Energy Efficiency最新文献

Data collection and analysis on the implementation of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) under Article 8 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) vary widely across European countries. This paper focuses on the management and enforcement of Energy Audits (EAs) obligation, and the associated EEMs information, in Portugal and Italy, two countries with distinct approaches. Specifically, the study delves into the Portuguese SGCIE (Sistema de Gestão dos Consumos Intensivos de Energia), and the implementation of the Italian Legislative Decree 102/2014 along with Ministerial Decree 256/2024 (Decreto Energivori). In Portugal, SGCIE plays a pivotal role in monitoring energy-intensive installations, mainly from the industrial sector, fostering the adoption of EEMs through a mandatory framework. This paper investigates how SGCIE collects data from EAs, enforces the implementation of EEMs, and tracks energy savings, contributing to national and EU energy efficiency goals. Similarly, the study delves into the Italian framework, analysing EAs obligations governance and EEMs data managing, particularly for energy-intensive industries. Emphasis is placed on the effectiveness of these mechanisms in gathering and utilizing information on EEMs. This analysis highlights the strengths of each system, underscoring key differences in how Portugal and Italy have transposed Art. 8 EED obligations into national law. The findings show that both countries have developed robust digital systems to collect and analyse EEMs data, offering valuable insights into energy consumption trends and policy impacts. These approaches improve data quality, support company-level energy management, and provide a foundation to meet the more stringent requirements of the revised EED (EU/2023/1791).

Evaluating energy efficiency (EE) in the manufacturing sector at the national level is analytically challenging due to the sector's heterogeneity and the limitations of commonly used indicators. Despite manufacturing’s central role in industrial decarbonization, there is no comprehensive overview of the quantitative methods used to assess its EE. This study addresses this gap by systematically reviewing 110 peer-reviewed studies published between 2005 and 2024, focusing on the evolution, application, and reliability of ratio-based indicators, decomposition techniques (Index and Structural Decomposition Analysis), frontier methods (Data Envelopment and Stochastic Frontier Analysis), and econometric approaches. The review reveals a strong preference for econometric analysis, followed by ratio indicators and index decomposition, while frontier and structural decomposition techniques remain underused. We identify four key challenges that can affect the robustness of EE assessments: definition inconsistencies in conceptualizing EE, data limitations affecting disaggregation and comparability, potential misalignment between methods and data, and interpretation challenges when translating findings into policy insights. Our systematic assessment indicates that most studies fall short of good methodological practices, with ratio-based methods performing strongest overall, suggesting that robust EE assessment requires (a) methods aligned with specific contexts, (b) sufficiently disaggregated data, and (c) awareness of methodological limitations. This review offers a framework for addressing methodological challenges in manufacturing EE analysis, improving the reliability of information available to policymakers for effective EE interventions.

This article emphasizes the crucial role of measuring corporate carbon footprints and the associated economic benefits. Through an in-depth case analysis of a major facility, the study thoroughly examines the transformative impact of eco-design applications in pump manufacturing. By analyzing the implementation of EU 547/2012 (EU547) and EU 547/2012 EPA (EU-EPA) regulations, the study demonstrates significant achievements in carbon emission and energy efficiency improvement. The organization's commitment to environmental responsibility has resulted in significant carbon footprint reduction through the use of eco-design pumps. These sustainability measures contributed to a 4.8% reduction in total carbon emissions originating from pump usage, further highlighting broader environmental benefits. The article provides practical insights and quantitative evidence for organizations striving to balance ecological responsibility and economic sustainability by emphasizing the significance of sustainable design in the industrial sector. Furthermore, the study explores the financial dimensions of sustainability, showcasing how even modest investments can yield substantial returns. Under a hypothetical scenario where all pumps sold are eco-designed, potential savings of 1,092,437 USD are projected.

Standard thermal comfort models often fail to capture individual thermal sensations and offer limited interpretability for practical use. This study presents a building-specific, occupant-centric approach that combines self-reported comfort data with interpretable machine learning. The methodology is demonstrated through a case study involving self-reporting campaigns conducted during summer and winter seasons, accompanied by the development of a random forest regression (RFR) model. We employ three IML techniques namely Partial Dependence Plots (PDPs), SHAP values, and surrogate models to enhance the understanding of this RFR model. These interpretative tools facilitate a deeper understanding of the factors influencing thermal comfort, enabling targeted interventions for energy savings and improved occupant satisfaction. While the methodology offers a replicable framework for occupant-centric building control systems, it acknowledges limitations such as reliance on subjective self-reporting and the exclusion of architectural features. This research emphasizes the importance of integrating interpretable machine learning techniques to balance accuracy and usability, laying the groundwork for energy-efficient and occupant-focused indoor environmental management.

