Complexity
Volume 2021 (2021), Article ID 6618940, 13 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6618940

Research Article

Dynamic Simulation of Low-Carbon Competitiveness from the Perspective of Circular Economy

Xing Li and Fuzhou Luo

School of Management, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Xing Li; shinelixing@hotmail.com

Received 11 December 2020; Accepted 19 June 2021; Published 29 June 2021

Academic Editor: Atila Bueno

Copyright © 2021 Xing Li and Fuzhou Luo. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

In accordance with the requirements of the circular economy in Guangxi (of PRC) and the characteristics of the drivers of low-carbon competitiveness in the regional construction industry, a causal flowchart of influencing factors of the low-carbon competitiveness in the Guangxi construction industry is constructed, and a model based on system dynamics is established. After the entropy weight method is used to determine the variable weight, VENSIM PLE software is used to simulate the development trend of the low-carbon competitiveness of the Guangxi construction industry. The simulation results of the promotion effect of various factors on the development of the low-carbon competitiveness of the regional construction industry from 2010 to 2020 are obtained, and countermeasures and suggestions are proposed from the perspective of a circular economy.

1. Introduction

With the development of the economy and the change in urbanization, the demand for construction in China is increasing. With the change in science and technology and the transformation of industry, the construction industry should adhere to green development and make the low-carbon industry goal to realize the transformation, upgrading, and circular development of the construction industry.

The report of the 18th National Congress emphasized that China must “adhere to the basic national policy of saving resources and protecting the environment, adhere to the principle of giving priority to saving, protecting, and restoring nature, and strive to promote green development, circular development, and low-carbon development, to form a spatial pattern, industrial structure, mode of production, and lifestyle for saving resources and protecting the environment, to reverse the deterioration trend of the ecological environment from the source, and to create a good production and living environment for the people” (The 18th National Congress of China, 2020) [1].

In the “Opinions on Promoting the Sustainable and Healthy Development of the Construction Industry” issued by the General Office of the State Council in 2017, the construction industry is the pillar industry of the national economy but remains “big but not strong.” In the overall requirements, the document was proposed to “firmly establish and implement the development concept of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing” and emphasized the importance of promoting the modernization of the construction industry. Energy-saving, emission reduction, and transformation to green development were also mentioned [2].

Over approximately the past decade, governments at all levels in China have attached substantial importance to the development of a circular economy and strictly implemented it in accordance with relevant policies and legal documents proposed by various national ministries and commissions. The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has a unique ecological environment and tourism resources and actively develops the circular economy while fully integrating the regional ethnic characteristics and reality. The region’s “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” Research Report on the Development of the Guangxi Circular Economy and the “Guangxi Circular Economy Development” Thirteenth Five-Year Plan “Research Report” and other related research reports have obtained valuable results [3].

As one of the pillar industries of Guangxi’s economy, the construction and related industries have always been at a relatively low level in terms of technology and development in the country’s horizontal comparison. They are in the status quo of high energy consumption, high pollution, and low output, which is the means for Guangxi to achieve sustainable development and a circular economy. As one of the key industries, it is necessary and forward-looking to explore the low-carbon competitiveness and optimization path of the Guangxi construction industry from the perspective of a circular economy.

Some scholars combined the relevant background and cases of the “Research Report on the 12th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Circular Economy in Guangxi,” summarized the implementation effect of the development of a circular economy in Guangxi, and proposed guarantee measures [4–6]. Fang used the theories of circular economy, industrial ecology, and regional development combined with the methods of grey correlation analysis and AHP and discussed the influencing factors of the development of the low-carbon economy in the Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone and the countermeasures to improve the development level [7]. Grant used Porter’s competition theory as the basis to explore the influencing factors of the competitiveness of the construction industry [8]. Momaya and Selby used Porter’s diamond model to analyze the influencing factors of the competitiveness of the construction industry in Canada and make a comparison with Japan and the United States [9]. Based on Porter’s diamond model, Betts and Ofori innovatively proposed that policy organization and arrangement, government influence, and cultural factors should also be included in the analysis model of construction industry competitiveness [10]. Li and Jiang analyzed the dynamic development of the low-carbon construction industry in Jiangsu Province through the decomposition method of LMDI and found the decoupling effect between it and economic growth [11]; Dong et al. have also found the decoupling situation in five northwest provinces of China [12]. Li et al. have conducted surveys in Central Asia [13]; Zhao et al. started from the transportation industry, analyzed the drivers of carbon emission in the transportation industry in Guangdong from 1995 to 2012, and found that the positive impact of policies is particularly important [14]; Jiang discussed the project management and low-carbon management of construction products from the microperspective to realize the sustainable development of construction products [15].

