scholarly journals Environmental Efficiency of Construction Industry with onsiderations to Carbon Emission: A Case Study in Henan, China

Author(s):  
Xin Youyang ◽  
Li Xiuzhong ◽  
Shang Li

Low energy utilization is observed in China due to the extensive economic growth mode, which further leads to considerable energy wastes and environmental pollution. The construction industry plays an important role in the national economic development of China and consumes tremendous materials; thus, this industry discharges abundant CO2. The energy consumption growth rate of the construction industry in China is far higher than the national energy consumption growth rate, resulting in the prominent situation of high energy consumption and low yield. A case study based on Henan Province, China, was conducted to further analyze the environmental efficiency of the construction industry. An index system was established by using the Super-slack-based model (Super-SBM). This system chooses the following: labor, energy, capital, and technology of the construction industry as the input variables, economic output as the output variable, and carbon emissions as the unexpected output. This system was also used to investigate the energy efficiency of the construction industry in Henan Province from 2008 to 2019. Results demonstrated that the construction industry in Henan Province has failed to eliminate the extensive development mode thus far. The environmental efficiency of the construction industry presents a fluctuating growth with a mean of 1.048, which generally remains at a relatively low level. The numbers of construction machines and enterprises in the construction industry have redundancy in approximately 50% of the years. Thus, this study can provide some positive references to enrich the evaluation index system and estimation model of energy efficiency of the construction industry, which includes unexpected output. Moreover, the current study can provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental efficiency of the construction industry in a province in China and realize reasonable allocation of construction industrial resources.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Arif Budiyanto ◽  
Muhammad Hanzalah Huzaifi ◽  
Simon Juanda Sirait ◽  
Putu Hangga Nan Prayoga

AbstractSustainable development of container terminals is based on energy efficiency and reduction in CO2 emissions. This study estimated the energy consumption and CO2 emissions in container terminals according to their layouts. Energy consumption was calculated based on utility data as well as fuel and electricity consumptions for each container-handling equipment in the container terminal. CO2 emissions were estimated using movement modality based on the number of movements of and distance travelled by each container-handling equipment. A case study involving two types of container terminal layouts i.e. parallel and perpendicular layouts, was conducted. The contributions of each container-handling equipment to the energy consumption and CO2 emissions were estimated and evaluated using statistical analysis. The results of the case study indicated that on the CO2 emissions in parallel and perpendicular layouts were relatively similar (within the range of 16–19 kg/TEUs). These results indicate that both parallel and perpendicular layouts are suitable for future ports based on sustainable development. The results can also be used for future planning of operating patterns and layout selection in container terminals.


High rise office building design is one of the essential buildings in construction industry due to the limited space especially in the urban area. After home, a high rise office building is an important space for human in modern era. Due to the issue of high energy consumption especially inefficient artificial light strategy, side-day lighting becomes the best solution for a high rise office building design. Despite providing efficient energy consumption, side-day lighting creates a positive impact to the worker as well as the office's indoor environment. Hence, this paper aims to explore the basic passive side-day lighting considerations that educate people especially for those who are involved in the building construction industry. Beside, this paper focuses on the passive design considerations due to the various advantages that not involved especially with complex electrical and mechanical system. A systematic literature review is the main methodology for this paper to identify the basic passive side-day lighting considerations for a high rise office building design. Base on this research, it revealed that eight elements for building design considerations should be applied to provide a better day lighting impact for a high rise office building design. Considerations for non-building design aspects should also need to be applied since those aspects contribute to produce a better day lighting impact for a high rise office building design.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Yazhi Hu

<p>Construction industry has been one of China's energy guzzlers, if we can reduce the energy consumption of the building industry through the use of new materials or new technologies, which will have a significant impact on the development of economy and society. The status quo of China's construction industry, high energy consumption, paper use energy-saving technologies in the field of construction works to expand the analysis, discusses the necessity of the construction industry currently uses energy-saving insulation materials and analyzes the current energy field of construction engineering technology application status, on the basis of focus on the application of energy-saving insulation materials in construction, particularly in the new system and the new glass curtain wall insulation material in construction applications, which further enhance the energy-saving technology within the field of construction engineering the application level has a certain reference.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 271-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arianna Brambilla ◽  
Graziano Salvalai ◽  
Marco Imperadori ◽  
Marta Maria Sesana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yufeng Chen ◽  
Lihua Ma ◽  
Zhitao Zhu

Abstract Construction industry is a pillar industry of China's national economy but its problems of high energy consumption, high pollution and low energy efficiency is increasingly prominent. The study on the energy efficiency of construction industry is of great significance for improving development quality and achieving the goal of energy saving and emission reduction. In this paper, a three-stage undesirable SBM-DEA model was employed to measure the energy efficiency in construction industry during 2005 -2016. The CO2 directly emitted by the construction industry and indirectly emitted in the production of building materials were used as the undesirable output and the three-stage framework was employed to analyze and eliminate the influence of external environment. The empirical results showed that low efficiency of management in the construction industry is an important factor leading to the low level of energy efficiency in China’s construction industry. For the energy efficiency value before and after adjustment, the “high-high” provinces has made full use of the superior external environment by their high management level, while the “high-low” provinces needs to fully realize the potential in promoting energy efficiency of its external environment by improving its own management of construction industry. On the contrary, the “low-high” provinces need to improve the external environment to ease its restrictions on the level of management in the construction industry. Environmental factors and management level should be considered simultaneously for different provinces to improve energy efficiency of construction industry.


