seek sustainable economic growth accompanied by clean technologies and faster development of energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the last few decades, scholars and policy-makers have been struggling to find ways to achieve carbon neutrality target or a low carbon economy. To contribute to the existing literature regarding the said issue, this study aims to investigate whether energy efficiency could lead to achieving carbon neutrality target in the case of China. Also, this study analyses the association of economic growth to energy-related greenhouse gas emissions while using quarterly data over the period from 1990Q1 to 2014Q2. Empirical findings of the study suggest the mixed order of integration and Cointegration between economic growth, energy efficiency, and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. This study employed a Quantile-on-Quantile regression approach to examine the long-run association at various quantiles. The estimated results asserted that energy efficiency holds a weaker relationship in the lower and medium quantiles, while relatively higher association to energy-related emission in the upper quantiles. On the other hand, economic growth and its squared are found significantly and highly associated with enhancing energy-related emissions in the country. Besides, the frequency domain causality indicates a causal association running from energy efficiency and economic growth to energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. This study recommends revised policies for energy efficiency and suggests that economic growth could be used as a remedial measure for environmental recovery by enhancing investment in the renewable energy sector, energy efficiency, and structural transformation of the industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article measures the impact of R&D investment and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock market listed companies on the green governance efficiency (G.G.E.). An econometric analysis based on the data from 2015 to 2019 is used to measure the impact. The study's findings reveal that research and development (R&D) investments significantly boost G.G.E. On the other hand, CO2 emission and energy intensity reduce G.G.E. The study results show that the listed companies' performance would have a significant role in achieving the Chinese government's carbon neutrality goal. The study provides policy recommendations to promote green governance performance in China and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies have focused on the negative impact of inefficient resource allocation on energy performance in China, but neglected to explore the underlying reason for this phenomenon from the perspective of market segmentation. To fill this research gap, the epsilon-based measure model is used to estimate energy efficiency, and the measurement method of market segmentation is improved in this paper. On the basis of a theoretical hypothesis, we use fractional regression models to conduct empirical research. The results show that market segmentation has a significant negative effect on China’s energy efficiency. Additionally, this inhibitory effect is robust but heterogeneous. The impact mechanism test indicates that energy price distortion, enterprise technology innovation, and industrial ag)glomeration are three intermediate influence channels. Based on these analyses, we suggest that China should accelerate market-oriented reform and eliminate market segmentation in pursuit of energy-saving and emission-abating goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, along with the rapid development of urban rail transit (URT) in China, the evaluation of operational efficiency and energy efficiency has become one of the most important topics. However, the extant literature regarding the efficiency of URT at the line level and considering carbon emissions is limited. To fill the gap, an evaluation model based on slacks-based measure (SBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) is proposed to measure the efficiencies, which is applied to 61 URT lines in China's four megacities. The findings are summarized as follows: (1) The average operational efficiency and energy efficiency of URT lines are low, and both have great room for improvement. (2) There are significant disparities in the efficiency of URT lines in the case cities. For instance, the average operational efficiency of URT lines in Guangzhou is higher than that of other cities, while the average energy efficiency of URT lines in Shanghai is higher than that of other cities. (3) The URT lines operated by state-owned enterprises have higher average operational efficiency, while the lines operated by joint ventures have higher average energy efficiency. Finally, some suggestions are provided to improve the efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The decoupling of energy consumption from economic growth in the construction industry is crucial to the sustainable development of the global construction industry. The existing studies focus on the advancements in energy efficiency by designers for building monoliths or construction techniques, involving no exploration of energy efficiency management from a regional perspective, which is unfavorable for the formulation of energy efficiency policies and systematic control of the construction industry by local governments. (2) Methods: From the perspective of regional management, this paper constructs an integrated analysis and application framework of "spatio-temporal characteristics + matching evaluation + policy design" based on the decoupling model and GIS tools. It studies the spatio-temporal characteristics of energy consumption in the construction industry in 30 provinces of China from 2010 to 2019, and its decoupling relationship with the economic development of the construction industry, and proposes an optimal zoning and recommendations