Jiahong and Wenbin summarized the low-carbon development status of the four aforementioned central provinces and proposed corresponding countermeasures through the factor analysis method by combining the relevant statistical data of Hubei, Hunan, Henan, and Anhui provinces from 2000 to 2011 [16]. Qingfeng uses Malmquist’s index decomposition method based on DEA, combines the carbon emission performance of 29 provinces in China into the framework of all-factor analysis, and evaluates the change rule of carbon emission performance in the eastern, central, and western regions of China [17]. Fei and Dajian conducted theoretical research on domestic and foreign low-carbon cities, combined with model indicators to evaluate and analyze carbon emissions in the process of urban development, and proposed development strategies for a low-carbon cycle of urban life and material production [18]. Juchun et al. have conducted a multifaceted factor analysis on the low-carbon competitiveness of the construction industry and evaluated its low-carbon competitiveness by using structural equation models and other methods [19–21]. Ying and Hui discussed the energy-saving benefits of low-carbon development and transformation in the construction industry from the perspective of economic analysis [22]. Qinghua et al. have reviewed and summarized the research on low carbon in the construction industry by means of Atlas analysis and proposed the establishment of policies such as a carbon tax and a carbon emission trading mechanism based on the advanced experiences in China and other countries [23].

In previous studies on the relationship between energy consumption and economy, some scholars adopted econometric methods to analyze the impact of macroeconomic indicators, such as population [24], gross domestic product (GDP) [25–29], industrial structure [30], urbanization rate [31], and energy structure [32, 33]. These studies could better explain the causal relationship between macroeconomic indicators and energy consumption. However, few scholars considered the impact of the whole energy supply chain process.

Most research on the low-carbon competitiveness has been in the theoretical analysis stage and has not conducted empirical analysis on the combination with regional characteristics [34–36]. For the core areas of China’s coastal, riverside, and border development, Guangxi, which uses the phrase “mountain green and water clean” as its motto, has the characteristics of a strong dependence on resources and a fragile ecological environment [37]. Therefore, it is imperative to analyze and evaluate the competitiveness of the regional construction industry, explore the internal dynamics and laws of the low-carbon transformation and sustainable development of the construction industry, provide decision-making information for local governments and enterprises, and offer a reference for other regional construction industries managing the same bottleneck.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Energy Consumption Level of Construction Industry in China

Since the 1980s, China’s economy has achieved leapfrog development, in which the role of the construction industry in promoting economic development cannot be ignored. However, with the rapid economic development, we should focus on the increasingly serious “ecological deficit” problem, especially high energy consumption and high carbon emissions of the construction industry [38–40]. Therefore, it is urgent to seek the direction and path of low-carbon industrial transformation by analyzing the energy consumption of China’s construction industry. For the calculation of carbon emission from the construction industry, the main reference is the calculation method in the IPCC report published in 2006 [41]. The calculation formula is as follows:

From Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 1, it is found that the carbon emission level in eastern China is significantly higher than that in central and western China, and it increased significantly in 2011 and 2012, and then the growth trend slowed down. However, the overall carbon emissions are increasing year by year, and there is a certain degree of synchronization with the economic development in different regions of China. At the same time as China’s economic development, the current situation of carbon emissions from the construction industry should also be taken into consideration. It is particularly necessary for the construction industry to carry out a low-carbon transformation, industrial upgrading of the construction industry, and circular economy.

Table 1: Energy consumption data of construction industry in China (coal equivalent calculation) (10,000 tons).

Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

Beijing
47.9
48.1
50.8
55.3
65.7
77.0
82.2
84.6
76.9
73.2
75.8
77.0
73.6

Tianjin
50.4
59.9
71.3
140.0
157.3
182.0
200.3
210.5
214.4
217.7
230.9
237.24
228.04

Hebei
96.7
225
232.4
253.6
274.7
310.1
339.6
352.3
209.8
202.9
297
312
315

Shanxi
80.8
89.8
93.4
108.0
130.6
145.5
158.0
166.4
178.2
161.1
163.08
163.28
166.08

Inner Mongolia
97.1
110.3
116.3
150.2
177.5
299.6
246.0
254.1
240.1
236.9
302.36
367.70
428.33

Liaoning
101.0
109.6
130.8
141.8
160.1
187.0
209.8
194.9
202.5
163.4
171.6
158.37
136.7

Jilin
86.9
98.3
102.8
62.5
70.0
83.5
90.1
98.2
144.2
142.9
125.32
126.18
128.55

Heilongjiang
14.3
15.4
15.4
16.6
20.9
30.0
42.6
47.4
52.1
54.3
55.0
56.9
55.4

Shanghai
173.8
180.2
180.7
191.9
204.5
200.9
189.5
205.7
207.4
200.2
217.70
236.6
240.9