2013 ◽  
Vol 838-841 ◽  
pp. 2818-2822
Author(s):  
Su Xian Zhang ◽  
Xian Wei Tang

With the highly praised development of low-carbon and implementation of western development strategy, the various industries of northwest faced great stress with how to weigh the economic growth and reduce carbon emissions. In this study, based on the data about energy consumption and GDP in the construction industry of five northwestern provinces, and estimates the carbon emissions of construction indirectly. Then combined withDecoupling Theoryanalysis the interacted impact among carbon emissions, energy consumption and economic growth in the construction industry of five northwestern provinces .The results shows that the development of construction industry in provinces is still based on high energy consumption and high carbon emissions, but each impact degree of them are different. Finally, put some suggest improvements to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions in the construction industry path of five northwestern provinces.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandarani Maistry ◽  
Harold Annegarn

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline efforts at the University of Johannesburg, a large metropolitan university in Gauteng province, to examine energy efficiency within the context of the green campus movement, through the analysis of electricity consumption patterns. The study is particularly relevant in light of the cumulative 230 per cent increase in electricity costs between 2008 and 2014 in South Africa that has forced institutions of higher education to seek ways to reduce energy consumption. Design/Methodology/Approach – A quantitative research design was adopted for the analysis of municipal electricity consumption records using a case study approach to identify trends and patterns in consumption. The largest campus of the University of Johannesburg, which is currently one of the largest residential universities in South Africa, was selected as a case study. Average diurnal consumption profiles were plotted according to phases of the academic calendar, distinguished by specific periods of active teaching and research (in-session); study breaks, examinations and administration (out-of-session); and recesses. Average profiles per phase of the academic calendar were constructed from the hourly electricity consumption and power records using ExcelTM pivot tables and charts. Findings – It was found that the academic calendar has profound effects on energy consumption by controlling the level of activity. Diurnal maximum consumption corresponds to core working hours, peaking at an average of 2,500 kWh during “in-session” periods, 2,250 kWh during “out-of-session” periods and 2,100 kWh during recess. A high base load was evident throughout the year (between 1,300 and 1,650 kWh), mainly attributed to heating and cooling. By switching off the 350 kW chiller plant on weekdays, a 9 per cent electricity reduction could be achieved during out-of-session and recess periods. Similarly, during in-session periods, a 6 per cent reduction could be achieved. Practical implications – Key strategies and recommendations are presented to stimulate energy efficiency implementation within the institution. Originality Value – Coding of consumption profiles against the academic calendar has not been previously done in relation to an academic institution. The profiles were used to establish the influence of the academic calendar on electricity consumption, which along with our own observation were used to identify specific consumption reduction opportunities worth pursuing.


Sensor Review ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Robinson ◽  
David Adrian Sanders ◽  
Ebrahim Mazharsolook

Purpose – This paper aims to describe research work to create an innovative, and intelligent solution for energy efficiency optimisation. Design/methodology/approach – A novel approach is taken to energy consumption monitoring by using ambient intelligence (AmI), extended data sets and knowledge management (KM) technologies. These are combined to create a decision support system as an innovative add-on to currently used energy management systems. Standard energy consumption data are complemented by information from AmI systems from both environment-ambient and process ambient sources and processed within a service-oriented-architecture-based platform. The new platform allows for building of different energy efficiency software services using measured and processed data. Four were selected for the system prototypes: condition-based energy consumption warning, online diagnostics of energy-related problems, support to manufacturing process lines installation and ramp-up phase, and continuous improvement/optimisation of energy efficiency. Findings – An innovative and intelligent solution for energy efficiency optimisation is demonstrated in two typical manufacturing companies, within one case study. Energy efficiency is improved and the novel approach using AmI with KM technologies is shown to work well as an add-on to currently used energy management systems. Research limitations/implications – The decision support systems are only at the prototype stage. These systems improved on existing energy management systems. The system functionalities have only been trialled in two manufacturing companies (the one case study is described). Practical implications – A decision support system has been created as an innovative add-on to currently used energy management systems and energy efficiency software services are developed as the front end of the system. Energy efficiency is improved. Originality/value – For the first time, research work has moved into industry to optimise energy efficiency using AmI, extended data sets and KM technologies. An AmI monitoring system for energy consumption is presented that is intended for use in manufacturing companies to provide comprehensive information about energy use, and knowledge-based support for improvements in energy efficiency. The services interactively provide suggestions for appropriate actions for energy problem elimination and energy efficiency increase. The system functionalities were trialled in two typical manufacturing companies, within one case study described in the paper.


2012 ◽  
Vol 326-328 ◽  
pp. 366-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zambrana ◽  
A. Aranda ◽  
G. Ferreira ◽  
F. Barrio

Manufacturing processes involve the input of high quality energy and/or dissipation of low quality energy to manipulate a material; similarly the input of high quality material usually leads to the generation of low quality materials. A useful output involves the operation of conventional processes including a wide variety of functions such as lubrication, air compression, cooling, heating, pumping, etc., which have, on the one hand, high energy and material consumption and, on the other hand, losses due to an inherent departure from reversible processes. This paper presents an energy-flow methodology to determine the ratio between the additional energy required per useful energy unit for the manufacturing processes. As an application of the method proposed in this work, an assembly and welding production line is shown as a case study. This process is a common technique used in the manufacturing industry and its energy consumption depends on several parameters e.g. heat and electrical input. As a result of this study, the energy consumption of the production line has been reduced by approximately 30% from the 645.94 Wh of total energy consumption, where the consumption of real useful energy is 4% of this total.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document