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Ecological modernization in the electrical utility industry: An application of a bads–goods DEA model of ecological and technical efficiency

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  • Sarkis, Joseph
  • Cordeiro, James J.

Abstract

Newly-developed data envelopment analysis techniques permit simultaneous consideration of ‘good and bad’ outputs in evaluating efficiency. We use these techniques to determine joint ecological and technical efficiencies of the 437 largest fossil-fueled electricity-generating plants in the United States. Utilizing the EPA’s E-Grid and Clean Air Markets databases and drawing on ecological modernization theory we evaluate whether innovations in organizational practices and technological solutions help achieve joint technical and environmental performance efficiencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarkis, Joseph & Cordeiro, James J., 2012. "Ecological modernization in the electrical utility industry: An application of a bads–goods DEA model of ecological and technical efficiency," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 219(2), pages 386-395.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:219:y:2012:i:2:p:386-395
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2011.09.033
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    Cited by:

    1. Walheer, Barnabé, 2018. "Disaggregation of the cost Malmquist productivity index with joint and output-specific inputs," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1-12.
    2. Sueyoshi, Toshiyuki & Yuan, Yan & Goto, Mika, 2017. "A literature study for DEA applied to energy and environment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 104-124.
    3. Fahimnia, Behnam & Sarkis, Joseph & Eshragh, Ali, 2015. "A tradeoff model for green supply chain planning:A leanness-versus-greenness analysis," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 173-190.
    4. Laurens Cherchye & Bram De Rock & Barnabé Walheer, 2013. "Efficiency Analysis in the Presence of Bad Outputs," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2013-12, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Sartori, Simone & Witjes, Sjors & Campos, Lucila M.S., 2017. "Sustainability performance for Brazilian electricity power industry: An assessment integrating social, economic and environmental issues," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 41-51.
    6. Walheer, Barnabé, 2018. "Scale efficiency for multi-output cost minimizing producers: The case of the US electricity plants," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 26-36.
    7. Cherchye, Laurens & Rock, Bram De & Walheer, Barnabé, 2015. "Multi-output efficiency with good and bad outputs," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 240(3), pages 872-881.
    8. Barnabé Walheer, 2018. "Cost Malmquist productivity index: an output-specific approach for group comparison," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 79-94, February.
    9. Hui Zheng & Xiaodong Liu & Yajun Xu & Hairong Mu, 2021. "Economic Spillover Effects of Industrial Structure Upgrading in China’s Coastal Economic Rims," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Malte L. Peters & Stephan Zelewski, 2021. "Upper and lower satisficing levels in efficiency analysis: a corporate social responsibility perspective," NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum | Sustainability Management Forum, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 187-195, December.
    11. Joseph Sarkis & Chulmo Koo & Richard T. Watson, 2013. "Green information systems & technologies – this generation and beyond: Introduction to the special issue," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 695-704, November.
    12. Walheer, Barnabé, 2019. "Malmquist productivity index for multi-output producers: An application to electricity generation plants," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 76-88.
    13. Chunguang Bai & Joseph Sarkis, 2013. "Green information technology strategic justification and evaluation," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 831-847, November.
    14. Wade D. Cook & Juan Du & Joe Zhu, 2017. "Units invariant DEA when weight restrictions are present: ecological performance of US electricity industry," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 255(1), pages 323-346, August.
    15. Halkos, George E. & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2013. "A conditional directional distance function approach for measuring regional environmental efficiency: Evidence from UK regions," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 227(1), pages 182-189.
    16. Wang, X.J. & Choi, S.H., 2015. "Stochastic lot sizing manufacturing under the ETS system for maximisation of shareholder wealth," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 246(1), pages 66-75.
    17. William H. Alfonso Piña & Clara Inés Pardo Martínez, 2016. "Development and Urban Sustainability: An Analysis of Efficiency Using Data Envelopment Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-15, February.
    18. Skevas, Theodoros & Stefanou, Spiro E. & Oude Lansink, Alfons, 2014. "Pesticide use, environmental spillovers and efficiency: A DEA risk-adjusted efficiency approach applied to Dutch arable farming," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 237(2), pages 658-664.
    19. Barnabé Walheer, 2020. "Output, input, and undesirable output interconnections in data envelopment analysis: convexity and returns-to-scale," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 284(1), pages 447-467, January.

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