An Innovative Double-Frontier Approach to Measure Sustainability Efficiency Based on an Energy Use and Operations Management Perspective

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article proposes a new double frontier data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to measure the sustainability efficiency of China's regions, considering both energy use and operations management.

Limitations:

- It is not clear why the proposed double frontier approach is superior to existing sustainability measurement methods.

- It would be better to provide illustrative numerical examples of the key steps.

- Discussion of limitations is missing, such as whether there are other important sustainability dimensions beyond energy use and operations management.

- The results can be better interpreted using additional context on China's sustainability policies and goals.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

This article proposes a new double frontier data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to measure the sustainability efficiency of China's regions, considering both energy use and operations management.

Limitations:

- It is not clear why the proposed double frontier approach is superior to existing sustainability measurement methods.

- It would be better to provide illustrative numerical examples of the key steps.

- Discussion of limitations is missing, such as whether there are other important sustainability dimensions beyond energy use and operations management.

- The results can be better interpreted using additional context on China's sustainability policies and goals.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The research is focused on an innovative double-frontier approach to measure sustainability efficiency - based on energy use and operations management perspective. Much work has been done in this study, but the authors should take note of the following concerns:

1.     The authors should eliminate all pronouns such as we, our, us, etc. Standard means of writing a manuscript should be used.

2.     The authors should confirm that this paper's citation style conforms with the Energies format.

3.     Great mathematical expressions were highlighted in this paper, but the numbering of the equations sometimes gets messy. Equation sub-numbering was done sometimes (e.g., in equations 3 and 11) but not in many others; also, the sub-numbering of equations is not done neatly (i.e., do not align)—consistency matters.

4.     The constraints considered in modeling Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) were expressed in the equations (in some instances) but were never explained in the context. This should be addressed.

5.     The manuscript should be subjected to minor grammatical editing.

6.     The authors are encouraged to include the Table comparing this research with similar recent research to show the superiority of their proposed method.

7.     Under the Introduction section, the authors wrote: "The contribution of this study is as follows: (1) The new parametric linear model in the envelopment network form is equivalent to the parametric linear model in the multiplier network form." This sentence appears like an ordinary statement; it is difficult to figure out the contribution of this statement. The authors should please clarify or reframe the sentence.

 

8.     The authors should highlight two to three directions for future research.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

After revising the paper, I find that the authors have satisfactorily addressed the comments and concerns raised in the initial review.

The revised manuscript meets the required standards and can now be accepted for publication.