Jiangsu
208.4
224.5
236.2
242.0
259.6
172.0
193.8
201.9
238.2
252.4
377.84
349.66
357.57

Zhejiang
196.5
215.3
234.9
256.1
288.2
348.7
378.0
383.3
432.1
446.2
450.6
466.3
478.4

Anhui
57.1
66.3
74.4
88.5
95.0
116.6
139.7
159.5
196.7
205.6
209.47
220.69
241.21

Fujian
54.2
69.2
76.1
137.8
146.3
166.7
188.3
176.3
191.7
198.6
246.22
258.6
270.5

Jiangxi
16.9
142.4
129.9
125.4
152.8
37.9
51.7
54.2
70.2
78.3
109.2
114.34
122.71

Shandong
594.4
588.9
594.9
603.5
715.4
275.3
309.6
286.6
277.5
292.4
453.3
472.1
486.6

Henan
65.4
68.0
69.0
70.1
92.4
126.7
157.3
161.4
170.3
203.4
269.7
263.44
323.86

Hubei
134.2
162.1
183.4
183.1
227.6
298.9
331.8
326.5
360.5
374.7
428
367
379

Hunan
122.8
125.1
133.2
111.4
135.1
162.3
201.9
222.1
266.7
297.8
360.64
377.91
380.04

Guangdong
182.3
196.5
222.9
228.5
236.7
255.7
266.9
275.5
272.2
303.6
734.13
740.18
767.84

Guangxi
33.6
44.4
43.1
31.0
36.0
37.9
45.0
46.2
48.3
53.5
59.90
62.06
69

Hainan
11.6
12.8
14.2
13.9
18.4
23.9
28.3
32.7
38.1
46.2
48.12
47.8
52.80

Chongqing
59.1
67.6
75.3
94.3
91.5
111.3
131.3
135.4
151.4
159.8
166.3
180.2
192.1

Sichuan
121.6
128.1
182.7
158.3
190.8
241.7
278.1
254.1
216.4
216.6
498.1
548.5
579.3

Guizhou
48.5
47.5
41.5
60.8
73.2
79.4
73.0
84.4
115.0
140.7
129.3
161.07
184.25

Yunnan
75.2
87.3
91.2
115.8
128.2
153.7
183.0
184.0
181.4
198.2
215.13
232.01
255.84

Shaanxi
66.3
92.1
62.1
144.1
117.4
160.8
163.7
178.5
184.0
200.2
205.80
192.27
209.51

Gansu
57.8
58.8
61.0
63.8
65.4
78.5
88.4
96.5
98.3
109.1
103.67
110.68
121.47

Qinghai
14.8
16.6
16.5
22.9
24.8
28.5
33.9
36.8
40.2
41.8
46.5
45.6
51.3

Ningxia
13.6
15.4
18.3
33.4
39.4
47.6
50.3
53.8
56.6
58.5
60.6
65.8
67.2

Xinjiang
39.8
50.2
50.6
54.5
64.2
70.0
84.5
101.2
117.5
108.4
155.6
202.4
207.6

Table 2: Carbon emissions of construction industry in China (10,000 tons).

Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017

Beijing
3,489
2,574
2,746
3,237
4,544
4,722
5,633
4,923
5,448
5,771
6,492
7,303
8,216

Tianjin
863
1,108
1,570
1,836
2,310
2,352
2,898
3,322
6,074
11,707
12,936
14,294
15,795

Hebei
3,530
5,302
4,572
3,887
4,532
10,531
31,301
31,715
14,602
14,577
16,180
17,960
19,935

Shanxi
2,431
1,624
1,845
2,524
3,317
3,772
3,173
3,335
3,528
4,442
4,962
5,542
6,191

Inner Mongolia
742
901
1,182
2,684
1,696
2,280
2,331
1,922
1,940
1,926
2,123
2,339
2,578

Liaoning
2,267
2,471
2,797
3,787
8,162
7,128
11,797
11,034
13,006
12,911
14,280
15,794
17,468

Jilin
872
851
938
1,479
1,582
1,474
1,957
49,042
9,130
9,716
10,933
12,092
13,606

Heilongjiang
832
711
820
1,202
1,195
1,411
2,926
1,780
1,782
1,940
2,182
2,455
2,762

Shanghai
2,840
2,834
3,005
3,335
3,678
3,901
4,119
4,194
4,323
4,540
5,107
5,746
6,464

Jiangsu
7,295
8,729
10,818
13,080
14,286
16,414
55,651
37,166
24,935
27,301
30,714
34,553
38,872

Zhejiang
10,526
12,405
13,250
15,944
17,517
20,702
25,936
28,703
32,904
33,882
37,880
42,350
47,347

Anhui
1,621
1,937
2,457
2,814
3,601
4,749
5,717
6,165
7,049
7,668
8,573
9,645
10,850

