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1 – 10 of over 50000The purpose of this paper is to review and evaluate energy use and performance, as well as existing energy efficiency policy and measures in the Latvian industrial sector, in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review and evaluate energy use and performance, as well as existing energy efficiency policy and measures in the Latvian industrial sector, in order to highlight possible scenarios for energy efficiency improvements in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper takes the form of a literature review and data analysis.
Findings
It is concluded that the existing energy efficiency measures for the industrial sector in Latvia do not work effectively. Also, it is expected that the planned measures for energy efficiency improvements for the industrial sector will not reach the defined energy saving targets in the framework of the Latvian NEEAP. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a common strategy on energy efficiency in the industrial sector in Latvia. This should be accomplished by reviewing the existing literature and data, as well as drawing up new, well‐designed energy efficiency measures.
Practical implications
The results of this study can be applied and used in the development of energy efficiency policy for the industrial sector in Latvia. The paper also points out the main weak points of existing policy measures that can be improved in order to meet the energy saving target for the Latvian industrial sector.
Originality/value
In this paper, the Latvian industrial sector's energy efficiency policy and related measures have been organized and evaluated for the first time. Also, the importance of energy efficiency improvements in the industrial sector has been highlighted. This is evident from the fact that, currently, almost no energy efficiency measure for the industrial sector in Latvia works sufficiently.
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Thomas Weyman-Jones, Júlia Mendonça Boucinha and Catarina Feteira Inácio
There is a great interest from the European Union in measuring the efficiency of energy use in households, and this is an area where EDP has done research in both data collection…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a great interest from the European Union in measuring the efficiency of energy use in households, and this is an area where EDP has done research in both data collection and methodology. This paper reports on a survey of electric energy use in Portuguese households, and reviews and extends the analysis of how efficiently households use electrical energy. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate household electrical energy efficiency in different regions using econometric analysis of the survey data. In addition, the same methodology was applied to a time-series data set, to evaluate recent developments in energy efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes the application to Portuguese households of a new approach to evaluate energy efficiency, developed by Filippini and Hunt (2011, 2012) in which an econometric energy demand model was estimated to control for exogenous variables determining energy demand. The variation in energy efficiency over time and space could then be estimated by applying econometric efficiency analysis to determine the variation in energy efficiency.
Findings
The results obtained allowed the identification of priority regions and consumer bands to reduce inefficiency in electricity consumption. The time-series data set shows that the expected electricity savings from the efficiency measures recently introduced by official authorities were fully realized.
Research limitations/implications
This approach gives some guidance on how to introduce electricity saving measures in a more cost effective way.
Originality/value
This paper outlines a new procedure for developing useful tools for modelling energy efficiency.
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Yifei Tong, Ruiwen Zhao, Wei Ye and Dongbo Li
Crane plays a very important role in national economy with greatly reduced labor intensity, improved production efficiency and promoted social development as an indispensable…
Abstract
Purpose
Crane plays a very important role in national economy with greatly reduced labor intensity, improved production efficiency and promoted social development as an indispensable auxiliary tool and process equipment. Therefore, its energy consumption becomes an unavoidable topic and in fact, energy consumption of crane is very huge. It has been proved to be the most cost-effective way for reducing energy consumption to establish and implement new energy efficiency standard. Thus, it is necessary to analyze and evaluate the energy efficiency for overhead crane so as to propose a new energy efficiency standard. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, four kinds of energy consumption sources of overhead crane is considered, based on which, an energy efficiency grading model for overhead crane based on BP neural network is proposed. Second, DS evidential theory is analyzed and based on it, an energy efficiency evaluation model based on BP neural network and DS evidential theory is proposed. The evaluation procedure is discussed in detail. Then, a case is demonstrated how the evaluation is carried out.
Findings
If overhead cranes with different energy consumptions need to be graded according to energy efficiency, the criterions to establish the energy efficiency labels for overhead cranes is proposed in this paper.
Practical implications
The research results can provide energy efficiency standard proposal of overhead crane for relative departments to monitor the design, manufacturing and use of overhead crane.
Originality/value
An energy efficiency grading model for overhead crane based on BP neural network is proposed. An energy efficiency evaluation model based on BP neural network and DS evidential theory is proposed.
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Hale Özgit and Serkan Abbasoğlu
This paper aims to review the current state of energy efficiency in North Cyprus and the extent to which this supports small island sustainable tourism development, together with…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the current state of energy efficiency in North Cyprus and the extent to which this supports small island sustainable tourism development, together with related policy implications.
Design/methodology/approach
Documentary analysis is used to evaluate energy efficiency studies in North Cyprus.