for energy consumption in the construction industry, providing a reference for energy conservation management in the construction industry in China. (3) Results: First, the change of energy consumption amount (ECA) in the construction industry in the provinces was dominated by ascent, while the energy consumption intensity (ECI) predominantly decreased, and most provinces are still in a period of growth or plateau in energy consumption. Second, ECA and ECI had prominent spatial heterogeneity and aggregation. High-energy-consuming regions are concentrated along the coast and along the Yangtze River, while low-energy-consuming regions are mainly clustered in remote areas, such as the northeast, northwest, and southwest of China. Energy consumption shows a clear north-south difference in intensity, with high-intensity regions clustered in the north compared to low-intensity regions in the south. Third, most of the provinces were in strong negative decoupling, expansive coupling, and weak decoupling, and better decoupling regions were mainly gathered in south and central China. Nearly one half of these provinces showed decoupling degradation and only a few achieved evolution, with evolutionary regions clustered mainly in central and southern China. The northeast and northwest were the key problem areas of energy-saving transformation in China's construction industry. (4) Conclusion: The 30 provinces were divided into three types: leader, intermediate, and laggard, and the development goals and suggestions on low energy consumption in the construction industry for three zones were put forward, significantly improving the precision of policy design and implementation. The study in this paper expands the research perspective on energy saving management in the construction industry and provides a methodology and basis for developing energy efficiency policies and plans for the construction industry in China and similar developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving energy efficiency is critical to breaking the resource curse. Using the GML Productivity Index, we measured the China’s green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE) and systematically explored the effects of environmental regulations on GTFEE. This article focuses on the threshold effect of environmental regulation (ER) on GTFEE at different skill premium levels. The conclusion shows that the impact of ER on GTFEE is expressed as a U-shaped relationship. ER can not only directly increase the skill premium, but also indirectly improve the GTFEE by increasing the skill premium. In addition, the threshold effect analysis suggests that skills premiums can enhance the role of ER in promoting GTFEE. Based on a new perspective on labor skills premiums, this study analyzes the mechanisms of environmental regulation to promote GTFEE, which has enlightening significance for improving the pollution control effect of ER and promoting carbon neutrality in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building sector accounts for over 40% of global energy consumption. The utilization of renewable energy systems such as the solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) in buildings has been shown to improve building energy efficiency and achieve carbon neutrality. This paper presents a review of the research and development of solar-assisted heat pumps for buildings in China. It firstly introduces the different stages of solar-assisted heat pump research. Secondly, the research on different types of heat pumps, the core components of heat pumps, the computer software used, and the economic feasibility evaluation of solar-assisted heat pumps are presented. Thirdly, the application of SAHPs in practical projects is examined and relevant regulations, standards, and policies for solar-assisted heat pump development in China are highlighted. Finally, recommendations for the future development of solar-assisted heat pumps in China are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Super-SBM model was used first to assess the energy efficiency of 30 Chinese provinces from 2012 to 2017. After that, an energy efficiency spatial correlation test was conducted, and finally, the influencing elements of energy efficiency were analyzed using a geographic panel model. The findings show that the amount of regional economic development has a substantial positive impact on energy efficiency, whereas the level of regional urbanization and the severity of environmental restrictions have a considerable negative impact on energy efficiency in China's provinces. Other regions' energy structure and technical innovation have a substantial positive spillover effect on the region's energy efficiency, whereas other regions' economic development and foreign direct investment have a significant negative spillover effect on the region's energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heating systems are essential municipal infrastructure in winter, especially in severe cold cities of China. The safety and efficiency of heating systems greatly affect building energy efficiency and indoor thermal comfort. Heating networks (HNs), playing the role of transportation, are the key parts of heating systems. In HNs, hydraulic models could be affected by the accuracy of resistance characteristic parameters, which are expressed by pipe friction parameters (PFPs) in this paper. As the uniqueness of the estimation results of PFPs has not been discussed in previous studies, this paper builds an estimation method of PFPs by dividing two types of pipes, substituting variables and establishing a split-step linearization method. Combining with the theory of matrix equations, the decision conditions and solution methods for obtaining the unique estimation results of PFPs are determined. Theoretical analysis and case study results show that estimation values of PFPs can be obtained by utilizing measured data under multiple