Fujian
2,385
2,757
2,397
3,791
4,672
6,213
6,351
8,102
11,072
13,784
15,410
17,337
19,504

Jiangxi
1,127
1,577
1,519
1,789
2,095
2,114
3,340
3,772
4,321
2,191
2,450
2,756
3,101

Shandong
4,613
5,119
4,634
8,953
8,708
9,164
9,447
27,031
10,541
11,188
12,586
14,160
15,930

Henan
1,852
2,558
3,429
4,256
5,450
6,505
6,838
8,800
8,145
31,748
35,716
40,180
45,203

Hubei
2,904
3,525
9,390
4,681
7,121
5,456
10,311
16,728
16,458
19,424
21,852
24,584
27,657

Hunan
2,661
3,322
3,722
3,861
4,755
5,650
5,964
6,669
7,109
7,462
8,395
9,444
10,624

Guangdong
4,092
4,555
5,328
5,333
4,822
7,733
9,337
12,296
8,067
9,461
10,644
11,974
13,471

Guangxi
949
1,149
1,054
1,105
1,378
1,788
1,975
2,862
3,984
4,434
4,988
5,611
6,313

Hainan
106
162
173
226
302
295
490
422
579
465
523
589
662

Chongqing
1,451
1,505
1,905
4,755
3,518
5,158
5,982
5,273
6,056
6,075
6,834
7,688
8,649

Sichuan
2,428
2,772
3,185
3,801
4,886
7,563
12,140
15,213
16,983
19,315
21,440
23,798
26,416

Guizhou
513
632
676
933
2,122
1,143
1,397
2,000
2,927
3,538
3,715
4,123
4,639

Yunnan
965
1,291
1,250
1,946
1,877
2,277
2,428
2,888
11,884
12,335
13,648
15,150
17,044

Shaanxi
1,339
1,691
2,051
4,006
3,728
3,691
6,608
4,793
5,321
6,617
7,322
8,127
9,143

Gansu
666
900
600
2,318
1,029
1,052
2,817
1,803
2,270
2,493
2,759
3,093
3,479

Qinghai
116
118
180
314
377
541
329
379
397
427
472
529
596

Ningxia
212
243
261
338
443
536
657
702
865
983
1,094
1,218
1,356

Xinjiang
588
949
713
874
907
1,167
3,589
3,141
2,259
2,713
3,009
3,337
3,754

Figure 1: Carbon emissions of construction industry in eastern, central, and western China from 2005 to 2017.

2.2. Causal Analysis of Factors Influencing the Low-Carbon Competitiveness of the Guangxi Construction Industry Based on System Dynamics

According to the current economic development status of Guangxi and the current production characteristics of the construction field, combined with Guangxi’s overall plan for the development of a circular economy during the “Thirteenth Five-Year Plan” period, and in accordance with the method of system dynamics to determine the system boundaries and key variables, the key factors were extracted from many documents. These factors include low-carbon industrial structure, regional economic environment, low-carbon levels of related industries, and low-carbon industrial demand, of which the low-carbon industrial structure is the internal cause, and the regional economic environment, low-carbon level of related industries, and low-carbon industrial demand are the external causes. Due to the needs of the regional economic environment, the demand for low-carbon industries is driven, which promotes the low carbonization of related industries and the low-carbon competitiveness of the construction industry; the low-carbon industrial structure affects direct and indirect carbon emissions throughout the construction process, responds to the low-carbon competitiveness of the construction industry, and builds a cycle of internal and external factors. According to the subdivision observation variables of each factor, the following factor subdivision structure diagram was obtained (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Structure of influencing factors on the low-carbon competitiveness of the Guangxi construction industry.

In accordance with the influence of the relationship between the internal and external factors and the formation process of motivation, we obtained a causal flowchart of the low-carbon competitiveness of the Guangxi construction industry (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Causal flow diagram of the influencing factors of low-carbon competitiveness in the Guangxi construction industry.

2.3. Guangxi Construction Industry Low-Carbon Competitiveness Model Based on System Dynamics

According to the causal flow of Guangxi’s construction industry’s low-carbon competitiveness in Figure 2, we must determine various variables and observation indicators before establishing a system dynamics model.

 Variable 1: low-carbon competitiveness of the Guangxi construction industry (GXJZ) Variable 2: demand for low-carbon products in the construction industry (JZCP), including fixed asset investment and real estate investment Variable 3: regional economic environment (GXJJ), observed through GRP (gross regional products) Variable 4: low-carbon degree of relevant industries (XGCY), observed by industrial carbon emission efficiency and energy carbon emission efficiency

To ensure the unity of our numerical calculations, the original absolute value is nondimensionalized in the data processing process, and the rate is calculated on the same base.

