Search Results (77)

This study examines the factors influencing energy-saving behaviors in Jordanian households by expanding the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Incorporating additional variables, such as energy poverty, eco-literacy, and environmental concern, this study utilizes survey data collected through online tools. The findings reveal that environmental concern and eco-literacy significantly influence attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms, with attitudes emerging as the dominant predictor of environmentally sustainable intentions. These intentions, in turn, positively influence actual sustainable behaviors. Energy poverty directly affects both intentions and behaviors, moderating key relationships within the model, notably diminishing the influence of attitudes on intentions and the translation of intentions into behavior. The results validate the applicability of TPB to sustainable energy practices and demonstrate the importance of addressing economic barriers. Overall, the findings suggest that fostering environmental concern and eco-literacy is necessary but insufficient without interventions that mitigate financial constraints associated with energy poverty. Full article

With the increasing adoption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as the batteries of choice in electromobility, personal electronic devices, and so on, comes the challenge of ageing, which prevents the batteries from performing optimally and meeting the design intent. This is observed in the form of declining power capability due to the increase in resistance and the reduction in capacity that can be stored or discharged from them. Unfortunately, the cost of assessing batteries after the first use remains a daunting challenge. In our work, we propose an approach that carries out fast preliminary grading based on resistance and capacity by first connecting old cells of the same chemistry and model in series with resistors to limit the branch current, then connecting the branches in parallel to equalise the voltages. A Simulink model of NCR18650PF Panasonic cells with adaptive-series resistance is compared with a fixed-series resistance and found to improve the balancing time from over 24 h to just 8 h. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was carried out on the individual balanced cells between 0.1 Hz and 5 kHz so that the real impedance, imaginary impedance, absolute impedance, and phase were compared with the SOH of the cells at each frequency. Results show that the imaginary impedance in the 6.6 Hz frequency range shows a good correlation coefficient > 0.98 with the SOH, especially with a state of charge (SOC) of about 75–85% for the LCO cells. By selecting only a sample from all the cells that covers a wide range of ages and carrying out a full-capacity checkup on them, a simple correlation with the SOH and the EIS measurements for different frequencies can be used to estimate the SOH of the other cells that were connected in the same parallel connection. This is a considerable time saving in the charge and discharge time on the other cells in facilities that lack the capacity for simultaneous cycling of all cells. There are also huge energy savings in not having to cycle all the cells. Therefore, it offers a more efficient approach to grading spent cells than carrying out full capacity tests. Full article

As a part of sustainable transportation, robotaxis have been rapidly developing around the world because of their advantages in energy saving, improving road safety, and enhancing environmental sustainability, thereby providing consumers with sustainable transportation services. In China, as the number of pilot cities increases, more people are using robotaxi services. This study investigates the factors that affect consumer satisfaction and behavioral intentions after using a robotaxi, aiming to provide data to guide market strategy decisions. To do this, the value-based adoption model was extended and modified by including the technology readiness variable to examine satisfaction, intention to reuse, and electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) intentions. Using 425 valid responses, structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group analysis were carried out with AMOS 26.0. The results indicate that perceived usefulness, enjoyment, optimism, and innovativeness positively influence service satisfaction, whereas perceived risk and discomfort have negative effects. Consumer satisfaction positively affects both intention to reuse and e-WOM intention. Additionally, uncertainty avoidance shows a moderating effect between satisfaction and intention to reuse. Full article

The global energy crisis, driven by economic and political disruptions, has intensified efforts to transition toward a more competitive and sustainable society. This study, framed within the context of SDG 7, examines the influence of knowledge, psychological factors, and sociodemographic characteristics on two dimensions of sustainable residential energy consumption: energy efficiency and energy curtailment behavior. A quantitative survey was conducted with 1410 Romanian participants, using a structured questionnaire and convenience sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses reveal that knowledge of energy issues and the importance attributed to sustainable development goals positively influence intentions to conserve energy at home. Notably, perceived importance significantly influences the purchase of energy-efficient appliances (F = 23.01, p < 0.001) and moderately supports curtailment behaviors, as evidenced by higher adoption rates of actions such as disconnecting appliances and using natural lighting among participants with stronger pro-saving attitudes. Attitudes toward voluntary energy-saving measures also predict purchasing and curtailment behaviors, with intention playing a mediating role. Sociodemographic variables impact energy-saving behavior to varying degrees. While perceptions may differ across countries due to historical contexts, the findings provide a valuable benchmark for informing national policies and promoting voluntary energy-saving and production measures at the residential level, supporting the transition to sustainable energy. Full article