hydraulic conditions. In the example of DN and the simple actual HN, the average estimation deviation of PFPs is 1.42% and 1.86%, which are accurate enough for actual engineering. Estimation results of PFPs obtained by this method guarantee the accuracy of analysis and regulation in heating systems and improve social energy utilization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries with rapid urbanization face challenges in providing sufficient energy to both rural and urban households in an efficient manner. However, few empirical studies explored both energy sufficiency and efficiency inequality in rural and urban households at the sub-national level within a nation during a rapid urbanization period to inform equitable energy transitions. Therefore, this research collected 2000–2019 subnational-level data in China to explore the pattern of rural-vs-urban inequality in energy use per person (indicating sufficiency) and energy use intensity (EUI, indicating efficiency). Gini coefficients and disparity ratios, two social inequality measurements, were used to quantify social inequality in energy use. Fixed effect models with interaction terms were adopted to explore the impact of income, energy end-use structure, and floor area on energy use differences between rural and urban households. Gini coefficients of both energy measurements decreased by 43%–47% from 2000 to 2019, suggesting a more equitable distribution of end-use energy sufficiency and efficiency between urban and rural households. Rural-vs-urban disparity ratios showed that rural households in more provinces used more energy per person with higher EUI than urban households in 2019, compared to the pattern observed in 2000. Income in rural households had a statistically significant larger impact on energy use per person and EUI than that in urban households. By evaluating energy inequality in both sufficiency and efficiency from an overlooked rural-vs-urban perspective, this study enhances the understanding of social inequality in energy use and provides valuable insights into just energy transitions in urbanizing and developing countries. • Inequality in energy use sufficiency & efficiency explored on rural-vs-urban basis. • Gini index of energy sufficiency & efficiency reduced from 2000 to 2019 in China. • Rural-vs-urban disparity ratios increased across 30 provinces from 2000 to 2019. • Income and floor area have a significant impact on rural-urban energy disparities. • Energy structure is important to reduce energy use in both urban and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the huge current challenges in sewage sludge treatment and disposal in China, anaerobic sludge stabilisation (AnSS) is still not a state-of-the-art process in WWTP in the country. However, the potential benefits of anaerobic sludge stabilisation may outweigh the drawbacks. One of these drawbacks is the backload from the sludge liquor that increases the nutrient load in the biological treatment stage. This work shows via computer modelling that not only can the sludge production and disposal costs be significantly reduced, but also that, with sensible automation and operational strategies (e.g., bypass of primary clarifiers, use of a centrate dosing strategy, incorporation of ammonium nitrogen sensors, etc.), the effects of the backload can be counteracted for nitrogen removal, even considering that wastewater in China often has an unfavourable C/N ratio for nitrogen removal. The tested strategies would even improve the overall plant performance in terms of norm compliance, sludge production, energy use, and energy production [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of environmental motivations on the individual's decisions regarding investments in energy efficiency and the adoption of energy-saving habits are analyzed for a representative sample of Chinese inhabitants from the larger Beijing area, replicating a comparative study on Western Europe. For the considered type of energy efficiency investments and daily energy-saving activities similarities and discrepancies between the two regions are discussed in regard to their sociocultural background as well as governmental regulations. The study provides empirical evidence that for Chinese environmental issues if all only play a tertiary role after monetary and regulatory incentives. The findings could suggest that in China policy programs aimed at raising environmental awareness and forming pro-environmental motivations might not lead to an increase in energy efficiency investments and daily energy-saving activities and the Chinese government's interests in this regard might be better served by implementing corresponding incentives via regulations. In the long-term. However, social peer pressure might affect a change in the Chinese mentality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors are widely used in China due to their high energy storage efficiency, long cycle life, high power density and low maintenance cost. This review compares the differences of different types of supercapacitors and the developing trend of electrochemical hybrid energy storage technology. It gives an overview of the application status of supercapacitors in China's smart grid and Energy Internet in detail. Some strategies and constructive suggestions are put forward to solve the existing problems. With the improvement of the grid-connected capacity of new energy power generation during the 14th Five-year Period of China, the supercapacitor market in China will usher in a good development opportunity. The role of the supercapacitor in achieving carbon peak carbon neutralization is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the determinants of efficiency in the energy sectors of China and Singapore. It examines three possible futures for the electricity industry in China and Singapore: business as usual, energy efficiency improvement, and regulation and incentive