Based on the aforementioned variables and observation indexes, combined with the characteristics of the Guangxi construction industry, the system dynamics equation is established as follows:

(1)Guangxi regional economic environment evaluation equation: according to the characteristics of China’s current economic development and urban construction, the GDP in economically developed regions is relatively high, and the corresponding construction demand is relatively high. China’s construction level, technical level, and management level tend to lead, which is a positive impact on the low-carbon competitiveness of the construction industry. When the level of low-carbon competitiveness of the regional construction industry increases, it will also promote the optimization of the regional economic environment. In view of research, local protectionism often hinders benign competition, affects the optimization of motivation, and has a negative effect on regional economic growth. Combined with the system dynamics equation model, the feedback equation for the regional economic environment in Guangxi is defined as follows [42–44]:

 where is the Guangxi regional economic environment, are the gross regional products, is the smoothing function, and is the coefficient of local protection degree. According to Juchun et al. [42], a coefficient of the local protection degree of 1 indicates that the region is completely open and there is no local protectionism; a coefficient of 2 indicates that the region is completely closed and there is completely local protectionism. Based on Guangxi’s regional characteristics and development background, the value of here is 1.5, which indicates that the degree of local protection is semiopen. Formula (3) is substituted into the numerical value as follows:

 Formula (3) shows that the economic environment of Guangxi takes the GDP of Guangxi as an indicator, which is positively affected by the low-carbon competitiveness of Guangxi and negatively affected by local protectionism.(2)Demand evaluation equation of low-carbon products in the construction industry: the low-carbon products in the construction field are mainly reflected in the real estate industry and fixed asset investments from the industrial chain terminal, which are affected by the policy guidance in the aforementioned commodity market. Guangxi belongs to the autonomous region of ethnic minorities. Thus, on the one hand, Guangxi is subject to the macrocontrol of the state, and on the other hand, it has certain regional characteristics. Thus, the three factors, respectively, establish the evaluation equation as follows:

 where is the fixed assets investment in Guangxi and is the coefficient of influence.

 where is the real estate investment in Guangxi and is the coefficient of influence.

 where is the demand for low carbon in construction products, and are the weight coefficients obtained by the entropy weight method, and , is the policy impact coefficient, according to Guangxi’s regional characteristics and development background, and the value of here is 0.5, indicating that the region is equally affected by the market and policies.(3)Industry and energy are the upstream industries of the construction industry, which have a linkage effect with the low carbon of the construction industry; thus, we obtain the evaluation equation for the degree of industrial low carbonization and energy low carbonization. Considering the low carbonization degree of industry and energy comprehensively, the low carbonization evaluation equation of related industries is obtained as follows:

 where is the low-carbon degree of industry, is the low-carbon degree of energy, is the low carbon in related industries, and are the weight coefficients obtained by the entropy weight method, and .(4)The low-carbon level of the construction industry is reflected in the two indicators: the energy consumption of the construction industry and the energy consumption of the construction industry in the region. The smaller the energy consumption of the construction industry, the higher the low-carbon level and the smaller the proportion of energy consumption. This shows that the higher the low carbonation level, the two indicators have a linkage effect. Thus, the equation for establishing a low carbonization level in the construction industry is as follows:

 where is the energy consumption proportion of the construction industry, is the total energy consumption in the construction industry, is the structure of low carbon in the construction industry, and are the weight coefficients obtained by the entropy weight method, and .(5)Low-carbon competitiveness equation of the Guangxi construction industry: in accordance with the causal flow and the aforementioned equation, the low-carbon competitiveness equation of the Guangxi construction industry is affected by the Guangxi regional economic environment (GXJJ), low-carbon demand of construction products (), low-carbon of related industries (), and carbon emission of the construction industry (). Using the aforementioned variables, the low-carbon competitiveness equation of the Guangxi construction industry is established as follows:

 where are the weight coefficients obtained by the entropy weight method, and .

According to the establishment of the aforementioned equation and system dynamics, the model in Figure 4 is established for the data trial and empirical simulation.

Figure 4: System dynamics model of the Guangxi construction industry low-carbon competitiveness.

2.4. Establishment of a Low-Carbon Competitiveness Model for the Construction Industry in Guangxi

2.4.1. Determination of Influence Coefficient

The relevant economic indicators of the Guangxi construction industry are shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Relevant economic indicators of the Guangxi construction industry.

