Energy Use Efficiency
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Editor
Prof. Dr. Almas Heshmati
Prof. Dr. Almas Heshmati
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Guest Editor
Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), Jönköping University, Room B5017, P.O. Box 1026, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
Interests: applied microeconomics; globalization; development strategy; efficiency; productivity and growth with application to manufacturing and services
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Topical Collection Information
Dear Colleagues,
Energy is one of the most important factors of production. Its efficient use is crucial for production and environmental quality. Unlike normal goods with supply management, energy is demand-managed. Efficient energy use or energy efficiency aims to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Energy use efficiency can be achieved in housing, offices, industrial production, transport and agriculture, as well as in public lighting and services. The use of energy can be reduced by using technology that is energy saving. There are many benefits associated with energy use reduction leading to reduced energy dependency and vulnerability and improved energy security. Various incentive-based programs are provided to the public to promote the development, installation and use of energy efficient technologies and equipment. The policy is to protect air, water and land and to prevent climate change and negative health impacts by reducing the generation and use of energy from fossil fuels and nuclear primary sources. Saving energy to reserve these resources for future generations and conserving natural resources has double dividend effects in the form of cost efficiency and the realization of sustainability. Authors of solid and full-length empirical studies using data at the household, firm, farm, industry, region and country level and advanced methods are invited to submit their research for publication in this Special Issue.
Prof. Dr. Almas Heshmati
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Energy use efficiency
- Energy policy and incentives
- Energy cost efficiency
- Improved environmental quality
- Energy saving
- Energy efficient technologies and equipment
Published Papers (14 papers)
Open AccessArticle
Dynamic Data Envelopment Analysis Model Involving Undesirable Outputs in the Electricity Power Generation Sector: The Case of Latin America and the Caribbean Countries
by
Sebastian Cuadros, Yeny E. Rodríguez and Javier Contreras
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2294
Abstract
Studying the evolution of the efficiency of the electricity generation sector is a relevant task for policy makers, and requires the undesirable outputs derived from the activity to be considered in the evaluation. In this work, we propose a dynamic slack-based Data Envelopment
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Studying the evolution of the efficiency of the electricity generation sector is a relevant task for policy makers, and requires the undesirable outputs derived from the activity to be considered in the evaluation. In this work, we propose a dynamic slack-based Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model that incorporates the assumption of weak disposability between the generation of electricity from fossil sources and the CO
2 emissions caused by the sector to measure the technical efficiency of 24 Latin American and Caribbean countries in the period 2000–2016. The results show that, of the total number of countries studied, four are efficient overall, and four groupings of countries in relation to the levels of efficiency achieved are also identified. These results are important given that less-efficient countries can, through learning, increase their efficiency in electricity generation or emulate the future strategies proposed by the most efficient countries.
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Open AccessArticle
Introduction to the Dynamics of Heat Transfer in Buildings
by
Bożena Babiarz and Władysław Szymański
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2150
Abstract
Changing climatic conditions cause the variability of the parameters of the building’s surroundings, which in turn causes both the gains and losses of heat to change over time. There is variability in both daily and annual cycles. Meeting the requirements of thermal comfort
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Changing climatic conditions cause the variability of the parameters of the building’s surroundings, which in turn causes both the gains and losses of heat to change over time. There is variability in both daily and annual cycles. Meeting the requirements of thermal comfort in rooms requires maintaining the required parameters, including constant temperature. Heat gains and losses must be balanced, and this balance is ensured through appropriate heating systems. At the same time, the above means that the demand for heating buildings is not constant but depends on external weather conditions and the energy efficiency of the building. This, in turn, affects the thermal inertia, causing changes in the partition temperature to occur slower than the changes in air temperature. Therefore, the amplitude of the heating power changes is not proportional to the amplitude of the outside air temperature change. The paper presents an example of the analysis of thermal dynamics in buildings. Various aspects of heat transfer in the building were investigated taking into account the transient conditions. The variability of temperature over time at different depths of the partition was analysed, showing the results graphically. The periodic variability of the outside air temperature and the intensity of solar radiation were described by the Fourier series. Moreover, the article shows the influence of the thermal insulation thickness of the external wall on the annual amplitude of temperature changes and on the duration of the heating season, which is important from the point of view of optimization.