improvement. A panel dataset was subjected to cross-sectional analysis using data envelopment analysis and Tobit regression. In the last 10 years, the electric power sector has reduced carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and mercury emission rates by 90%, 88%, and 95%, respectively, as a result of imperatives for the closing of small coal-fired power stations, air emissions regulations and the utilisation of renewable energy initiatives. Finally, it is suggested that the maximum capabilities of such expenditures can only be achieved if they are considered and involved in the project discovery process, rather than just as an add-on to initiatives initially planned as demand initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applies the slack-based measure-data envelopment analysis (SBM-DEA) method to measure energy efficiency and tests the spatial spill-over effects of fiscal decentralisation, industrial structure and energy efficiency using the spatial Durbin model. The results show that China's energy efficiency presents a clear geographical step distribution, and the Eastern and Western regions have higher energy efficiency than the Central region. Fiscal decentralisation has a positive effect on the energy efficiency of the Eastern and Central regions by upgrading the industrial structure. In addition, fiscal decentralisation has significant, positive externalities on the surrounding areas, promoting environmental protection and energy conservation in all regions of China. The results are in line with the tenets of environmental federalism (Oates & Schwab): through the allocation and transfer of industrial factors, fiscal decentralisation affects energy governance. Therefore, local governments should formulate policies and targets according to their regions' different economic development levels, and the Central and Western areas, which have greater space for improvement and low energy efficiency, should receive attention to balance regional differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of sustainable development principles in project management is one of the main development scenarios for companies seeking to ensure their stability and investment attractiveness in the future. The purpose of this study is to develop an organizational and strategic model for managing sustainable construction projects using LEED (The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) under conditions of uncertainty. The practical significance of the research results is that the solutions proposed in this work allow achieving sustainable construction goals in companies due to the proposed methods and tools of the project approach. The author used the Delphi method to assess the importance of sustainability criteria in China for LEED and BREEAM certification using anonymous questioning of 30 experts from interested parties. This study proposes a method for assessing the impact of elements of a turbulent environment on a sustainable construction project, which allows one to build a graph model of the mutual influence of the environment in the process of interaction with the project. The generated graph model, in contrast to the existing models, identifies many of the most vulnerable elements of the environment and allows simulating situations of turbulence in the environment of a sustainable construction project. The generated graph model confirms that the greater the potential of the node, the greater the influence of this element of the external environment on the parameters of the sustainable construction project. This study is of interest to those who form a policy and strategy for sustainable construction development, who ensure the development and implementation of sustainable construction projects, as well as scientists to supplement the methodological tools for assessing the effectiveness of these projects and the feasibility of their implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The energy generation efficiencies of thermal power and hydropower, which are the two main forces of electric power in China, are important factors affecting the energy conservation, emission reduction, and green development of the country's whole power industry. Methods: Considering regional differences and multiple efficient decision-making units (DMUs), this research uses the meta-Frontier super-efficiency slack-based measure (meta-SE-SBM) undesirable model to comprehensively evaluate the efficiencies of hydropower and thermal power generation in China. The CO2 emissions of thermal power generation are taken as the undesirable output. Results: The ranking of the average meta-efficiency of thermal power generation in China is Eastern China > Central China > Western China, and all regions show an upward trend. However, the ranking of the average meta-efficiency of hydropower generation is Western China > Central China > Eastern China, and all these regions present a downward trend. In 2017, the technology gap ratio (TGR) values for the thermal power generation efficiency of the eastern and western regions showed a rising trend, while that for the central region showed a declining trend. The TGR values of the hydropower generation efficiency of the western region continued to increase, while those of the central and eastern regions decreased. The development trends of the TGR values of the thermal power or hydropower generation efficiencies of the three regions were not consistent with each other, indicating that technological convergence has not been achieved. In the three regions, the technology gaps in hydropower have slightly expanded, but the technology gaps in thermal power have gradually narrowed. The undesirable output CO2 of the thermal power energy efficiency of the three regions is in a surplus, and the generation of hydropower in the eastern and central regions is insufficient. Conclusions: The government and power industry managers should fully consider regional