Year
Gross regional product (GRP) (billion yuan)
Guangxi construction industry output value (billion yuan)
Fixed asset investment (100 million yuan)
Real estate investment completed (100 million yuan)
Gross industrial output value per ton of energy consumption (yuan)
Gross regional production per ton of energy consumption (yuan)
Total energy consumption of the construction industry (10,000 tons of standard coal)
Structure of low-carbon in the construction industry (energy consumption proportion of the construction industry)

2005
3984.10
425.21
900.87
286.79
10,273.00
8182.00
33.12
0.70

2006
4746.16
512.83
1170.65
369.98
12,081.00
9449.00
49.13
0.89

2007
5835.33
612.74
1438.54
536.28
13,843.00
10,420.00
44.46
0.72

2008
7021.00
753.21
1805.77
627.34
15,983.00
11,597.00
41.45
0.62

2009
7759.16
934.38
2614.53
813.68
16,678.00
11,769.00
35.90
0.54

2010
9569.85
1222.31
3479.48
1206.22
21,277.00
12,969.00
37.14
0.47

2011
11,720.87
1553.07
4185.39
1517.47
24,235.00
14,640.00
40.83
0.50

2012
13,035.10
1867.06
4975.44
1554.94
26,144.00
15,280.00
42.65
0.50

2013
14,449.90
2289.88
4501.24
1614.63
26,489.00
15,799.00
46.67
0.50

2014
15,672.89
2608.91
5418.23
1838.49
31,467.00
16,156.00
50.54
0.50

2015
16,803.12
2953.42
6680.15
1909.09
34,062.00
17,215.00
59.90
0.60

2016
18,317.64
3434.33
8141.87
2397.99
33,439.00
18,078.00
62.06
0.60

2017
20,369.25
4209.72
11,438.26
2683.48
38,540.00
19,502.00
69.00
0.70

Note: data are from the Guangxi Statistical Yearbook (2006–2018).

According to the curve of Guangxi regional GDP and Guangxi construction industry GDP, we determine in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Curve of GRP and Guangxi construction industry GDP.

can be obtained through a curve fitting calculation and indicates that the fitting degree is good; now, equation (3) can be further defined as follows:

can be obtained through a curve fitting calculation, and indicates that the fitting degree is good. and indicate that the fitting degree is good, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Fitting curve of Guangxi GDP, completed real estate investment, and fixed asset investment.

2.4.2. Entropy Weight Method to Determine Weight

The entropy weight method is adopted to determine the weight of each index, and the following steps are adopted [45, 46]:

(1)Data Standardization. In accordance with the table of 2005–2017, in these 13 years of multiple indicators for standardization, the standardization formula is .(2)Seek Information Entropy. According to the definition of information entropy, we find the information entropy of each group of data, , where if . We define that (3)Determine Index Weight. After the information entropy is obtained, the weight of each index is obtained through the formula .

After data standardization, we obtain the data in Table 4.

Table 4: Standardized data of the relevant economic indicators of the Guangxi construction industry.

Year
Gross regional product (GRP) (billion yuan)
Fixed assets investment (100 million yuan)
Real estate investment completed (100 million yuan)
Gross industrial output value per ton of energy consumption (yuan)
Gross regional production per ton of energy consumption (yuan)
Total energy consumption of the construction industry (10,000 tons of standard coal)
Structure of low carbon in the construction industry (energy consumption proportion of the construction industry)

2005
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.55

2006
0.05
0.03
0.03
0.06
0.11
0.45
1.00

2007
0.11
0.05
0.10
0.13
0.20
0.32
0.60

2008
0.19
0.09
0.14
0.20
0.30
0.23
0.36

2009
0.23
0.16
0.22
0.23
0.32
0.08
0.17

2010
0.34
0.24
0.38
0.39
0.42
0.11
0.00

2011
0.47
0.31
0.51
0.49
0.57
0.21
0.07

2012
0.55
0.39
0.53
0.56
0.63
0.27
0.07

2013
0.64
0.34
0.55
0.57
0.67
0.38
0.07

2014
0.71
0.43
0.65
0.75
0.70
0.49
0.07

2015
0.78
0.55
0.68
0.84
0.80
0.75
0.31

2016
0.87
0.69
0.88
0.82
0.87
0.81
0.31

2017
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
0.55

Thus, the information entropy of each index can be obtained in Table 5.

Table 5: Information entropy and entropy weight of each index.

0.85
0.88
0.89
0.92
0.89
0.85
0.89
0.86
0.90
0.88

0.56
0.44
0.56
0.44
0.42
0.58
0.24
0.30
0.21
0.25

3. Discussion

3.1. Parameter Selection

In addition to the weight coefficient calculated based on the relevant data of Guangxi from 2005 to 2017, the time interval for the simulation of the model should be determined before the simulation is conducted. The simulation time interval we use is from 2010 to 2020—10 years. The simulation interval covers most of the original data selection interval, fully reflects the influence of the original data on the model, facilitates the observation and analysis of the data, and is in line with Guangxi’s “Twelfth Five-Year Plan” “Study Report” and the “Guangxi Circular Economy Development” Thirteenth Five-Year Plan “Research Report,” which have proposed the development period of the circular economy. The implementation of the policy has been evaluated and predicted.

