Benchmarking the energy efficiency of government buildings with data envelopment analysis

Constructing an indicator to measure the effectiveness of energy management is important for energy agencies and authorities. This paper uses multiple linear regression method and data envelopment analysis to examine the effectiveness of energy management. First, the regression method using environmental factors is used to calculate the predicted energy usage intensity of each evaluated building. Data envelopment analysis is then employed to calculate overall energy efficiency, using the predicted energy usage intensity as output and the observed energy usage intensity as input. Data envelopment analysis can be further applied to measure the overall energy efficiency in details by examining environmental factors and management factors. Finally, the energy consumption of buildings can be measured to evaluate the effectiveness of energy management. Buildings examined as a case study in this paper are government office buildings in Taiwan. The results show that most of the buildings evaluated to report a higher predicted energy usage intensity have successfully used efficient energy management methods in energy saving.     

Measuring and comparing the efficiency of water utility companies: A data envelopment analysis approach

This study provides an analysis of Italian water utilities to determine the effects on their efficiency of certain relevant variables that have been broadly discussed in the existing literature. We reviewed the annual financial statements of 43 Italian water utility companies and obtained other technical data from Co.n.vi.r.i., the Italian national authority for water. Using data envelopment analysis we assessed their cost efficiencies and, using non-parametric statistic methods, we discuss the significant differences among clusters.We found that ownership structure, size and geographical location had an impact on the performance of water utilities, although with different degrees of significance.     

基于超效率DEA的建筑企业生产效率实证研究

为了合理地评估上市建筑企业的生产效率,建立了上市建筑企业生产效率评价指标体系,采用基于数据包络分析方法的超效率DEA分析模型,对24家上市建筑企业的生产效率进行了实证研究。结果表明:目前大部分上市建筑企业投入与产出的技术效率不理想,投入与产出配比较不合理。大部分大型国有上市建筑企业的纯技术效率较佳,面临的主要问题是规模效率不佳。所建立的方法为上市建筑企业合理安排资源、提高生产效率提供了依据。     

香港商品混凝土搅拌厂生产效率的分析和评估

本文应用数据包围分析 (DataEnvelopmentAnalysis ,DEA)方法对香港一家大型商品混凝土公司属下的搅拌厂自 1990至 1998年的生产运作情况进行效率分析和评估。结果表明 ,该公司的生产效率年平均增长率为 0 83% ;一般说来 ,长期性搅拌厂的生产效率高于临时性搅拌厂 ;地区比较居中 ,地处港岛搅拌厂的平均生产效率高于九龙和新界两地的。     

Slacks-based data envelopment analysis for eco-efficiency assessment in the Australian construction industry

Eco-efficiency as an important indicator for sustainability assessment can describe an integrated manner of economic growth, resource conservation and environmental protection. However, the current research could not correctly assess eco-efficiency and mostly utilize qualitative methods. This paper presents a new method called slacks-based Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to assess eco-efficiency based on directly and systematically dealing with the slacks of reducing resource consumption and minimizing environmental impacts, together with adding production value. Two DEA models are respectively, defined using inter-temporal and window benchmark techniques, so as to compare eco-efficiency results in temporal and spatial dimensions and then identify production benchmarks and gaps. Efficiency change and technological change, which are two driving forces for eco-efficiency change, are also investigated through a production-theoretical decomposition analysis. Data from the Australian construction industry from 1990 to 2013 are employed to specify the two DEA models. The research results illustrate that the construction industries in the Australian regions showed significant increases in eco-efficiency during the research period, but the gaps among them were increased due to the severe underperformance of technological change. This research primarily provides a innovative pathway for accurate eco-efficiency assessment and quantitative identification of reducing resource consumption, minimizing environmental impacts and adding production value. The developed research framework is generic and can assist worldwide construction projects, organizations and industries to measure, compare and assess eco-efficiency systematically.     

基于DEA 的西部地区建筑业生产效率实证研究

利用DEA 方法对2010 年西部12 省区市的建筑业生产效率进行了详细分析。结果显示,重庆、四川、陕西等7 省区市建筑业DEA 有效,而贵州、甘肃、青海、宁夏均处于规模递增阶段,云南和青海两省则存在较大的投入冗余和产出不足。进一步分析青海省的生产效率增长情况,发现其增长速度起伏较大,且增长仅来自于技术进步,未能实现规模经济。云南和青海两省应从结构调整、技术改造及资产优化配置和有效利用等方面实现技术效率和规模效率的提高,最终提升建筑业的整体生产效率。     

基于DEA 改进模型的建筑企业效率评价研究 ——以黑龙江省为例

为了提高黑龙江省建筑企业经营效率,采用DEA 改进模型,对黑龙江省9 种不同性质建筑企业的效率进行研究,针对多个同时相对有效的企业用改进的DEA 方法（IDEA）进行区分并排序。结果表明:占黑龙江省建筑企业投入比重最大的国有企业和集体企业的相对效率要低于港澳台商投资企业、股份合作企业和外商投资企业;国有企业和集体企业的技术效率是相对有效的,但规模效率是递减的。对于无效的建筑企业,从技术效率和规模效率两个方面分析其无效的原因,并从资金投入、技术创新、人员培训、组织管理等角度提出改进的建议。     

The rise and decline of the New South Wales cooperative housing societies

In the past, New South Wales cooperative housing societies made an important contribution to the financing of housing construction. In this paper the expansion and later contraction of the societies is explained. It is shown that, in recent times, not only have they suffered from a drying up of loan funding, but also a great number have operated at far below their possible level of efficiency.     

The rise and decline of the New South Wales cooperative housing societies

Abstract

In the past, New South Wales cooperative housing societies made an important contribution to the financing of housing construction. In this paper the expansion and later contraction of the societies is explained. It is shown that, in recent times, not only have they suffered from a drying up of loan funding, but also a great number have operated at far below their possible level of efficiency.     

基于DEA模型邻水县地区新农村住宅居住效率研究

该文以四川省邻水县地区10个新农村为研究对象,通过实地调研和走访农户获得其投入产出的数据,运用数据包络分析(DEA)模型对其居住效率进行评价,分析其DEA无效的原因,通过提出该地区新农村住宅规划设计的建议,以提高综合效率进而提升新农村住宅居住效率。     

Utilizing data envelopment analysis to benchmark safety performance of construction contractors

The purpose of this paper is to utilize data envelopment analysis (DEA) to benchmark safety performance of construction contractors. DEA has been recognized as a robust tool that is used for evaluating the performance of business organizations. The proposed approach is deployed based on empirical data collected from 45 construction contractors. On a scale of 0–1.0, DEA analysis assesses the relative efficiency of every contractor relative to the rest of the contractors in terms of safety performance. For inefficient contractors, DEA analysis provides quantitative guidance on how to become efficient.