Confronted with the climate emergency, reducing CO₂ emissions has become a priority for all nations of the world because the follow-up of humanity depends on it. Most European Union (EU) member states have pledged to cut their net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and reach full carbon neutrality by 2050, using 1990 as the baseline year. Despite this common effort, there is still a lack of effective decision-making on carbon neutrality strategies applied throughout the life cycle of a building in all EU countries. A common strategy is proposed in this study to fill this gap in the literature. The building sector is a real lever for reducing the carbon footprint and saving energy. Currently, the methodology for achieving large-scale carbon neutrality is well established. However, there is only a limited number of experts worldwide who have mastered this technology, making it challenging to develop a standardized approach for all nations. The absence of extensive, regular, and consistent data on carbon emissions has considerably hindered the understanding of the root causes of climate change at both the building and neighborhood levels. Is it not it time to break this barrier? With this in mind, this study was carried out with the intention of proposing a common method to achieve carbon neutrality at the neighborhood scale in European Union countries. The most significant parameters having a direct impact on carbon emissions have facilitated the adaptation of the three types of neighborhood in the different capitals of the EU countries, in particular, local building materials, microclimate, the energy mix of each country, and the mode of daily transport. The life cycle assessment of the three districts was conducted using the Plaides LCAv6.25.3 tool in combination with Meteonorm software version 8.2.0, considering a 100-year lifespan for the buildings. In addition, the cost of the various environmental impacts is assessed based on the monetary indicators for European Committee for Standardization indicators method. The main results showed that the distribution of carbon dioxide is 73.3% higher in urban areas than in sustainable neighborhoods and 39.0% higher in urban districts than in rural districts. Nearly zero emissions in the next decade are again possible by applying the scenario involves global warming combined with the complete (100%) renovation of all buildings and the transition to 100% electric vehicles along with the use of solar panels. This strategy makes it possible to reduce between 90.1% and 99.9% of the emission rate in residential districts regarding EU countries. Full article

This paper explores the energy-saving behavior of hotel guests in the Vietnamese context. We adapted the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the norm activation model (NAM) to develop a research model with six determinants of energy-saving intention and behavior. A self-administered online survey was implemented to collect data from hotel guests in Hanoi and Quang Ninh provinces. After 4 months, we received 253 valid responses for further analysis. SmartPLS 4.0 software was employed for structured equation model testing. Our findings showed that TPB variables and NAM variables jointly explain the energy-saving intention and energy-saving behavior of Vietnamese hotel guests. Among the three factors of TPB, subjective norms have the most substantial impact on energy-saving intention and a significant direct effect on energy-saving behavior. Meanwhile, awareness of consequences does not significantly affect personal norms, and in turn, personal norms do not directly affect energy-saving behavior. Thus, we proposed several solutions to hotel managers to promote energy-saving initiatives and attract the engagement of their guests in these initiatives. Full article

This study extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine the factors influencing the employees’ intentions to save energy in the workplace (INSER), incorporating organizational culture (ORGCULT) and environmental knowledge (ENVKNOW) as mediating variables. Structural equation modeling (SEM) of survey data reveals that attitudes toward energy saving (ATESs) and perceived behavioral control (PERBCON) significantly predict INSER, while subjective norms (SUBNORMS) do not exert a direct effect. ORGCULT emerges as a strong mediator, highlighting its role in translating pro-environmental attitudes into actionable intentions. In contrast, ENVKNOW does not mediate the examined relationships, challenging the assumption that knowledge alone is sufficient to drive energy-saving behavior. These findings suggest that organizational commitment and leadership engagement exert a greater influence than peer norms or informational efforts in shaping sustainable workplace behaviors. From a practical perspective, the study underscores the importance of cultivating a sustainability-oriented organizational culture, implementing structural supports, and employing behavioral interventions beyond traditional awareness campaigns. Theoretically, it refines the TPB by illustrating that institutional factors may precede normative pressures in professional settings. Overall, the research contributes to the corporate sustainability literature by advocating for leadership-driven engagement strategies and policy-level interventions to promote long-term energy efficiency. Full article

