IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v372y2024ics0306261924011802.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Key driving forces of energy consumption in a higher education institution using the LMDI approach: The case of the Universidad Autónoma de Chile

Author

Listed:
  • Laporte, Juan P.
  • Román-Collado, Rocío
  • Cansino, José M.

Abstract

Energy consumption in universities is a crucial issue as they aim to balance growing operational demands with environmental sustainability. This study employs the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index method to assess energy consumption variations at Universidad Autónoma de Chile from 2017 to 2022, demonstrating the method's efficacy and simplicity in decomposing energy use into its determinants. The analysis reveals a 19% increase in energy consumption, primarily fueled by heightened energy intensity from increased research activities and rising enrollment. However, weather conditions and infrastructural efficiencies have mitigated this increase. Notably, the 2020 remote learning period saw a 45% decrease in energy consumption, largely due to reduced energy intensity. This study validates the LMDI method for individual institutions and provides a clear, interpretable framework for understanding energy variations. It highlights the impact of the Chilean accreditation system, which indirectly induces energy consumption expansions in universities by requiring enlargements in gross floor area. The findings also emphasize the significant effect of weather on energy usage in extreme climates. Recommendations for Universidad Autónoma de Chile include implementing behavioral change programs, enhancing climate control, and lighting systems, conducting energy audits, pursuing building retrofitting, and considering a partial shift to remote learning to further reduce energy consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Laporte, Juan P. & Román-Collado, Rocío & Cansino, José M., 2024. "Key driving forces of energy consumption in a higher education institution using the LMDI approach: The case of the Universidad Autónoma de Chile," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 372(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:372:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924011802
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123797
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924011802
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123797?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. B. W. Ang & Ki-Hong Choi, 1997. "Decomposition of Aggregate Energy and Gas Emission Intensities for Industry: A Refined Divisia Index Method," The Energy Journal, , vol. 18(3), pages 59-73, July.
    2. Ang, B.W., 2015. "LMDI decomposition approach: A guide for implementation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 233-238.
    3. Kaplowitz, Michael D. & Thorp, Laurie & Coleman, Kayla & Kwame Yeboah, Felix, 2012. "Energy conservation attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors in science laboratories," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 581-591.
    4. Holzmann, Angela & Adensam, Heidelinde & Kratena, Kurt & Schmid, Erwin, 2013. "Decomposing final energy use for heating in the residential sector in Austria," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 607-616.
    5. Ang, B.W & Zhang, F.Q & Choi, Ki-Hong, 1998. "Factorizing changes in energy and environmental indicators through decomposition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 489-495.
    6. Hong, Tianzhen & Chang, Wen-Kuei & Lin, Hung-Wen, 2013. "A fresh look at weather impact on peak electricity demand and energy use of buildings using 30-year actual weather data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 333-350.
    7. Cansino, José M. & Dugo, Víctor & Gálvez-Ruiz, David & Román-Collado, Rocío, 2023. "What drove electricity consumption in the residential sector during the SARS-CoV-2 confinement? A special focus on university students in southern Spain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    8. Delzendeh, Elham & Wu, Song & Lee, Angela & Zhou, Ying, 2017. "The impact of occupants’ behaviours on building energy analysis: A research review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1061-1071.
    9. Su, Yu-Wen, 2023. "The drivers and barriers of energy efficiency," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    10. Salah Vaisi & Saleh Mohammadi & Benedetto Nastasi & Kavan Javanroodi, 2020. "A New Generation of Thermal Energy Benchmarks for University Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-18, December.
    11. B. W. Ang & Ki-Hong Choi, 1997. "Decomposition of Aggregate Energy and Gas Emission Intensities for Industry: A Refined Divisia Index Method," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), pages 59-73.
    12. Dario Cottafava & Giulia Sonetti & Paolo Gambino & Andrea Tartaglino, 2018. "Explorative Multidimensional Analysis for Energy Efficiency: DataViz versus Clustering Algorithms," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, May.
    13. Ang, B. W. & Liu, F. L. & Chew, E. P., 2003. "Perfect decomposition techniques in energy and environmental analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(14), pages 1561-1566, November.