heterogeneity in the efficiency of hydropower and thermal power to reduce the technology gap in China. The thermal power industry is relatively mature, but its CO2 emissions should be controlled. The hydropower industry needs further policy support to promote an efficiency improvement in it under the condition of resource endowments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of China's pursuit of an ecological civilization, controlling haze pollution (HP) and enhancing environmental quality occupy a pivotal role. Addressing this issue, this study utilizes a dataset spanning from 2006 to 2020, encompassing 278 Chinese cities, to examine the impact and mechanisms of sustainable finance on HP management. This research innovatively constructs a Sustainable Finance Index and employs fixed effects models, mediation effect models, and spatial Durbin models for comprehensive empirical analysis. The findings indicate a significant negative relationship between sustainable finance and HP, with pronounced effects in cities experiencing severe haze, cities in the central and eastern regions of China, and non-provincial boundary cities. Mechanism analysis reveals that sustainable finance curtails urban haze formation through the optimization of energy consumption structure, enhancement of energy efficiency, and advancement of environmental technologies. This is primarily achieved through pollution source reduction and innovation effects. Additionally, the study uncovers a spatial spillover effect of sustainable finance in mitigating HP, peaking within a 500-km radius. This research not only provides new insights into the role of sustainable finance in the construction of ecological civilization but also offers empirical support for policymakers and stakeholders in formulating clean production policies, enhancing both the academic dialogue and practical policymaking in environmental management and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the path of industrial eco-efficiency (IEE) needs to be re-examined from a multi-dimensional perspective, this research opens the internal "black box" of China's industrial eco-economic system driven by sustainable development goals (SDGs) and decomposes IEE into industrial production and sustainable development stages. It further divides the industrial production stage into two parallel subsystems of water use efficiency (WUE) and energy efficiency (EE) and derives SDG6 efficiency (SDG 6 E) and SDG7 efficiency (SDG 7 E) in the sustainable development stage respectively. The paper proposes a meta two-stage parallel entropy dynamic DDF-DEA model to re-measure IEE of 30 provinces in China from 2015 to 2021, discusses the relationship between overall efficiency and stage efficiency, and by using the Tobit model explores various types of influencing factors by subregion. The results show that the modified DDF-DEA model can explore China's IEE more accurately under SDGs. China's IEE is more stable from 2015 to 2021, with the efficiency value always fluctuating between 0.59 and 0.64, the overall level is low, and there is more room for improvement. There are significant inter-provincial differences in IEE and efficiency inertia. In more than 75% of the provinces SDG 7 E constrains IEE improvement, while the dynamic evolution of IEE and its subsystem efficiency varies across regions. Environmental regulation is a common factor affecting IEE across the country and in the east, central, and west regions, whereas the level of economic development, openness to the outside world, and urbanization rate are differential factors affecting IEE across the country and in the three major regions. This study offers new perspectives for exploring the path of IEE enhancement and providing empirical references for the collaborative construction of industrial ecological civilization. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As digital economy develops, its impact on green innovation and energy efficiency has become the focus of current research. To explore the impact of the current development of the digital economy on the energy industry, this paper selects the parameter of green innovation resilience, analyzes the impact mechanism of green innovation resilience on energy efficiency under the shock of digital economic development, and uses relevant data from 284 cities in China from 2011 to 2019 for empirical testing. It is found that: green innovation resilience promotes energy efficiency; low level of green innovation resilience inhibits the improvement of energy efficiency, while high level of resilience promotes energy efficiency; the initial stage of digital economic development generates resource grabbing and the effect of technological constraints, which weakens the role of green innovation resilience in promoting energy efficiency. The results indicate that the resilience of the green innovation system should be strengthened in order to fully tap the potential for promoting energy efficiency; the policy orientation of "digital greening—energy efficient" should be pursued in the development of digital economy; the rational allocation of resources and the implementation of green standards should be strengthened in the process of digital economic development; and the constraints on energy efficiency improvement in the early stage of digital economic development should be broken through by accelerating the digitalization process. • Green innovation resilience can promote energy efficiency. • Early digital economy development can lead to resource grabbing and technology constraints effects. • Pursuing the policy orientation of "digital greening—energy efficient". