Effect of The Physical Characteristics of a Dwelling on Energy Consumption and Emissions: The Case of Castellón And Valencia (Spain)

Abstract

This research analyses the relation between building and housing attributes and energy consumption and CO2 emissions, considering the spatial dependence present on the Spanish residential market and the different climatic areas. The paper uses a hedonic model with spatial correlation. To measure the spatial dependence, we have combined the Lag Model and the Error Model. The data has been obtained from three different sources and merged in a complex geolocated database, for the provinces of Castellón and Valencia. The results of both regressions indicate that there is a spatial dependence in the sample and a relation between some building attributes and energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The regressions show the existence of low consumption and low emission clusters in the metropolitan area of Valencia and Castellón. Moreover, the endogenous variables indicate that characteristics such as the age, the size, the typology of the house building or dwelling, the use of the surface, or the climatic area have an effect in the energy consumption and the CO2 emissions of the houses in Castellón and Valencia.