The important role of heat pump technology in the decarbonization challenge of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems is nowadays widely recognized by the scientific community and stakeholders. In this field, Ground Source Heat Pump systems represent one of the most promising solutions because of the much more favourable temperature of the ground if compared to ambient air, which is affected by weather conditions. Furthermore, air source heat pumps are further penalized by the defrosting cycles of the finned coil heat exchanger during the heating period. The continuous reduction of the building peak thermal loads and energy needs, thanks to the improvement of standards and European targets in the building sector, has revived the interest of operators in horizontal geothermal systems. In the past, this type of ground heat exchangers was normally not considered due to the large space needed for their installation. In the literature there is a lack of works and research of ground source heat pump systems coupled with shallow flat-panel ground heat exchangers. The present work improves the knowledge of this latter technology. The study analyses and compares the thermal behaviour of flat-panel and vertical 2U ground heat exchangers loops by means of using TRNSYS simulation tool. The simulations have been used to obtain the energy performance of the ground loops coupled with the heat pump. The comparison highlights the differences between different case studies and how the flat-panel ground heat exchangers field is a possible alternative to the current systems.

The technology manufacturing industry has been confirmed as one of the most polluting industries in the world. Hence, this article develops green psychology ownership theory to address how sustainable leadership affects renewable energy strategy adoption through the mediating role of GPO and the moderating role of institutional pressure in the context of the technology manufacturing industry. However, previous research paid insufficient attention to the drivers of adopting a renewable energy strategy, so this article borrows from the theory of cognitive consistency to address the adoption model. To validate the renewable energy strategy model, this article collects 100 chief executive officers of technology manufacturing firms and 300 followers in Taiwan. It uses multilevel growth curve modeling to analyze the longitudinal data. The empirical result can contribute to the literature on energy conversion and management and guide technology manufacturing firms to achieve sustainable renewable energy development

This study investigates consumers’ reactions to housing energy labels, which are mandated for inclusion in new real estate advertisements in Japan. By employing an eye-tracking experiment, we collected data on the reaction times and the number of round trips between two areas of interest (AOIs) to identify the most effective design elements for energy labels. Additionally, a panel analysis was conducted to control for individual effects, utilizing both the experimental data and the responses to a follow-up questionnaire. The dependent variables in the panel analysis were the reaction times and number of round trips between the AOIs. The findings reveal that energy labels in real estate advertisements significantly enhance consumers’ understanding of energy-saving standards. Furthermore, the results underscore the critical role of label design. Specifically, positioning reference information on the left side of the label improves clarity. If a property exhibits poor energy-saving performance, emphasizing the deviation from the energy-saving standard proves effective. Moreover, this study suggests that using energy labels is effective regardless of the degree of consumers’ concern about the environment. Given that energy labels raise consumers’ awareness of household energy standards and promote energy-saving behavior, the early implementation of labeling for all properties, whether for sale or rent, is strongly recommended.

This study explores the profound impact of emotional amplification on public attitudes towards waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration facilities through the lens of emotional contagion theory. A cohort of 240 participants initially underwent baseline assessments of their perceptions of WTE facilities. They were then exposed to stimuli designed to evoke positive or negative emotional responses, followed by reassessment to identify shifts in their perceptions and acceptance levels. Utilizing paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA, the analysis revealed that emotional amplification markedly influences public attitudes, with participants showing increased support or opposition depending on the emotional valence of the stimuli. These findings underscore the crucial role of emotions in shaping public opinion on WTE incineration facilities, offering essential insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and community leaders. The integration of emotional contagion theory with empirical research provides a novel perspective on the interplay between emotions and public perceptions in environmental discourse, advancing our understanding of the factors driving public opinion and aiding stakeholders in managing opposition incidents effectively.

Many range hoods on the market that use double-inlet Sirocco fans have significant shortcomings. This issue can be addressed by utilizing high-efficiency in-line duct fans. In this study, a commercially available canopy range hood was used as a reference unit. Two high-efficiency in-line duct fans, IL-Model(1) and IL-Model(2), were designed using professional fan design software. The target design specifications to compete with the internal Sirocco fan in the reference unit were around 22–24 CMM and 900–1100 Pa, respectively. These two fans were produced using 3D printing. Wind tunnel tests for IL-Model(1) and IL-Model(2) showed that the maximum air flow rate differed by less than 10% compared to CFD software analysis. When comparing the performance of the two fans to the Sirocco fan under the same 150 mm outlet diameter, the maximum air flow rate increased by 36.45% and 26.29%, the maximum static pressure increased by 33.04% and 38.30%, and the power consumption decreased from 23.9 W/CMM to 17.0 W/CMM and 20.0 W/CMM, respectively. This design effectively improves the performance and energy efficiency of range hoods.

In the last decade, global IP traffic has increased more than tenfold, and so has the demand for Data Center services, leading to concerns about increasing energy consumption. The huge diffusion and rapid growth of the Data Centers industry not only increases the availability and quality of cloud and data services, but also the demand for electricity and water by the digital services industry. The decarbonization process requires the deployment of non-programmable renewable energy sources in power systems, requiring unprecedented attention to grid flexibility and securityIn this context, Data Centers can provide balancing services by Demand Response strategies, modifying or temporarily reducing their electrical consumptions during specific times. Thereby, this research first presents the energy consumption derived from an experimental survey carried out in an existent Data Center. On this basis, a numerical energy model developed using TRNSYS software has been calibrated and validated. Finally, the possibility for DC to participate in the electricity flexibility market a novel demand response strategy that exploits the fluctuations of indoor air temperature and humidity has been investigated. As a result, the proposed flexibility scenario gives rise to a reduction of the electricity needs of about 30% of the cooling load.