Investigating the nexus between economic complexity, energy consumption and ecological footprint for the United States: New insights from quantile methods

Healthcare facilities in the United States account for 4.8% of the total area in the commercial sector and are responsible for 10.3% of total energy consumption in this sector. The number of healthcare facilities increased by 22% since 2003, leading to a 21% rise in energy consumption and an 8% reduction in energy intensity per unit of area (544.8 kWh/m2). This study provides an analytical overview of the end-use energy consumption data in healthcare systems for hospitals in the United States. The energy intensity of the U.S. hospitals ranges from 640.7 kWh/m2 in Zone 5 (very hot) to 781.1 kWh/m2 in Zone 1 (very cold), with an average of 738.5 kWh/m2. This is approximately 2.6 times higher than that of other commercial buildings. High energy intensity in the healthcare facilities, particularly in hospitals, along with energy costs and associated environmental concerns make energy analysis crucial for this type of facility. The proposed analysis shows that U.S. healthcare facilities have higher energy intensity than those of most other countries, especially the European ones. This necessitates the adoption of more energy-efficient approaches to the infrastructure and the management of healthcare facilities in the United States.

Download Full-text

Quantile estimation of ecological footprint and economic complexity in emerging economies: The moderating role of increasing energy consumption

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-021-18397-z ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Solomon Prince Nathaniel ◽

Davidmac Olisa Ekeocha ◽

Nnamdi Nwulu

Keyword(s):

Energy Consumption ◽

Emerging Economies ◽

Ecological Footprint ◽

Quantile Estimation ◽

Economic Complexity ◽

Moderating Role

Download Full-text

Invisible Hand or Ecological Footprint? Comparing Social Versus Environmental Impacts of Recent Economic Growth

Organization & Environment ◽

10.1177/1086026619885111 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 108602661988511 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gregory M. Mikkelson

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Economic Growth ◽

Public Policy ◽

Gross Domestic Product ◽

Natural Environment ◽

Ecological Footprint ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Invisible Hand ◽

Key Indicators

This study examines changes in some key indicators among 66 countries on six continents over a 56-year period, to compare the power of economic growth to improve human health and income distribution with its tendency to degrade the natural environment. The results indicate that growth depletes and pollutes nature far more than it benefits society. This suggests that public policy should shift toward enhancement of individual and social well-being in ways more direct and effective, and less ecologically damaging, than reliance on overall growth in gross domestic product. I illustrate this implication with a degrowth scenario for the United States to 2050 that draws on the empirical results for the period 1961 to 2016. And I consider certain reforms in the management and governance of organizations to implement such a scenario.

Download Full-text

The impact of natural resources, energy consumption, and population growth on environmental quality: Fresh evidence from the United States of America

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142222 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 754 ◽

pp. 142222

Author(s):

Irfan Khan ◽

Fujun Hou ◽

Hoang Phong Le

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Population Growth ◽

Natural Resources ◽

Environmental Quality ◽

United States Of America ◽

The United States ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Excessive Energy for Food Distribution Associated with Food Seizures1,2

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-44.1.47 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 47-54

Author(s):

NAN UNKLESBAY

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Developed Countries ◽

The United States ◽

Food Distribution ◽

Nutrient Ratios ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Energy Usage ◽

Distribution Mode

Energy expended to distribute food shipments during a 2-year period to, and within, the United States before their seizure was documented for four distribution modes: ship, truck, train and air. The food shipments were described according to their wholesale value, energy usage per distribution mode, nutrient content, energy/nutrient ratios and violation code(s) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Results were used to illustrate how this type of study could be used as an administrative tool to develop strategies for avoiding excessive energy consumption during food distribution. Recommendations were made for collecting further data to facilitate reductions in the amount of energy used to distribute human food. Finally, rather ethical questions were raised about the problem of purchasing protein foods from less-developed countries; using energy to distribute them to the United States when they are subsequently declared unfit for human consumption.

Download Full-text