New energy vehicles are an important tool for the transition to clean energy and sustainable development. The Nudge Theory is introduced to construct a management model for energy conservation and carbon reduction in new energy vehicles. The model takes into account the strategy of reducing or exempting charging fees for new energy vehicles. Through dynamic simulation, we analyze the impact of considering the Nudge Theory and not considering the Nudge Theory on the energy-saving and carbon reduction effect of new energy vehicles. Through the analysis, it is found that (1) the energy-saving and carbon reduction management model is constructed by introducing the consumer reference effect to optimize the effect of the strategy of charging fee reduction for new energy vehicles, which further enhances the effect of energy saving and carbon reduction. (2) The consideration of the boosting strategy can increase the consumers’ willingness to purchase new energy vehicles, and the growth of new energy vehicles is more significant under the combined strategy compared with the baseline scenario. In the combined strategy, from the beginning of the simulation of Scenario 6 to the end of the simulation, new energy vehicles increased by 131.74%. (3) In terms of energy-saving and carbon reduction effects, Scenario 3 in the single strategy has the best effect, and Scenario 9 in the combined strategy has the best effect. Compared with the baseline scenario, the number of new energy vehicles increased by 253.03%, and carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 38.85%. Scenario 9 of the combined strategy can reach the peak of carbon emissions by 2030, and carbon dioxide emissions will decrease year by year. Full article

Regenerative braking energy recovery is of critical importance for electric vehicles due to their range limitations. To further enhance regenerative braking energy recovery, a dual-fuzzy regenerative braking control strategy based on braking intention recognition is proposed. Firstly, the distribution strategy for braking force is devised by considering classical curves like ideal braking force allocation and ECE regulations; secondly, taking the brake pedal opening and its opening change rate as inputs, the braking intention recognition fuzzy controller is designed for outputting braking strength. Based on the recognized braking strength, and considering the battery charging state and the speed of the vehicle as inputs, a regenerative braking duty ratio fuzzy controller is developed for regenerative braking force regulation to improve energy recovery. Furthermore, a control experiment is established to evaluate and compare the four models and their respective nine braking modes, aiming to define the dual fuzzy logic controller model. Ultimately, simulation validation is conducted using Matlab/Simulink R2019b and CRUISE 2019. The results show that the strategy in this paper has higher energy savings compared to the single fuzzy control and parallel control methods, with energy recovery improved by 26.26 kJ and 96.13 kJ under a single New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), respectively. Full article

The rapid urbanization and technological advancements of the recent decades have increased the need for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions. This study examines the acceptance of smart transportation systems (STSs) among residents in Polish cities and explores the impact of these systems on energy-saving behaviors. Using the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model, which includes the propensity to save energy, this research seeks to understand the determinants of STS adoption. The primary research was conducted using Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI). The sample was controlled for gender and place of residence. A sample of 471 individuals meeting the criteria of living in a city with over 200,000 residents and using smart transportation solutions in Poland were selected from the research panel. SmartPLS 4 software was used to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal that the propensity to save energy significantly influences perceived usefulness, ease of use, social influence, and hedonic motivation toward STSs. Perceived usefulness and ease of use were found to be strong predictors of the intention to use STSs, while perceived costs had a negative impact on it. This study also identified the moderating role of personal innovativeness in mitigating cost concerns. These insights underscore the importance of emphasizing energy conservation benefits and user-friendly features in promoting the use of STSs. This study concludes that aligning technological innovations with user motivations for energy conservation can enhance the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions, contributing to smarter and more sustainable urban environments. Full article