    14. Büyükalaca, Orhan & Bulut, Hüsamettin & YIlmaz, Tuncay, 2001. "Analysis of variable-base heating and cooling degree-days for Turkey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 269-283, August.
    15. Baležentis, Alvydas & Baležentis, Tomas & Streimikiene, Dalia, 2011. "The energy intensity in Lithuania during 1995–2009: A LMDI approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7322-7334.
    16. Chunyan Wang & Hanying Jiang & Hao Wu & Yi Liu & Siyue Guo & Ming Xu, 2023. "Scaling in urban building energy use and its influencing factors," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(4), pages 1076-1088, August.
    17. Mehdi Chihib & Esther Salmerón-Manzano & Francisco Manzano-Agugliaro, 2020. "Benchmarking Energy Use at University of Almeria (Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, February.
    18. Eskander, Shaikh M.S.U. & Nitschke, Jakob, 2021. "Energy use and CO2 emissions in the UK universities: an extended Kaya identity analysis," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 110764, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    19. Rina Wu & Jiquan Zhang & Yuhai Bao & Quan Lai & Siqin Tong & Youtao Song, 2016. "Decomposing the Influencing Factors of Industrial Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Inner Mongolia Based on the LMDI Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-14, July.
    20. Hojjati, Behjat & Wade, Steven H., 2012. "U.S. household energy consumption and intensity trends: A decomposition approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 304-314.
    21. Jaqueline Litardo & Ruben Hidalgo-Leon & Guillermo Soriano, 2021. "Energy Performance and Benchmarking for University Classrooms in Hot and Humid Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, October.
    22. Ang, B.W. & Su, Bin & Wang, H., 2016. "A spatial–temporal decomposition approach to performance assessment in energy and emissions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 112-121.
    23. Román-Collado, Rocío & Colinet, María José, 2018. "Are labour productivity and residential living standards drivers of the energy consumption changes?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 746-756.
    24. Suyi Kim, 2017. "LMDI Decomposition Analysis of Energy Consumption in the Korean Manufacturing Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, February.
    25. Ward, Ian & Ogbonna, Anthony & Altan, Hasim, 2008. "Sector review of UK higher education energy consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 2929-2939, August.
    26. Riccardo Boiocchi & Marco Ragazzi & Vincenzo Torretta & Elena Cristina Rada, 2023. "Critical Analysis of the GreenMetric World University Ranking System: The Issue of Comparability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-15, January.
    27. Pablo Sarricolea & Mariajosé Herrera-Ossandon & Óliver Meseguer-Ruiz, 2017. "Climatic regionalisation of continental Chile," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 66-73, November.
    28. Ana M. Marina Domingo & Javier M. Rey-Hernández & Julio F. San José Alonso & Raquel Mata Crespo & Francisco J. Rey Martínez, 2018. "Energy Efficiency Analysis Carried Out by Installing District Heating on a University Campus. A Case Study in Spain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    29. Chung, William & Kam, M.S. & Ip, C.Y., 2011. "A study of residential energy use in Hong Kong by decomposition analysis, 1990–2007," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 5180-5187.
    30. Wang, Wenwen & Liu, Xiao & Zhang, Ming & Song, Xuefeng, 2014. "Using a new generalized LMDI (logarithmic mean Divisia index) method to analyze China's energy consumption," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 617-622.
    31. Román-Collado, Rocío & Economidou, Marina, 2021. "The role of energy efficiency in assessing the progress towards the EU energy efficiency targets of 2020: Evidence from the European productive sectors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    32. Ang, B.W. & Xu, X.Y. & Su, Bin, 2015. "Multi-country comparisons of energy performance: The index decomposition analysis approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 68-76.
    33. Abdulaziz Alghamdi & Husnain Haider & Kasun Hewage & Rehan Sadiq, 2019. "Inter-University Sustainability Benchmarking for Canadian Higher Education Institutions: Water, Energy, and Carbon Flows for Technical-Level Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-26, May.
    34. Gingrich, Simone & Kusková, Petra & Steinberger, Julia K., 2011. "Long-term changes in CO2 emissions in Austria and Czechoslovakia--Identifying the drivers of environmental pressures," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 535-543, February.
