Urban population density and energy conservation: Empirical evidence from 276 cities in China

Reducing urban energy consumption is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable urban development. Urban energy plays a fundamental role in urban development, and while previous studies have examined the relationship between population size and energy conservation, the impact of increasing populat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yang Wang, Guiquan Sun, Yingmei Wu, Shaojian Wang, Xiaoli Yue, Hong'ou Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-03-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402402913X
Description
Summary:Reducing urban energy consumption is a crucial step towards achieving sustainable urban development. Urban energy plays a fundamental role in urban development, and while previous studies have examined the relationship between population size and energy conservation, the impact of increasing population density on per capita energy consumption (PCEC) remains unclear. To achieve urban energy conservation in China, it is vital to comprehend this significant relationship. This study constructs a spatial regression model to examine the relationship between population density and PCEC using 9 years of balanced panel data from 276 cities to fill a gap in the literature. The results of spatial autocorrelation indicate a significant negative relationship and heterogeneity between population density and PCEC. The results of spatial regression show that for every 1% increase in population density, there is a subsequent increase in PCEC of 0.074%. Our findings suggest that lower PCEC correlation is associated with higher urban population density. This study can be a reference for policymakers seeking new energy conservation strategies for urban development.
ISSN:2405-8440