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Using energy efficiently has become top priority concern which requires an adequate policy reaction bearing in mind both energy conservation and efforts to combat adverse climate changes. The paper explored the total-factor energy efficiency and change trends in technical efficiency in the Croatian counties during the period 2001-2013. Employing data envelopment analysis, the overall technical, pure technical and scale efficiency are assessed. Considering the empirical results, we have concluded the following. Technical inefficiency is generated almost equally by the pure technical effect and an incorrect production scale. The overall geographical distribution of the technical efficiency scores points to the presence of spatial concentration, i.e., a dualistic pattern (centre vs. periphery) in the production process. The differences between the best practice and the worst technical efficiency scores indicate the presence of significant disparities among Croatian counties. The years with deteriorating electricity efficiency seem to coincide with the important economic/energy changes that happened in Croatia. Finally, subnational governments may play an important role in energy efficiency policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of European energy-climate package and its measures for increasing security of supply, decreasing the impact on environment and stimulating sustainability, Croatia as a new EU (European Union) member state needs to reconsider and develop new energy policy towards energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Croatian long-term energy demand and its effect on the future national GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions are analysed in this paper. For that purpose the NeD model was constructed (National energy demand model). The model is comprised out of six modules, each representing one sector: industry, transport, households, services, agriculture and construction. The model is based on bottom up approach. The analysis has shown that energy policy measures, identified through this paper, can potentially achieve energy savings up to 157 PJ in the year 2050, which presents a 40% decrease to referent (frozen efficiency) scenario. Results obtained in this paper were also compared to the Croatian National Energy Strategy for the years 2020 and 2030. It was shown that if already implemented policies were properly taken into account the actual final energy demand for the year 2030 would be 43% lower than projected by the Croatian National Energy Strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Socijalna Ekologija is the property of Croatian Sociological Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Today, tourism represents one of the backbones of Croatian economy and one of the main factors of its growth. Combined with catering trade sector, tourism represents a significant energy consumer that has the tendencies of future growth. Since services sector, which tourism–catering trade sector is a part of, is not yet well described regarding future energy balances it would be very interesting to see how could possible future growth in tourism influence energy consumption of the services sector in Croatia. Through this paper long term energy demand projections of tourism–catering trade sector were studied with special emphasis on future growth of tourism in Croatia as well as different mechanisms that might lead to certain energy savings. Bottom-up approach was chosen as the most suitable one since it allows better quantification of different measures, technological or legal, that would influence future energy demand. Downside of this approach is extensive input data that is required to analyse and model future energy demand which is roughly divided into heating/cooling section and all other consumption. Results show that additional energy savings in the tourism–catering trade sector are possible if careful and rational demand side planning is in place. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]