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Open AccessArticle
Setting up Energy Efficiency Management in Companies: Preliminary Lessons Learned from the Petroleum Industry
by
Bartlomiej Gawin and Bartosz Marcinkowski
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1810
Abstract
In the era of expensive energy carriers and care for the climate, companies are keen to take action towards bolstering energy efficiency. Businesses often lack data on actual energy consumption to date, are rarely equipped with adequate analytical tools, and do not have
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In the era of expensive energy carriers and care for the climate, companies are keen to take action towards bolstering energy efficiency. Businesses often lack data on actual energy consumption to date, are rarely equipped with adequate analytical tools, and do not have the know-how regarding the transition itself. Developing energy efficiency management (EEM) for a given enterprise requires many steps, which ultimately unleash analytical potential and seamlessly integrate the EEM framework with the business model of a given company. This study scrutinizes and formalizes a reference process of pilot EEM implementation that involves external business partners in a multi-facility organization. The process is tailored to the specificity of the company’s operations as well as its technical and management capabilities regarding energy efficiency. The proposed approach, phased in time and involving multiple stakeholders, should be especially useful for practitioners running EEM-related projects characterized by uncertain and changing requirements.
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Open AccessArticle
How to Foster the Adoption of Electricity Smart Meters? A Longitudinal Field Study of Residential Consumers
by
Anna Kowalska-Pyzalska, Katarzyna Byrka and Jakub Serek
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
The objective of this research was to explore correlates and predictors that play a role in the process of adopting and withdrawing from using a smart metering information platform (SMP). The SMP supports energy monitoring behaviors of the electricity consumers. The literature review
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The objective of this research was to explore correlates and predictors that play a role in the process of adopting and withdrawing from using a smart metering information platform (SMP). The SMP supports energy monitoring behaviors of the electricity consumers. The literature review shows, however, that not every customer is ready to the same extent to adopt novel solutions. Adoption requires going through stages of readiness to monitor energy consumption in a household. In a longitudinal field experiment on Polish residential consumers, we aimed to see whether messages congruent with the stage of readiness in which participants declared to be at a given moment will be more effective in prompting participants to progress to the next stage than a general message or a passive control condition. We also tested the effect of attitude and knowledge about energy monitoring on phase changes. Our study reveals that what affects the phase change is the participation in the study. The longer the participants were engaged in the usage of SMP, the more willing they were to monitor their energy consumption in the future. This result sheds light on the future educational and marketing efforts of the authorities and energy suppliers.
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Open AccessArticle
An Assessment of Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars in South Korea
by
Seungho Jeon, Minyoung Roh, Almas Heshmati and Suduk Kim
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2406
Abstract
The shift in consumer preferences for large-sized cars has increased the energy intensity (EI) of passenger cars, while growth in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales has decreased EI in recent years in South Korea. In order to lower passenger cars’ EI, the South
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The shift in consumer preferences for large-sized cars has increased the energy intensity (EI) of passenger cars, while growth in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales has decreased EI in recent years in South Korea. In order to lower passenger cars’ EI, the South Korean government has implemented the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards with a credit system, in which the sale of one energy-efficient car (for example, a BEV) can get multiple credits. This study analyzes CAFE standards in terms of both the EI improvement sensitivity scenarios and the degree of credits for BEVs and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by using the Global Change Assessment Model (GCAM). In this study, passenger cars include small, medium, and large sedans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), BEVs, and FCEVs. The findings of this study are as follows: First, from the policy design perspective, a proper setting of the credit system for BEVs and FCEVs is a very important variable for automakers to achieve CAFE standards. Second, from the technology promotion perspective, active promotion of fuel efficiency improvements through CAFE standards are important since Better-EI and Best-EI scenarios are found to achieve CAFE standards even when a BEV or a FCEV receives a credit of one car sale in 2030.
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Open AccessArticle
Modeling Air Pollutant Emissions in the Provincial Level Road Transportation Sector in Korea: A Case Study of the Zero-Emission Vehicle Subsidy
by
Minyoung Roh, Seungho Jeon, Soontae Kim, Sha Yu, Almas Heshmati and Suduk Kim
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2813
Abstract
South Korea has been suffering from high PM
2.5 pollution. Previous studies have contributed to establishing PM
2.5 mitigation policies but have not considered provincial features and sector-interactions. In that sense, the integrated assessment model (IAM) could complement the shortcomings of previous studies.