In the choice of simulation step size, generally, the minimum time length of the model is 0.1–0.5. The minimum time constant of the model is the reciprocal of the minimum constant in the model. To ensure that the simulation step size must be less than the length of the first-order delay in the model, notably, the smaller the step size, the higher the simulation accuracy. Therefore, after we consider the data characteristics, the step size of this simulation is determined as one year according to the data time, which is more in line with the simulation and actual needs.

The verification of the model is automatically adjusted by VENSIM PLE software. After the data and functions are added, it can be conducted smoothly, demonstrating that the established simulation model is feasible.

3.2. Analysis of Simulation Results

3.2.1. Guangxi Region Economic Parameter Adjustment and Result Analysis

By adjusting the proportion of fixed assets in the low-carbon product demand evaluation equation of the construction industry, we can observe changes in the low-carbon level curve of the construction industry in Guangxi (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Influence of economic parameter adjustment on the low-carbon level of the construction industry in Guangxi.

In accordance with the data in Figure 6, the proportion of fixed asset investment is initially set at 39.5%. By increasing the proportion of fixed asset investment to 40%, the low-carbon level of the Guangxi construction industry also increases, and the increase is gradual from 2010 to 2020. This finding shows that the increase in the fixed asset investment proportion has a pulling effect on the low-carbon level of the Guangxi construction industry and increases with time in the forecast interval; the pull effect is significant.

3.2.2. Parameter Adjustment and Result Analysis of the Guangxi Construction Industry

In the model, the impact coefficient of real estate investment completion was originally set as 0.425; now, we increase it to 0.5. The low-carbon level curve of the Guangxi construction industry is presented in Figure 8.

Figure 8: Impact of the adjustment of relevant construction parameters on the low-carbon level of the construction industry in Guangxi.

We observe that the impact coefficient of real estate investment completion is positively related to the low-carbon level of the Guangxi construction industry; it is positively related to the value. Therefore, the impact coefficient can be improved by increasing the proportion of real estate investment completion, ultimately promoting the low-carbon level of the Guangxi construction industry.

3.2.3. Energy Parameter Adjustment and Result Analysis of the Guangxi Construction Industry

By raising the overall rate of change of energy consumption in the construction industry by 5%, a comparative chart of the trend of low carbonization in the construction industry can be obtained. In Figure 9, the increase in energy consumption in the construction industry directly leads to an increase in the low-carbon index of the construction industry. However, in the simulated time interval, the energy consumption level curve of the construction industry before 2014 and the low-carbon level curve of the Guangxi construction industry are highly fitted, which conforms to the relevant data of the Guangxi construction industry. From 2014 to 2020, there is a significant pulling effect, and the increment increases annually.

Figure 9: Impact of energy parameter adjustment on low-carbon level of the construction industry in Guangxi.

4. Conclusions and Recommendations

4.1. Conclusions

By deconstructing the low-carbon factors of Guangxi’s construction industry from the perspective of the circular economy, first, a causal flow analysis of the impact of many factors on the low-carbon construction industry in Guangxi was conducted. Based on the causal flow analysis, the combination of factors that have a critical impact on the low-carbon construction industry in Guangxi was proposed in the context of system dynamics to build a system dynamics model, adopt the relevant economic and energy indicators of the construction industry in Guangxi from 2005 to 2017, determine the coefficients of the model through regression simulation and the information entropy method, and define 2010–2020 as the observation interval to conduct the simulations to evaluate and predict the relevant achievements of Guangxi’s circular economy.

According to the running results of the simulation model, we propose the following conclusions:

(1)The regional economic level, development level of the construction industry, and industrial energy consumption level of the construction industry will have a significant impact on the low-carbon level of Guangxi’s construction industry, and the effect is regional economic level > development level of the construction industry > energy consumption level of the construction industry.(2)Regional economic environment has a significant pulling effect on the low-carbon level of the construction industry. The pulling effect of the regional economic environment is mainly reflected in the setting of the initial value of the regional economy, which means that the better the foundation of the regional economic environment, the lower the carbon level. The promotion effect is more obvious, but because the model in this paper is based on the Guangxi region as a geographic category for research, and the regional economic level is a known parameter value, it can only focus on the improvement of the regional economic environment in the process of developing a low-carbon economy in the construction industry in the later period. We suggest the following: increase the proportion of the regional economy and fixed asset investment to increase GDP and GDP per capita to drive the low-carbon level of the construction industry in the region.(3)From the model of factors influencing the competitiveness of the construction industry in Guangxi from 2010 to 2020, we observe that the energy consumption level of the relevant construction industry has a significant impact on the low-carbon competitiveness of the construction industry in this region and has a stimulating effect. The energy consumption level is not high in the horizontal comparison of 31 provinces and cities in the country, has a limited impact on the low-carbon level of the construction industry, and is not as significant as the regional economy in the multifactor comparison.

