Energy Efficiency最新文献

This paper shares findings from research at the intersection of energy use and racialization — an under-researched topic in the UK. Existing literature can be further strengthened by emphasising the energy use experiences of those who are racially disadvantaged, the role played by structures in contributing to or addressing these disadvantages, and what achieving racial justice can look like, in the UK’s context. We sought to understand the reasons for this gap and identify potential approaches to address it in the UK, through semi-structured interviews, whose responses were analysed thematically and validated through a workshop. Participants for the semi-structured interviews (n = 27) and workshop (n = 45) were identified among energy and social researchers and practitioners in the UK. Interview questions explored reasons for the dearth in research, understanding the current state of energy and racialization research (at an experiential and structural level), and aspiring for racial justice in energy research (through a pluralistic definition of racial justice). Thematic qualitative analysis of the interviews, that were further validated by the workshop, revealed the following areas for further investigation—(a) Energy services where people demonstrably experience racialized disadvantages, namely in the built environment, transport, health, and food; (b) Processes through which racially disadvantaged people are disproportionately impacted by how the energy system is governed, especially with respect to norms around how energy use is managed, trust and acceptance of low-carbon technologies, and access to energy advice services; and (c) Methods to strengthen the evidence’s explanatory power in a non-extractive manner. The paper concludes with a call to further research about the diverse energy practices and needs of racially disadvantaged people, thereby challenging assumptions around an archetypal low-carbon energy consumer, and its implications for energy justice in the path to decarbonise.

In response to climate change, Ireland aims to increase renewable energy generation, with solar photovoltaics (PV) playing a key role. This study investigates whether installing solar PV in Irish homes encourages further energy retrofitting, using a comprehensive dataset of over 375,000 retrofits. The research compares the impact of solar PV installations with that of roof insulation and heating controls upgrades on subsequent retrofit, employing chi-square tests and survival analysis. The findings reveal that solar PV installation is not significantly associated with subsequent retrofitting. While solar PV contributes to renewable energy adoption, it does not effectively drive the comprehensive energy efficiency improvements needed to meet Ireland’s climate targets. The study highlights the need for integrated energy strategies that prioritize both renewable technology adoption and holistic energy performance upgrades, such as insulation and heating system retrofits.

To achieve the "dual carbon goals", China has recently substantially promoted the development of a Smart Energy Network (SEN). This paper develops an index to measure the development level of SENs across 31 regions of China. A composite index approach is adopted to examine the four key dimensions of SEN development: the construction of new energy infrastructure, industrial scale, R&D in SENs, and market penetration. Using the composite index, the paper assesses the impact of the development level of SENs on carbon emission intensity across 31 regions of China. The results show that there are significant regional disparities in China's dual-carbon performance. The integrated development of the SEN significantly enhances dual-carbon performance.

Macroeconomic uncertainties—such as political risk and economic policy instability—have been widely examined in relation to energy transition, security, and environmental performance. However, their impact on energy efficiency remains underexplored. A key question emerges: do geopolitical risks impede energy efficiency or do they compel governments to enhance efficiency and reduce import dependence? This paradox calls for empirical investigation. While recent studies suggest that geopolitical threats may still improve energy efficiency in Europe due to their advanced infrastructure and technological capacity, it is unclear whether these findings hold globally and how outcomes differ across income groups. To address this gap, we employ a news-based geopolitical risk index and endogenous stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to provide a comprehensive global assessment across income levels and time periods for 1985–2022. The results show that geopolitical risks significantly increase global energy inefficiency, with low-income countries most severely affected. However, evidence indicates that, over time, countries may adapt by improving efficiency and diversifying energy sources. Counterfactual scenarios analysis further demonstrates that reducing geopolitical risks could lower global energy inefficiency by at least 13%. These findings highlight the importance of policies that both mitigate geopolitical risks and strengthen the resilience of energy systems worldwide.

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Solar energy serves as an alternative energy source to partially replace traditional fossil fuels. For solar absorbers, ceramic materials are ideal raw materials due to their good thermal properties and temperature stress stability. Vanadium-titanium black ceramic (VTBC) solar collectors were developed to overcome the disadvantages of evacuated tube collectors (ETCs) and metal flat-plate collectors (MFCs). Through a systematic synthesis and data evaluation, this review contributed to the scientific area of ceramic solar collection of recent trends in application types, research methods, collection efficiency, and design and optimization. Laboratory tests show VTBC collectors have an average heat collection efficiency of 39% – 83%, with working fluid outlet temperatures peaking at 75—80 °C. Moreover, VTBC collectors have a service life exceeding 50 years and a manufacturing cost of approximately €22/m². More importantly, this work evaluated the passive thermal performance and economic investments of different building-integrated VTBC collection systems based on systematic data extracted from literature review, expert interviews, and field investigations. Future directions of building-integrated ceramic collection technologies encompass two main aspects: one is the integration method of VTBC with specific building categories or its application in specific geographical areas; the other focuses on the efficiency improvement mechanism of novel types of ceramic collection components.