[...] Read more.
South Korea has been suffering from high PM
2.5 pollution. Previous studies have contributed to establishing PM
2.5 mitigation policies but have not considered provincial features and sector-interactions. In that sense, the integrated assessment model (IAM) could complement the shortcomings of previous studies. IAM, capable of analyzing PM
2.5 pollution levels at the provincial level in Korea, however, has not been developed yet. Hence, this study (i) expands on IAM which can represent provincial-level spatial resolution in Korea (GCAM-Korea) with air pollutant emissions modeling which focuses on the road transportation sector and (ii) examines the zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) subsidy policy’s effects on PM
2.5 mitigation using the expanded GCAM-Korea. Simulation results show that PM
2.5 emissions decrease by 0.6–4.1% compared to the baseline, and the Seoul metropolitan area contributes 38–44% to the overall PM
2.5 emission reductions. As the ZEVs subsidy is weighted towards the light-duty vehicle 4-wheels (LDV4W) sector, various spillover effects are found: ZEVs’ share rises intensively in the LDV4W sector leading to an increase in its service costs, and at the same time, driving bus service costs to become relatively cheaper. This, in turn, drives an increase in bus service demand and emissions discharge. Furthermore, this type of impact of the ZEVs subsidy policy does not reduce internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in freight trucks, although diesel freight trucks are a major contributor to PM
2.5 emissions and also to NO
x.
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Open AccessArticle
Energy Intensity and Long- and Short-Term Efficiency in US Manufacturing Industry
by
Oleg Badunenko and Subal C. Kumbhakar
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1824
Abstract
We analyze energy use efficiency of manufacturing industries in US manufacturing over five decades from 1960 to 2011. We apply a 4-component stochastic frontier model, which allows disentangling efficiency into a short- and long-term efficiency as well as accounting for industry heterogeneity. The
[...] Read more.
We analyze energy use efficiency of manufacturing industries in US manufacturing over five decades from 1960 to 2011. We apply a 4-component stochastic frontier model, which allows disentangling efficiency into a short- and long-term efficiency as well as accounting for industry heterogeneity. The data come from NBER-CES Manufacturing Industry Database. We find that relative to decade-specific frontiers, the overall efficiency of manufacturing industries, which is a product of transient and persistent efficiencies has deteriorated greatly in the 1970s and rebounded only in the 2000s. The industries are very efficient in the short-term and this has not changed over five decades. The high level of overall inefficiency is almost completely due to the structural inefficiency which can be explained by what is referred to as the “energy paradox”. Finally, higher energy-intensive industries perform worse in terms of energy use efficiency than their low energy-intensity counterparts.
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Open AccessArticle
Measurement of Energy Access Using Fuzzy Logic
by
Diego Seuret-Jimenez, Tiare Robles-Bonilla and Karla G. Cedano
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2686
Abstract
This paper describes an innovative method to evaluate energy access in any of size population by applying fuzzy logic. The obtained results allow ranking regions of Mexico according to their overall energy access. The regions were determined by the country’s political division (32
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This paper describes an innovative method to evaluate energy access in any of size population by applying fuzzy logic. The obtained results allow ranking regions of Mexico according to their overall energy access. The regions were determined by the country’s political division (32 states). The results presented herein are in close correspondence with other studies undertaken. This method is recommended because it is possible to use as an assessment tool due to its representativeness—that is, it poses a heuristic alternative to quantify the level of Energy Access in a particular region through qualitative data. It is also efficient and cost-effective in terms of computer resources. This is extremely important to public policy makers that require more accurate, faster and cheaper methodologies to assess energy access as an indicator of well-being.
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Open AccessArticle
Energy Use and Labor Productivity in Ethiopia: The Case of the Manufacturing Industry
by
Selamawit G. Kebede and Almas Heshmati
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2961
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of energy use on labor productivity in the Ethiopian manufacturing industry. It uses panel data for the manufacturing industry groups to estimate the coefficients using the dynamic panel estimator. The study’s results confirm that energy use increases manufacturing
[...] Read more.
