Carbon Emission Efficiency And Its Influence Factors Of Urban Residential Building In China

A series of environmental problems triggered by global warming are threating human survival and development.Greenhouse gas emission which mainly include carbon dioxide emission is the main reason for intensify this phenomenon.Building is one of the main sources of carbon emissions.Carbon emissions for urban residential buildings have been increasing steadily because of rapid urbanization process.Therefore,it is important for countries to improve the carbon emissions efficiency in urban residential buildings in order to control the carbon emissions.The large countries such as China,the world’s largest carbon emitter,can make significant contribution to emission control globally.This study examines carbon emission efficiency for urban residential building across30 provinces in the context of China by applying SBM(slack-based measure)method,and explores the impact factors of carbon emission efficiency for urban residential building.In using SBM method,residential building energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions(undesired output)are considered as input variables.Resident population,building area and resident disposable income are regarded as output variables.Then,based on Tobit panel regression model,the impact factors which include urbanization level,population density,energy-saving technology level,energy structure and climate condition are analyzed.The results from the study show that there are few provinces with efficient carbon emissions in China.Carbon emission efficiency of urban residential building between 30 provinces in China are quite different,those in the South China are larger than those in the North China,and those in the Southwest China improved faster than regions.Furthermore,urbanization level,population density,energy-saving technology level,energy structure have significant impacts on the carbon emission efficiency of urban residential building.During the study period,the relationship between urbanization development and carbon emission efficiency for urban residential building presents an inverted “U” shape.The differences between regions should be taken into account when implementing carbon emissions reduction programs.In order to promoting sustainable development in the building sector,governments need to adopt strategies to improve carbon emissions efficiency in urban residential building,such as to promote sustainable urbanization,to optimize the regional spatial structure,to increase innovation and application of energy-saving technologies,and to adjust energy structure.The findings provide valuable reference not only for Chinese government formulating measures to promote sustainable residential buildings,but also for researchers to further study in building carbon emissions efficiency in the context of other countries.