Carbon emission efficiency of urban residential buildings in China: a study based on a three-stage DEA model

Purpose As one of the three key fields of global carbon emissions, building carbon emissions are increasingly emphasized in all sectors of society. In the building field, improving the carbon emission efficiency (CEE) of residential buildings in urban areas is key to achieving China’s carbon reduction targets. Design/methodology/approach Using a three-stage data envelopment analysis model, carbon emissions, capital and labor were taken as inputs and residential population and residential floor area were taken as outputs, while the income of urban residents, urban population density and level of urban service facilities were selected as environmental variables. This study calculated the CEE of urban residential buildings in 30 provinces and cities in China from 2012 to 2021 and explored the regional spatial status and temporal evolution of CEE in urban residential buildings in China. Findings The results show that there are clear disparities in the CEE of urban residential buildings between regions in China, presenting a clear spatial distribution described as high in the east region and low in the west area and high in the south region and low in the north part. The CEE of residential buildings in the central and western China has been improved dramatically. However, the CEE and resource input efficiency of residential buildings in Chinese urban areas can still be improved. Originality/value This study comprehensively describes the current status of the CEE of residential buildings in Chinese urban areas and provides a decision-making basis for government and industry managers to formulate targeted building carbon emission reduction strategies.