Findings
Results of this study reveal that the legal framework relating to energy efficiency and stakeholder reports about the level of energy efficiency falls short of expectations for sustainable tourism practices from an energy efficiency perspective.
Practical implications
Policymakers should consider revising the current draft energy efficiency law to take into account the needs and views of hospitality and tourism stakeholders. This could be accomplished by involving them in discussions about how enhanced energy efficiency could contribute to economic, social and environmental development. Further, policymakers and these industry stakeholders in North Cyprus should develop common goals to harmonise tourism and energy regulations in support of sustainable development.
Originality/value
This study evaluates current energy efficiency developments and possible contributions to sustainable tourism development in North Cyprus. Energy efficiency policy has not yet been applied in North Cyprus, and a broad-ranging policy could help to prevent future environmental problems in North Cyprus.
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The purpose of this paper is to recognize whether consumers on long time perspective have an influence on the increase of energy efficiency in manufacturing industries.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to recognize whether consumers on long time perspective have an influence on the increase of energy efficiency in manufacturing industries.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature review, online survey, in‐depth interviews.
Findings
Although the connection between consumer and energy efficiency promotion in manufacturing companies is currently weak, the growing trend to purchase “green” products may have an influence on companies’ decisions regarding energy efficiency issues. Furthermore, this would be necessary to take into account in development of new state energy efficiency policy instruments for industry.
Practical implications
The results of this study can be taken into consideration in the development of new energy efficiency policy instruments for the industrial sector.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the importance of consumers purchasing behavior and its possible influence on energy efficiency increase in manufacturing industry.
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The rapid development and high penetration of digitalization have triggered profound changes in the energy sector. The purpose of this study is to integrate the government digital…
Abstract
Purpose
The rapid development and high penetration of digitalization have triggered profound changes in the energy sector. The purpose of this study is to integrate the government digital transformation into the analysis framework and discuss its impact on urban energy efficiency and its realization mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the “Information Benefit Pilot City” (IBC) policy as a quasi-natural experiment, and drawing on data from 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2008 to 2019, this paper discusses how digital government affects urban energy efficiency by using difference-in-differences (DID).
Findings
The results show that digital governance significantly improves energy efficiency, and this conclusion remains reliable even after a series of robustness tests, endogeneity processing and sensitivity analysis. Heterogeneity results show that resource-based, eastern, high economic development level and high urbanization rate city digital government construction are more conducive to improving energy efficiency. The mediating effect shows that the influence mechanism of digital government on energy efficiency mainly includes reducing carbon emission, promoting green technology innovation and attracting talents.
Originality/value
(1) From the perspective of government digital transformation, this study supplements the way to improve energy efficiency and also expands the social dividend of government governance transformation. (2) Through quasi-experimental analysis of IBC policy, this paper solves the problem of difficulty in quantifying the government's digital transformation indicators. (3) The impact heterogeneity and realization mechanism are further discussed and the specific ways of digital government's impact on energy efficiency are revealed.
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Arifa Tanveer, Shihong Zeng and Wei Tian
This study aims to examine whether and how corporate sustainability capability influences energy efficiency through competitive intensity and slack resource availability.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine whether and how corporate sustainability capability influences energy efficiency through competitive intensity and slack resource availability.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied a two-wave research design and administered a survey questionnaire to senior-level managers of 78 ISO-14001 and ISO-50001 certified manufacturing companies. The authors use a multi-method approach for data analysis. AMOS 23 software was applied for covariance-based structural equation modeling. In addition, SPSS 25 software was applied for hierarchical regression analysis to examine the causal relationships in the model.
Findings
The finding reveals that corporate sustainability capabilities, which include energy-saving opportunities, seizing energy-saving opportunities and resource reconfiguration, significantly improve firms’ energy efficiency. In addition, competitive intensity and slack resource availability positively moderated the relationship between corporate sustainability capability and energy efficiency.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the link between corporate sustainability capability and energy efficiency in developing countries such as Pakistan. Although the influence of various corporate sustainability capabilities on sustainable performance has been widely examined in the literature, the role of corporate sustainability capability has been limitedly explored with energy efficiency. This study extends the literature by adding to the knowledge of corporate sustainability capability that enhances boundary conditions in developing countries.
