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This study measures the "real" total-factor energy efficiency (TFEE) of the construction industry with data from 30 Chinese provinces (excluding Tibet) from 2006 to 2015 using the DEA model combined with the TFEE algorithm. The floor space under construction is considered to be an output indicator in addition to the traditional economic output under the TFEE framework. Next, the spatial distribution of the TFEE of construction industry among those provinces is detected and possible reasons are analyzed. Results indicate that, most of Chinese provincial regions are energy inefficient in construction industry during the research period. Conversely, the three provinces of Beijing, Hainan and Zhejiang have optimal efficiency, which constitutes the efficiency frontier of energy consumption throughout China. There exists divergence among 30 provinces and three regions as for TFEE, but the divergence decreases and manifests the convergence feature. Moreover, among the three main regions, central and eastern regions' TFEE of the construction industry are higher than the figure for the western region. By comparison, we found that the TFEE evaluation considering floor space under construction is more accurate and rational than without considering the floor space. On the basis of these findings, some policy implications are provided for improving Chinese energy efficiency, especially for less developed regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has an important impact on building energy consumption. Unfortunately, whether the later-urbanized provincial regions are more energy-efficient than those early-urbanized regions in the building sector is still unclear. This study innovatively adopts the difference-in-differences (DID) model to examine the event effect of urbanization on building energy intensity with China's provincial evidence from 2000–2015. Moreover, its influence mechanism is identified with the mediating effect model. Results demonstrate that: (1) The building energy intensity is higher in provincial regions where the urbanization rate reached 45% earlier, indicating that the later-urbanized regions are more energy-efficient. (2) Considering heterogeneity, the event of urbanization rate reaching 45% contributes positively to building energy intensity in the eastern and central regions, but the effect in the western region is insignificant. This can further validate the later-mover advantage of the urbanization. (3) Regarding influence mechanism, urbanization can drive building energy intensity by increasing the proportion of the tertiary industry and population density or reducing the proportion of building coal consumption and the plot ratio of the urban area. This study can facilitate the related theoretical and practical exploration of the event effect of urbanization on energy consumption, which is conducive to formulating differentiated energy-conservation strategies. [Display omitted] • The DID model is applied to explore the event effect of urbanization on the building energy intensity. • The effect of urbanization on building energy intensity is explored considering regional heterogeneity. • The influence mechanism of urbanization on building energy consumption is investigated. • Later-urbanized regions are more energy-efficient in the building sector. • Urbanization can improve building energy intensity by potential mediating variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]