The transition toward sustainable energy systems has become a global priority, especially among OECD countries that account for a significant share of global emissions. This study examines how financial inclusion influences the pace of energy transition within these economies and examines how environmental policy stringency and global uncertainty conditions this relationship. Using panel data for 20 OECD countries from 2004 to 2023, the study applies fully modified and dynamic ordinary least squares estimators as well as the two-step System Generalized Method of Moments to address potential endogeneity and heterogeneity. The results reveal that financial inclusion significantly promotes energy transition by facilitating access to capital for renewable energy investment and efficiency improvements. Moreover, stringent environmental policies enhance this positive relationship, while higher global uncertainty weakens it by discouraging long-term green investment. These findings highlight the importance of combining inclusive financial systems with consistent environmental regulation to accelerate the shift toward low-carbon energy in advanced economies. The study provides policy insights for governments and financial institutions to design instruments such as green bonds, de-risking mechanisms, and targeted financial inclusion strategies that foster sustainable energy transformation and climate resilience.

This paper investigates how adopting environmental management standards, specifically ISO 14001, influences corporate energy performance—an area often overlooked in empirical research. Using a dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model, we examine the effects of ISO 14001 certification on energy intensity, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and renewable energy use. Our analysis draws on a panel dataset of international manufacturing companies over 2013–2022. The results show that greater ISO 14001 adoption is associated with lower energy intensity and reduced GHG emission rates, as well as increased use of renewable energy. However, we find no statistically significant effect on carbon intensity related to non-renewable energy sources. The dynamic model reveals strong persistence in all dependent variables, highlighting the cumulative nature of these effects and the limitations of static approaches that ignore temporal dynamics. These findings indicate that ISO 14001 adoption is not merely a symbolic initiative but can serve as an effective mechanism for enhancing energy-related performance. Firms should therefore view certification as a strategic investment in long-term energy efficiency and sustainability, integrating it into organizational processes to maximize gradual and cumulative benefits. From a policy perspective, our results point to opportunities for targeted interventions aimed at encouraging the adoption and effective implementation of voluntary environmental management systems. Moreover, the dynamic nature of the observed impacts underscores the need for policymakers and researchers to account for time-lagged and cumulative learning effects when assessing the effectiveness of such voluntary standards.

Human activities are primarily responsible for global environmental issues with climate change as a key aspect. Households are a crucial contributor to the climate change issue. The variables impacting households’ pro-environmental intentions and behaviors largely remain unknown. The literature highlights the significant contribution of households’ intentions and behavior in climate change alleviation. The study analyzes the variables affecting the pro-environmental intentions and behaviors of Jordanian households by employing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The addition of variables such as personal moral norms, and policy and social propaganda further extended its scope. The probability random sampling method was used to accurately represent the Jordanian population. Data were collected randomly via an online survey and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that pro-environmental behaviors and policy and social propaganda determine the pro-environmental behaviors of Jordanian households. Moreover, personal moral obligation, perceived behavioral control, and policy and social propaganda positively impacted the intention. The results provide support to policy makers in promoting environmental behaviors.

This study estimates and compares eco-efficiency across European countries from 2000–2018. The study derives eco-efficiencies from the ratio of gross domestic product to greenhouse gas emissions and identifies eco-efficient countries as those that maximize their production of goods and services per unit of greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, it identifies Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Norway, and Luxembourg as the most eco-efficient countries. Moreover, the paper investigates technological and policy factors that explain variations in eco-efficiency across countries. Countries with stricter environmental policy and higher energy tax revenue per unit of greenhouse gas emissions tend to be more eco-efficient. However, gains in eco-efficiency diminish as policy stringency and taxes increase.

The Indian construction industry's lack of consideration towards energy efficiency aspects of building projects is a major issue that needs attention. This paper aims at applying Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) for designing and developing a net zero energy residential building for a mega city like Ahmedabad in western India. The methodology implemented in this paper includes advanced tools like Revit for model creation and MATLAB for simulation, enabling the optimization of the building design. Leveraging detailed climatic data for Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and specific building parameters, the study effectively enhanced energy efficiency. The Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) played a pivotal role in reducing cooling loads and overall energy consumption through optimized passive design features. The findings highlight the significance of targeted optimization in building design for substantial energy savings and improved thermal performance. Identifying the optimal wall material combination provides valuable insights for future research and practical applications in sustainable building practices. Furthermore, integrating solar panels significantly decreased annual energy consumption, with initial reductions from 9330 to 840 kWh. Subsequent MATLAB optimization further lowered consumption to an average of 37.56 kWh /month, primarily during peak energy demand months of April to July. This endeavor aimed to achieve near-zero energy consumption, showcasing the potential of renewable energy integration in building sustainability.