    35. George Chaplin & Mahdieh Dibaj & Mohammad Akrami, 2022. "Decarbonising Universities: Case Study of the University of Exeter’s Green Strategy Plans Based on Analysing Its Energy Demand in 2012–2020," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-34, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, H. & Ang, B.W. & Su, Bin, 2017. "Assessing drivers of economy-wide energy use and emissions: IDA versus SDA," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 585-599.
    2. Román-Collado, Rocío & Morales-Carrión, Any Viviana, 2018. "Towards a sustainable growth in Latin America: A multiregional spatial decomposition analysis of the driving forces behind CO2 emissions changes," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 273-280.
    3. Wang, Qunwei & Hang, Ye & Su, Bin & Zhou, Peng, 2018. "Contributions to sector-level carbon intensity change: An integrated decomposition analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 12-25.
    4. Wang, Qunwei & Wang, Yizhong & Zhou, P. & Wei, Hongye, 2017. "Whole process decomposition of energy-related SO2 in Jiangsu Province, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 679-687.
    5. Fernández-Amador, Octavio & Francois, Joseph F. & Oberdabernig, Doris A. & Tomberger, Patrick, 2023. "Energy footprints and the international trade network: A new dataset. Is the European Union doing it better?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    6. Huang, Yun-Hsun, 2020. "Examining impact factors of residential electricity consumption in Taiwan using index decomposition analysis based on end-use level data," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    7. Das, Aparna & Paul, Saikat Kumar, 2014. "CO2 emissions from household consumption in India between 1993–94 and 2006–07: A decomposition analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 90-105.
    8. Kaltenegger, Oliver, 2019. "What drives total real unit energy costs globally? A novel LMDI decomposition approach," CAWM Discussion Papers 110, University of Münster, Münster Center for Economic Policy (MEP).
    9. Vaninsky, Alexander, 2014. "Factorial decomposition of CO2 emissions: A generalized Divisia index approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 389-400.
    10. Jain, Princy & Goswami, Binoy, 2021. "Energy efficiency in South Asia: Trends and determinants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    11. Darío Serrano-Puente, 2021. "Are we moving toward an energy-efficient low-carbon economy? An input–output LMDI decomposition of CO $$_{2}$$ 2 emissions for Spain and the EU28," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 12(2), pages 151-229, June.
    12. Jiyong Park & Taeyoung Jin & Sungin Lee & Jongroul Woo, 2021. "Industrial Electrification and Efficiency: Decomposition Evidence from the Korean Industrial Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.
    13. Kaltenegger, Oliver, 2020. "What drives total real unit energy costs globally? A novel LMDI decomposition approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    14. Lin, Yuancheng & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou, 2023. "The carbon reduction potential by improving technical efficiency from energy sources to final services in China: An extended Kaya identity analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    15. Fei Wang & Changjian Wang & Yongxian Su & Lixia Jin & Yang Wang & Xinlin Zhang, 2017. "Decomposition Analysis of Carbon Emission Factors from Energy Consumption in Guangdong Province from 1990 to 2014," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, February.
    16. Chen, Jiandong & Xu, Chong & Cui, Lianbiao & Huang, Shuo & Song, Malin, 2019. "Driving factors of CO2 emissions and inequality characteristics in China: A combined decomposition approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 589-597.
    17. Fang, Debin & Hao, Peng & Hao, Jian, 2019. "Study of the influence mechanism of China's electricity consumption based on multi-period ST-LMDI model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 730-743.
    18. Chen, Jiandong & Cheng, Shulei & Song, Malin, 2018. "Changes in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions of the agricultural sector in China from 2005 to 2013," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 748-761.
    19. Banie Naser Outchiri, 2020. "Contributing to better energy and environmental analyses: how accurate are decomposition analysis results?," Cahiers de recherche 20-11, Departement d'économique de l'École de gestion à l'Université de Sherbrooke.
    20. Xu, Zhongwen & Tan, Shiqi & Yao, Liming & Lv, Chengwei, 2024. "Exploring water-saving potentials of US electric power transition while thirsting for carbon neutrality," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:372:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924011802. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.