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Under the dual pressure of resources and environment, many countries have focused on the role of railways in promoting low-carbon development of integrated transportation and of…
Abstract
Purpose
Under the dual pressure of resources and environment, many countries have focused on the role of railways in promoting low-carbon development of integrated transportation and of even the whole society. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive study on methods to improve railway energy efficiency in other national railways and achievements made by China’s railways in the past practice, and then to propose ways in which in the future China’s railways could rationally select the path of improving energy efficiency regarding the needs of the nation's ever-shifting development and carry out the re-engineering for mechanism innovation in energy conservation and emission reduction process.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper first studies other national railways that have tried to promote the improvement of railway energy efficiency by the ways of technology, management and structural reconstruction to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Among them, the effect of structural energy conservation and emission reduction has become more prominent. It has become the main energy conservation and emission reduction measure adopted by foreign railway sectors. The practice of energy conservation and emission reduction of railways in various countries has tended to shift from a technical level to a structural one.
Findings
Key aspects in improving energy efficiency include re-optimization of energy structure, re-innovation of energy-saving technologies and optimization of transportation organization. Path selection includes continuing to promote electrified railway construction, increasing the use of new and renewable energy sources, and promoting the reform of railway transportation organizations.
Originality/value
This paper provides further challenges and research directions in the proposed area and has referential value for the methodologies, approaches for practice in a Chinese context. To achieve the expected goals, relevant supporting policies and measures need to be formulated, including actively guiding integrated transportation toward railway-oriented development, promoting innovation in energy-saving and emission reduction mechanisms and strengthening policy incentives, focusing on improving the energy efficiency of railways through market behavior. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to new phenomena in the railway industry for track and analysis.
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The issue of energy efficiency is becoming increasingly prevalent globally due to factors such as the expansion of the population, economic growth and excessive consumption that…
Abstract
Purpose
The issue of energy efficiency is becoming increasingly prevalent globally due to factors such as the expansion of the population, economic growth and excessive consumption that is not sustainable in the long run. Additionally, healthcare facilities and hospitals are facing challenges as their operational costs continue to rise. The research aim is to develop strategic frameworks for managing green hospitals, towards energy efficiency and corporate governance in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employs a qualitative case study approach, with a sample of ten hospitals examined through interviews with senior management, executives and healthcare facilities managers. Relevant data was also collected from literature and analysed through critical appraisal and content analysis. The research methodology is based on the use of grounded theory research methodologies to build theories from case studies.
Findings
The research developed three integrated conceptual strategic frameworks for managing hospitals and healthcare facilities towards energy efficiency, green hospital initiatives and corporate governance. The research also outlined the concepts of green hospitals and energy efficiency management systems and best practices based on the conclusions drawn from the investigated case studies.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to the initiatives and experiences of the healthcare facilities studied in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Originality/value
The research findings, conclusions, recommendations and proposed frameworks and concepts contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge. This research also provides recommendations for hospital managers and policymakers on how to effectively implement and manage energy efficiency initiatives in healthcare facilities.
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Qiang Wang, Chen Zhang and Rongrong Li
This study is aimed to measure the intertemporal financial efficiency of 16 emerging economy countries (BRICS and N-11) and further to investigate the mechanisms of financial…
Abstract
Purpose
This study is aimed to measure the intertemporal financial efficiency of 16 emerging economy countries (BRICS and N-11) and further to investigate the mechanisms of financial development on energy efficiency covering the period 2008–2020.
Design/methodology/approach
The dynamic data envelopment analysis model is used to measure financial efficiency dynamically. The generalized method of moments is used to investigate the effects of financial efficiency on energy efficiency. In the proposed approach, energy efficiency is the dependent variable, whereas financial efficiency, GDP per capita, industrial structure upgrade index, urbanization level and export trade structure are the regressors. Generalized moment estimation is performed.
Findings
There is heterogeneity in the level of financial development at different stages of economic development. The impact of financial efficiency on energy efficiency is related to the type of industries to which financial institutions are allocated. With the financial development of emerging economies, enterprises in technology-intensive industries are becoming the main contributors to higher profits for financial institutions, the products and results of these enterprises reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. In addition, residents with rising levels of wealth holdings prefer low-carbon and environmentally friendly products, which indirectly improves energy efficiency. Per capita GDP and urbanization have no significant impact on the energy efficiency of emerging economies. The optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure of emerging economies has played a role in promoting energy efficiency. The export trade structure has a restraining effect on energy efficiency.
Originality/value
The findings contribute value by supporting a positive link between Financial Development and Energy Efficiency in the emerging economies. Enterprises in technology-intensive industries have gradually become the main force that brings higher profits to financial institutions. The products and achievements of these enterprises will reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. The findings of this study provide emerging economies with an objective view of their financial development and energy efficiency, while also providing governments and policymakers with ways to improve energy efficiency and achieve sustainable development.
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