This study investigates the effect of energy use on labor productivity in the Ethiopian manufacturing industry. It uses panel data for the manufacturing industry groups to estimate the coefficients using the dynamic panel estimator. The study’s results confirm that energy use increases manufacturing labor productivity. The coefficients for the control variables are in keeping with theoretical predictions. Capital positively augments productivity in the industries. Based on our results, technology induces manufacturing’s labor productivity. Likewise, more labor employment induces labor productivity due to the dominance of labor-intensive manufacturing industries in Ethiopia. Alternative model specifications provide evidence of a robust link between energy and labor productivity in the Ethiopian manufacturing industry. Our results imply that there needs to be more focus on the efficient use of energy, labor, capital, and technology to increase the manufacturing industry’s labor productivity and to overcome the premature deindustrialization patterns being seen in Ethiopia.
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Open AccessArticle
Energy Consumption Analysis for Vehicle Production through a Material Flow Approach
by
Fernando Enzo Kenta Sato and Toshihiko Nakata
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 9028
Abstract
The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the energy consumption in the automotive industry, clarifying the effect of its productive processes. For this propose, the material flow of the vehicles has been elaborated, from mining to vehicle assembly. Initially, processes where
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The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the energy consumption in the automotive industry, clarifying the effect of its productive processes. For this propose, the material flow of the vehicles has been elaborated, from mining to vehicle assembly. Initially, processes where each type of material was used, and the relationship between them, were clarified. Subsequently, material flow was elaborated, while considering materials input in each process. Consequently, the consumption of energy resources (i.e., oil, natural gas, coal, and electricity) was calculated. Open data were utilized, and the effects on the Japanese vehicle market were analyzed as a case study. Our results indicate that the energy that is required for vehicle production is 41.8 MJ/kg per vehicle, where mining and material production processes represent 68% of the total consumption. Moreover, 5.23 kg of raw materials and energy resources are required to produce 1 kg of vehicle. Finally, this study proposed values of energy consumption per mass of part produced, which can be used to facilitate future material and energy analysis for the automotive industry. Those values can be adopted and modified as necessary, allowing for possible changes in future premises to be incorporated.
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Open AccessArticle
Energy Use Efficiency Past-to-Future Evaluation: An International Comparison
by
Chia-Nan Wang, Thi-Duong Nguyen and Min-Chun Yu
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2455
Abstract
Despite the many benefits that energy consumption brings to the economy, consuming energy also leads nations to expend more resources on environmental pollution. Therefore, energy efficiency has been proposed as a solution to improve national economic competitiveness and sustainability. However, the growth in
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Despite the many benefits that energy consumption brings to the economy, consuming energy also leads nations to expend more resources on environmental pollution. Therefore, energy efficiency has been proposed as a solution to improve national economic competitiveness and sustainability. However, the growth in energy demand is accelerating while policy efforts to boost energy efficiency are slowing. To solve this problem, the efficiency gains in countries where energy consumption efficiency is of the greatest concern such as China, India, the United States, and Europe, especially, emerging economies, is central. Additionally, governments must take greater policy actions. Therefore, this paper studied 25 countries from Asia, the Americas, and Europe to develop a method combining the grey method (GM) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) slack-based measure model (SMB) to measure and forecast the energy efficiency, so that detailed energy efficiency evaluation can be made from the past to the future; moreover, this method can be extended to more countries around the world. The results of this study reveal that European countries have a higher energy efficiency than countries in Americas (except the United States) and Asian countries. Our findings also show that an excess of total energy consumption is the main reason causing the energy inefficiency in most countries. This study contributes to policymaking and strategy makers by sharing the understanding of the status of energy efficiency and providing insights for the future.
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Open AccessArticle
Effectiveness of a Power Factor Correction Policy in Improving the Energy Efficiency of Large-Scale Electricity Users in Ghana
by
Samuel Lotsu, Yuichiro Yoshida, Katsufumi Fukuda and Bing He
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6988
Abstract
Confronting an energy crisis, the government of Ghana enacted a power factor correction policy in 1995. The policy imposes a penalty on large-scale electricity users, namely, special load tariff (SLT) customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), whose power factor is below
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Confronting an energy crisis, the government of Ghana enacted a power factor correction policy in 1995. The policy imposes a penalty on large-scale electricity users, namely, special load tariff (SLT) customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), whose power factor is below 90%. This paper investigates the impact of this policy on these firms’ power factor improvement by using panel data from 183 SLT customers from 1994 to 1997 and from 2012. To avoid potential endogeneity, this paper adopts a regression discontinuity design (RDD) with the power factor of the firms in the previous year as a running variable, with its cutoff set at the penalty threshold. The result shows that these large-scale electricity users who face the penalty because their power factor falls just short of the threshold are more likely to improve their power factor in the subsequent year, implying that the power factor correction policy implemented by Ghana’s government is effective.
