Temporal and Spatial Variability of Carbon Emission Intensity of Urban Residential Buildings: Testing the Effect of Economics and Geographic Location in China

Qingwei Shi, Jingxin Gao, Xia Wang, Hong Ren, Weiguang Cai and Haifeng Wei
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Qingwei Shi: School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Jingxin Gao: School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Xia Wang: School of Public Finance and Taxation, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China
Hong Ren: School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Weiguang Cai: School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Haifeng Wei: School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-23

Abstract: The role of urban residential buildings (URBs) in the carbon reduction goal of China is becoming increasingly important because of the rising energy consumption and carbon emission of such buildings in the region. Considering the increasing spatial interaction of the carbon emission of URBs (URBCE) in the region, this study investigates the influence of climate and economic factors on the URBCE in North and South China. First, the URBCE is calculated by using a decomposition energy balance table based on the carbon emission coefficient of electric and thermal power, thereby improving the estimation of the basic data of URBCE. Second, the influence of economic and climatic factors on the URBCE intensity in 30 provinces of China is explored by using a spatial econometric model. Results show that the URBCE intensity in China had a spatial autocorrelation from 2000 to 2016. Climatic and economic factors have great differences in the degree and direction of influencing the URBCE intensity in the country. Formulating emission reduction policies for climate or economic zones is more scientific and effective than developing national policies. Among these factors, urbanization rate, climate, and GDP per capita have a significant positive impact on the URBCE intensity in the region, whereas other factors have varying degrees of negative impact. In addition, climate, consumption level, and building area have significant spatial spillover effects on URBCE intensity, whereas other factors do not pass the significance test. Relevant conclusions should be given special attention by policymakers.

Keywords: residential buildings; carbon emissions; spatial agglomeration; influencing factors; spillover effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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