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to uncoordinated economic progress, China's regional gap concerning energy efficiency (EE) is noticeable. However, industrial structure adjustments can be reorganized as a promising way to prioritize the green and low-carbon transition. Aiming to understand how regional EE can be achieved through industrial structure adjustment, this study empirically investigates the role of industrial structure adjustment in increasing interprovincial EE from a technology innovation perspective. Unlike previous studies, the primary analytical framework is anchored on a spatio-temporal domain. Specifically, we observe that industrial structure rationalization and industrial structure adjustment not only directly influence local EE but also indirectly exert a positive effect on EE improvements in adjacent provinces. The same implications are also valid when addressing the EE-ICT nexus. Further mechanism analysis shows that technology innovation positively moderates industrial structure adjustment to EE enhancements, with regional heterogeneity being all-important. We find that the non-linear effect of industrial structure adjustment on EE is conditioned by technology innovation. Increasing R&D input intensity could significantly change the impacts of industrial structure adjustments on EE efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a pivotal role in natural water recycling and safeguarding the water security of approximately 42% of the world's population, yet they confront challenges posed by escalating energy consumption and regional energy constraints. In this study, we developed an evaluation framework that integrated regional energy scarcity with the operation conditions of WWTPs to quantify their energy efficiencies by applying multiregional input–output (MRIO) analysis and data envelopment analysis (DEA). A case study using this framework was conducted on 3776 WWTPs in 30 provinces in China. The results showed that the average scarcity-based energy efficiency level of WWTPs in China was low, of which those in northern provinces were higher compared to southeastern provinces. Furthermore, only 24 WWTPs in China attained the highest efficiency levels, while the rest had different degrees of input redundancy, indicating an energy-saving potential of 9.05 × 109 kWh. This paper enables the development of optimal efficiency strategies for WWTPs in different provinces considering the potential energy scarcity risks caused by trading activities. • The DEA and MRIO analyses were combined for 3776 WWTPs in China. • Efficiency evaluation index was modified considering energy scarcity levels. • Scarcity-based energy efficiency assessment framework for WWTPs was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is an indispensable propeller for economic growth. Improving energy efficiency not only mitigates energy scarcity, but also represents an imperative option for reducing ecological and environmental strain, addressing the challenges of contemporary global warming. With China's increasing participation in global value chains through imports, the question arises: can import trade contribute to advancing energy efficiency? This matter holds great significance in resolving present-day energy challenges and fostering sustainable economic progress. We employ super-SBM model to measure the energy efficiency of cities; based on the data collected from prefecture-level cities from 2000 to 2016, Our findings indicate that: (1) Import trade significantly enhances cities' energy efficiency. (2) Geographical and climatic conditions significantly impact the energy effect of import trade; the enhancement effect is more significant in eastern and northeastern regions, low-relief areas, low-temperature and low-humidity cities. (3) Import trade not only improves local energy efficiency, but also promotes energy efficiency improvement in neighbouring cities, this spatial spillover effect holds significantly under various spatial matrices. We must fully utilize the promotional impact of import trade to enhance the energy efficiency of cities, and maintain our commitment to executing an active import promotion strategy. Considering the impact of topography, climate, and other geographical factors, we must emphasize the role of geographical conditions in optimizing energy and environment. Furthermore, we should encourage inter-regional economic and trade exchanges and establish a joint governance mechanism for cross-regional collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, China has experienced similar increasing household energy consumption and income trends. However, how household energy efficiency changes and relates to household income remains unclear. Based on the panel stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model, we find: (1) China's household energy efficiency decreased from 0.917 in 2002 to 0.874 in 2021on average, resulting in growing inefficient energy use from 1779 tons of coal equivalent (tce) in 2002 to 14,773 tce in 2021; (2) household income negatively relates to household energy efficiency, and impacts the distribution of inefficient energy use; (3) household energy efficiency in low-income areas is always the highest and decreases slowly, while that in high-income areas is the lowest and decreases faster; (4) in the low-income region, household survival needs growth with rising income is the main reason for the decline in energy efficiency; in the middle-income group, household survival needs growth and consumption upgrading drives energy efficiency down before and after 2011, respectively; while household consumption upgrading is the driving force for the downward trend of energy efficiency in the high-income regions. Then, corresponding policy implications are proposed. • China's residential energy efficiency between 2002 and 2021 is estimated. • Household income notably relates to energy consumption and energy efficiency. • Energy efficiency in the high-income group is the lowest and decreases fast. • Energy efficiency in the low-income group is the highest and decreases slowly. • Variations in energy consumption structure critically affect energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]