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Open AccessArticle
The Technological Progress of the Fuel Consumption Rate for Passenger Vehicles in China: 2009–2016
by
Jihu Zheng, Rujie Yu, Yong Liu, Yuhong Zou and Dongchang Zhao
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2821
Abstract
China has set stringent fuel consumption rate (FCR) targets to address the serious environmental and energy security problems caused by vehicles. Estimating the technological progress and tradeoffs between FCR and vehicle attributes is important for assessing the viability of meeting future targets. In
[...] Read more.
China has set stringent fuel consumption rate (FCR) targets to address the serious environmental and energy security problems caused by vehicles. Estimating the technological progress and tradeoffs between FCR and vehicle attributes is important for assessing the viability of meeting future targets. In this paper, we explored the relationship between vehicle FCR and other attributes using a regression model with data from 2009–2016. We also quantified the difference in the tradeoff between local and joint venture brands. The result showed that from 2009 to 2016, if power and curb mass were held constant, 2.3% and 2.9% annual technological progress should have been achieved for local and joint venture brands, respectively. The effectiveness of fuel-efficient technologies for joint venture brands is generally better than that of local brands. Impacts of other attributes on FCR were also assessed. The joint venture brands made more technological progress with FCR improvement than that of local brands. Even if 100% of technological progress (assume the technological progress in the future were the same as that of 2009–2016) investment were used to improve actual FCR after 2016, it would be difficult to meet 2020 target. Accelerating the adoption of fuel-efficient technologies, and controlling weight and performance, are both needed to achieve the 2020 and 2025 targets.
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Open AccessArticle
Direct Rebound Effect for Electricity Consumption of Urban Residents in China Based on the Spatial Spillover Effect
by
Ying Han, Jianhua Shi, Yuanfan Yang and Yaxin Wang
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2368
Abstract
Based on methods of price decomposition and spatial econometrics, this paper improves the model for calculating the direct energy rebound effect employing the panel data of China’s urban residents’ electricity consumption for an empirical analysis. Results show that the global spatial correlation of
[...] Read more.
Based on methods of price decomposition and spatial econometrics, this paper improves the model for calculating the direct energy rebound effect employing the panel data of China’s urban residents’ electricity consumption for an empirical analysis. Results show that the global spatial correlation of urban residents’ electricity consumption has a significant positive value. The direct rebound effect and its spillover effects are 37% and 13%, respectively. Due to the spatial spillover effects, the realization of energy-saving targets in the local region depends on the implementation effect of energy efficiency policies in the surrounding areas. However, the spatial spillover effect is low, and the direct rebound effect induced by the local region is still the dominant factor affecting the implementation of energy efficiency. The direct rebound effect for urban residents’ electricity consumption eliminating the spatial spillover effect does not show a significant downward trend. The main reason is that the rapid urbanization process at the current stage has caused a rigid residents’ electricity demand and large-scale marginal consumer groups, which offsets the inhibition effect of income growth on the direct rebound effect.
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Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these
manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers
submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: Linking household and productive use of electricity with mini-grid dimensioning and operation
Authors: Elias Hartvigsson
Affiliation: Chalmers University of Technology
Abstract: Off-grid systems, and mini-grids in particular, are expected to play a significant role in improve electricity access to 1 billion people until 2040. One of the major challenges for mini-grids is associated with their high costs, low financial viability and local development impact. Productive use of electricity is an important driver of local development and impacts the total load in a mini-grid. By using a mixture of high-resolution measurements and long-term data on electricity expenditures and purchased electricity from a mini-grid in Tanzania we analyse the technical and economic impact from household and productive use of electricity respectively. We find that a mixture of household use and productive use of electricity provides both technical and economic benefits for the operator. In addition, we find that the number of productive user customers are much fewer than household customers, but are responsible for the peak demand in the mini-grid and contributes to almost half of the operator’s income. Lastly, we find empirical evidence suggesting that expenditure and demand are unit elastic, especially for households, which has implications on economic policies targeting rural electrification.
