| Energy is always being the focus and central issue in the process of China’s economic development. The12th Five-Year Plan proposed that we implement thoroughly the basic national policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment, save energy and reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions, develop cyclic economy, and take the road of sustainable development. Energy is the material base of human activities, and impacts economy and society. Energy efficiency was known as "the fifth energy". Enhancing energy efficiency, saving energy and emission reduction of pollution are important ways for constructing resource-conserving, environment-friendly society, which also means a lot to sustainable development.What is the meaning of energy efficiency, and how to measure energy efficiency? In order to clarify the aspects of energy efficiency and the theoretical calculating model, we sort out the relevant studies and argue that the total factor energy efficiency model is a more suitable one to describe the level of China’s energy efficiency. In order to better compare the efficiency of the same efficiency forefront of decision making units (i.e. province, region or industry sector), we need to use super-efficiency DEA model to estimate their energy efficiency. In order to better estimate the environmental pollution problems in the course of the energy consumption, we need to use the MLT method or INP method to convert undesirable outputs, or use DEA-SBM model to calculate the total factor energy efficiency, which includes undesirable outputs.What is the meaning of energy efficiency, and how to measure energy efficiency? In order to clarify aspects of energy efficiency, the theoretical model calculation, we sort out the relevant studies were that the total factor energy efficiency model is more suitable to describe the level of China’s energy efficiency. In order to better compare the efficiency of the same in the forefront of decision making units (i.e., province, region or industry sector) efficiency, we need to use their super-efficiency DEA model to estimate. In order to better estimate the energy consumed in the course of the environmental pollution problems, we need to use the MLT method or INP method to convert undesirable outputs, and the use of DEA-SBM model, inclusion of non-expected energy output of all elements Efficiency measure. What is the energy efficiency gap between China and the world’s developed countries? How does the knowledge factor impact the level of energy efficiency? What are the characteristics of energy efficiency China when the model includes the undesirable outputs? Based on total factor energy efficiency model, using the method of super-efficiency DEA approach, we find that the energy intensity indicators would exaggerate the relative gap of the energy efficiency between China and other OECD countries. When we take to knowledge investment into account, the results tell us that the gap between China and other countries becomes bigger rather than the case without considering knowledge factor. To further distinguish detailed regional energy efficiency in China, we use CCR model to estimate full-factor energy efficiency of eight China’s comprehensive economic zone for period1995-2009. And then we use MLT and INP method respectively to deal with the undesirable output, which also are included in the DEA model as inputs, and calculate the Chinese Provinces’total factor energy efficiency for period1989-2009. We use DEA-SBM model to estimate29provinces’energy efficiency of China for period1989-2009, to accurately find out the constraints of environmental elements. We discover that, in the lateral view, the China’s energy efficiency shows the gap among eastern China, middle China and the western still exists and is yawning, and eastern China is of highest energy efficiency region. In the longitudinal view, there is a slight decline after the first increase in a trend, and the turning point is around2000. The possible explanation is that economically developed areas have better management and use of advanced technology to improve energy efficiency, and the local industrial structure and energy consumption structure of those places with more energy consumption are not conducive to enhance energy efficiency; turning point may be due to the industrial structure enter the stage of heavy industrialization adjustment.Will the gap of energy efficiency among various regions of China get smaller as time goes on? Will energy consumption intensity and total factor energy efficiency eventually converge? To answer these questions, we analyze empirically the convergence of the energy consumption intensity and total factor analysis energy efficiency. When we test whether there are absolute (3convergence of energy efficiency, we found that energy consumption intensity, the on total factor energy efficiency using of MLT and total factor energy efficiency using DEA-SBM model the all show absolute β convergence, which means the backward areas of energy efficiency could accelerate the level of utilization of energy use and energy conservation, to narrow the gap between it and region with advanced energy efficiency. Then, we use four control variables, such as the industrial structure, energy consumption structure, openness, and the growth rate of per labor force real GDP respectively. We further analysis whether there is conditional β convergence of the energy efficiency of Chinese provinces or regions, using of panel data model to empirically analyze three energy efficiencies. The empirical results also showed that there are conditional β convergences of those energy efficiencies, which have pass significance test at the level of1%or10%respectively. As a whole, the growth rate of per labor force real GDP and the coefficient of openness are generally positive, and the industrial structure, the energy consumption structure coefficients are generally negative, by different estimates of the models.After the analysis of the factors affecting energy efficiency, the dissertation highlights the important role of the technological advances enhancing energy efficiency. Firstly, we will use the DEA-Malmquist index estimation method to decompose total factor productivity into technical progress, technical efficiency. We would know from the decomposition results. For period2005-2009, the average TFP growth rate of manufacturing industry is about7%, the cumulative growth rate is about30%, generally showed an upward trend. Technological advance has played a large contribution to enhance the total factor productivity, whose average growth rate is about5.6%, while the average growth rate of technical efficiency is only1.3%. And the period is divided the year of2007. For period2005-2007, the production rate of Chinese manufacturing industry overall increases. However, the period of2007-2009is as the stage of decline phase. Secondly, in order to analyze how the technical progress effect on total factor productivity and total factor energy efficiency, we focus on studying29manufacturing industries for period2005-2009. The empirical results show that scientists, the introduction of technology, absorption Capacity of technology, FDI impact on technological progress are significant. In addition, the introduction of technology for technological progress of the manufacturing industry does not show a positive role, in contrast, it inhibits technological progress. And absorption capacity of technology of technological progress of manufacturing industry has a more significant positive role.Finally, the dissertation argues that China’s energy efficiency is still low. By the analysis in this dissertation, we could adjust the industrial structure, strengthen technical exchanges and technology diffusion among regions, change the mode of economic development, and enhance technological research and development capabilities to enhance energy efficiency of China’s regions to save energy, protect environment, and thus break the constraints of resources and environment. |
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