4.2. Suggestions

In accordance with the current industrial development characteristics of Guangxi and the aforementioned analysis of the low-carbon competitiveness of the construction industry, to achieve the objectives and requirements of the circular economy proposed in the 13th Five-Year Plan Research Report of circular economy development in Guangxi, the regional circular economy can be developed by realizing the following aspects.

4.2.1. Multi-Industry Integration in a Modern Circular Economy

This term is not limited to a specific industry and integrates various industries to achieve cross-industry cooperation. Through the production process or production technology, multi-industry enterprises are organically combined, and the waste from the production process of the previous industry is used as the raw material of the downstream industry. Through the idea of “reuse” in the circular economy, by relying on the upgrading of modern industrial technology, production is optimized and improved. Link, improve the efficiency of resource utilization, open the production and circulation channels of various industries, and realize integrated optimization. On the one hand, it reduces the discharge of waste and improves the utilization rate of resources; on the other hand, it protects the environment, realizes sustainable development, and improves economic benefits. The circulation path is shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10: Modern circular economy with multi-industry integration related to the construction industry.

4.2.2. Building a Circular Economy Demonstration Project Based on Cities

Based on the characteristics and reality of the development of industries in Guangxi’s cities, the city’s resource reserves and the current situation of the development of various industries are fully considered, and the advantages and disadvantages are avoided. The city is used as a driver of the whole region to form a “point-line-surface” circular economy linkage mode; optimize the allocation of resources in each city; formulate corresponding policies and plans for each city; and promote the sound, rapid development of the circular economy in the whole region by rapidly improving the development level of the circular economy in the city by, for example, “building a nest and attracting a phoenix city circular economy project,” “industrial chain network weaving and spreading a city circular economy project,” and “leading industry pulling city circular economy project” (The 18th National Congress of China, 2020).

4.2.3. Focusing on the Key Technology of a Circular Economy in the Construction Industry

Within the scope of the construction industry, attention should be paid to the improvement of various industrial technologies, for example, technologies and standards for improving the thermal insulation, waterproofing, and thermal insulation performance of building envelopes in architectural design standards. In the process of building equipment, the system efficiency of air conditioning, lighting, elevators, and hot water should be fully used to reduce losses and improve the technical level and equipment performance. In terms of building energy conservation, large-scale use of renewable resources (e.g., solar energy and wind energy) is recommended. Finally, we suggest promoting the application of new building materials and building material production methods through technological reforms and industrial transformation and upgrading.

Abbreviation

GXJZ: | Low-carbon competitiveness of the Guangxi construction industry
GXJJ: | Regional economic environment of Guangxi
JZCP: | Demand for low carbon in construction products
XGCY: | Low-carbon level of related industries
JZTP: | Structure of low carbon in the construction industry
GRP: | Gross regional products
GDZC: | Fixed asset investment of Guangxi
GDZC(p): | Proportion of fixed assets investment of Guangxi
FDC: | Real estate investment of Guangxi
ΔFDC: | Added to real estate investment of Guangxi
GYDT: | Low-carbon degree of industry
NYDT: | Low-carbon degree of energy
NYB: | Energy consumption proportion of the construction industry
NNXH: | Energy consumption of the construction industry in Guangxi
ΔNNXH: | Added to the energy consumption of the construction industry in Guangxi
CIOV: | Construction industry output value
ΔCIOV: | Added to the construction industry output value
EC: | Energy consumption
R1: | Rate of change in GRP
R2: | Rate of change in EC
R3: | Rate of change in FDC
LP: | Local protection.

Data Availability

Publicly available datasets were analyzed in this study. These data can be found in China Statistical Yearbook (http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/) and Guangxi Statistical Yearbook (http://tjj.gxzf.gov.cn/tjsj/tjnj/).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ Contributions

All the authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by XL and FL. The first draft of the manuscript was written by XL, and all authors commented on the previous versions of the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China—Study on the dynamic mechanism and policy of Cultural Industry agglomeration in the Tibetan-qiang-yi corridor based on the economic geography (71974155), Key Industry Innovation Chain (group)—Social Development Fund project of Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Department: Construction and Demonstration of Green Eco-Industrial Chain in Han River Economic Zone (2019ZDLSF06-07), and the Basic Competence Improvement Project for Middle and Young Teachers in the Universities and Colleges of Guangxi—Application and Practice of BIM in Informatization Treatment of Quality Control in Assembly Construction (Grant no. 2018KY1010).

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