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An assessment of energy efficiency based on environmental constraints and its influencing factors in China

  • Reducing air and soil pollution in China: issues in environmental technologies and management
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Abstract

The super-efficiency directional distance function (DDF) with data envelopment analysis (DEA) model (SEDDF-DEA) is more facilitative than to increase traditional method as a rise of energy efficiency in China, which is currently important energy development from Asia-pacific region countries. SEDDF-DEA is promoted as sustained total-factor energy efficiency (TFEE), value added outputs, and Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index (MLPI) to otherwise thorny environmental energy productivity problems with environmental constraint to concrete the means of regression model. This paper assesses the energy efficiency under environmental constraints using panel data covering the years of 2000–2015 in China. Considering the environmental constraints, the results showed that the average TFEE of the whole country followed an upward trend after 2006. The average MLPI score for the whole country increased by 10.57% during 2005–2010, which was mainly due to the progress made in developing and applying environmental technologies. The TFEE of the whole nation was promoted by the accumulation of capital stock, while it was suppressed by excessive production in secondary industries and foreign investment. The primary challenge for the northeast of China is to strengthen industrial transformation and upgrade traditional industries, as well as adjusting the economy and energy structure. The eastern and central regions of the country need to exploit clean- or low-energy industry to improve inefficiencies due to excessive consumption. The western region of China needs to implement renewable energy strategies to promote regional development.

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Notes

  1. IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. 2006. IGS, Japan: the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programmer.

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Acknowledgements

Furthermore, we are grateful to Prof. Chung-chou Tsai for providing useful advice.

Funding

This study was supported by the Youth Social Society Foundation of School in Jiangsu Province of China (Grant No. Skqn2017002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China

    Yao Chen & Jing-ting Xu

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  1. Yao Chen
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  2. Jing-ting Xu
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Correspondence to Yao Chen.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Chen, Y., Xu, Jt. An assessment of energy efficiency based on environmental constraints and its influencing factors in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 16887–16900 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1912-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1912-7

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