The energy efficiency and carbon footprint of temporary homes: a case study from Japan

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the energy efficiency and life cycle carbon footprint of temporary homes in Japan after the Great Eastern Tohoku Earthquake in 2011. Design/methodology/approach An energy simulation and life cycle assessment have been done for three alternative shelter models: prefabricated shelters, wooden log shelters and sea container shelters. Findings Shelter materials have a very high share of life cycle emissions because the use period of temporary homes is short. Wooden shelters perform best in the comparison. The clustering of shelters into longer buildings or on top of each other increases their energy efficiency considerably. Sea containers piled on top of each other have superb energy performance compared to other models, and they consume even less energy per household than the national average. However, there are several gaps of knowledge in the environmental assessment of temporary homes and field data from refugee camps should be collected as part of camp management. Originality/value The findings exemplify the impacts of the proper design of temporary homes for mitigating their energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

Do energy efficiency and export quality affect the ecological footprint in emerging countries? A two-step approach using the SBM–DEA model and panel quantile regression

“…Regarding the effect of energy efficiency on ecological footprint or environmental degradation (CO2 emissions), some authors have studied this topic (e.g., Özbuğday et al, 2015;Kuittinen & Takano, 2017;Tajudeen et al, 2018;Ke et al, 2020;and Yao et al, 2021). However, inside this group of authors, we identified that some discovered energy efficiency decreases the ecological footprint or environmental degradation (e.g., Tajudeen et al, 2018;and Yao et al, 2021).…”

“…However, another group of authors finds that energy efficiency increases the ecological footprint or environmental degradation (CO2 emissions) (e.g., Özbuğday et al, 2015;Kuittinen & Takano, 2017;and Ke et al, 2020). Kuittinen & Takano (2017) investigated the relationship between efficiency and the carbon footprint of temporary homes in Japan in 2011.…”

“…However, another group of authors finds that energy efficiency increases the ecological footprint or environmental degradation (CO2 emissions) (e.g., Özbuğday et al, 2015;Kuittinen & Takano, 2017;and Ke et al, 2020). Kuittinen & Takano (2017) investigated the relationship between efficiency and the carbon footprint of temporary homes in Japan in 2011. The authors realised an energy simulation and life cycle assessment had been done for three alternative shelter models: prefabricated shelters, wooden log shelters and sea container shelters.…”

“…One of the factors affecting the environment is the optimal use of resources, so some studies have examined the effect of energy efficiency on environmental degradation (e.g., Ozbugday & Erbas, 2015;Kuittinen & Takano, 2017;Ke et al, 2021;and Yao et al, 2021). Energy efficiency means using less energy at a certain level of gross domestic product (GDP), so increasing energy efficiency reduces energy consumption and thus improves the environmental quality (e.g., Shahbaz et al, 2015;Tajudeen et al, 2018;Yao et al, 2021;and Shokoohi et al, 2022).…”

Sustainable pathways for attaining net-zero emissions in European emerging countries — the nexus between renewable energy sources and ecological footprint

“…As a result, we chose energy production as one of the crucial factors in our research. However, as discovered by a different team of researchers, energy e ciency causes a rise in CO2 emissions, environmental deterioration, and ecological footprint (e.g., Ke et al, 2020;Kuittinen & Takano, 2017;Ozbuday et al, 2015). Kuittinen and Takano (2017) investigated the relationship between e ciency and carbon footprint in 2011 in temporary housing in Japan.…”