This paper takes the dual-motor pure electric mining dump truck as the research object and designs a dual-motor rear-drive torque optimization allocation strategy in view of the problems such as the large load variation of the dump truck and the facts that the motor output torque cannot accurately express the driver’s dynamic intention and that the overall output efficiency of the dual motor is low. The strategy first divides the demand torque of the whole vehicle into two parts, the base torque and the compensation torque, which are determined by the accelerator pedal opening and the motor speed, and the compensation torque is fuzzy-controlled by taking the vehicle speed, the rate of change of the accelerator pedal opening, and the state of the battery charge as inputs. Subsequently, the dual-motor drive torque allocation is optimized using a particle swarm algorithm, with the objective of minimizing power loss in the dual motors. Furthermore, the energy-saving effect of the torque optimization allocation strategy proposed in this paper is compared with that of the traditional torque average allocation strategy under three working conditions: the driving conditions of Chinese dump trucks, the unloaded uphill movement of mining dump trucks, and the fully loaded downhill movement of mining dump trucks. The results show that the average efficiency of the dual-motor drive using the torque optimization allocation strategy is improved by 2.32%, 4.23%, and 2.24%, respectively, and battery energy savings are improved by 0.5%, 0.47%, and 0.24%, respectively. Full article

Recently, with climate deterioration and environmental pollution, consumers are becoming more and more aware of the use of sustainable energy. In particular, the demand for electric vehicles that use sustainable energy is also increasing. In addition, due to the simple driving principle of pure electric vehicles, many electric vehicles developed by electronics companies are continuously being launched. Electric vehicles not only use renewable energy to protect the environment but also save on various usage expenses, so they are expected to become the main products in the mobile travel equipment market in the future. This study aims to explore the impact of product design dimensions on electric vehicle (EV) purchase intentions, provide a theoretical basis for companies’ differentiation strategies, and reflect the impact of product design on purchase intention. This study uses Davis’s TAM combined with environmental awareness (EA) for analysis; an online survey was conducted on Chinese (n = 468) and Korean (n = 409) consumers, both male and female, aged 20–60 years and above. We found that, for Chinese consumers, the aesthetic and symbolic dimensions do not affect perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, but they do affect environmental awareness, while the functional dimension affects not only perceived ease of use and usefulness but also environmental awareness. For Korean consumers, the aesthetic, functional, and symbolic dimensions all affect perceived ease of use and environmental awareness, but perceived usefulness is only affected by aesthetics and environmental awareness. Through simulation analysis, the results show that perceived ease of use, usefulness, and environmental awareness all directly affect purchase intentions. Perceived ease of use and environmental awareness are particularly important for Chinese consumers, while Korean consumers pay more attention to the test drive experience and environmental awareness. The results show that electric vehicle manufacturers should develop new technologies for the Chinese market to attract consumers, while in the Korean market, they should improve perceived usefulness through test drives and pay attention to environmental awareness. Specific statistical data show that both Chinese and Korean consumers assign importance to the impact of environmental awareness on purchase intention, proving the importance of environmental awareness. The results of this study will be of great reference value to electric vehicle manufacturers, policymakers, and consumer behavior researchers, helping them to better understand the role of product design in improving the market acceptance of electric vehicles. Full article

Despite the tightening of energy performance standards for buildings in various countries and the increased use of efficient and renewable energy technologies, it is clear that the sector needs to change more rapidly to meet the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario by 2050. One of the problems that have been analyzed intensively in recent years is that buildings in operation use much more energy than they were designed to. This problem, known as the energy performance gap, is found in many countries and buildings and is often attributed to the poor management of building energy systems. The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) has untapped potential to address this problem and lead to more sustainable buildings. This paper reviews different AI-based models that have been proposed for different applications and different buildings with the intention to reduce energy consumption. It compares the performance of the different AI-based models evaluated in the reviewed papers by presenting the accuracy and error rates of model performance and identifies where the greatest potential for energy savings could be achieved, and to what extent. The review showed that offices have the greatest potential for energy savings (up to 37%) when they employ AI models for HVAC control and optimization. In residential and educational buildings, the lower intelligence of the existing BEMS results in smaller energy savings (up to 23% and 21%, respectively). Full article

With the increasing global focus on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, intelligent building materials such as thermochromic glazing have emerged as a hot topic of research. The intent of this paper is to explore the utilization of gel-type thermochromic glazing within the realm of architectural energy conservation calculations. It conducts an exhaustive examination of the material’s attributes, its capacity for energy savings, and the obstacles encountered in real-world applications. Through simulation studies and case analyses, this paper assesses the energy efficiency of gel-type thermochromic glazing across various climates and suggests strategies for optimization. The study revealed that the incorporation of gel-based thermochromic glazing leads to a marked reduction in energy usage within buildings, an improvement in indoor comfort levels, and significant environmental advantages. Full article