فرنوش دانشور

  This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of water and energy careers consumption at the provincial level in Iran. By employing the SBM-DEA model, the efficiency of water, electricity, natural gas, and overall resource consumption was calculated and compared across ۳۱ provinces over a ۱۲-year period (۲۰۱۱-۲۰۲۲). The findings revealed significant variations in resource efficiency among provinces, with overall efficiency levels being relatively low. The study also analyzed the temporal trends in resource efficiency. Results indicated that Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Ilam, and Tehran ranked among the most efficient provinces. Furthermore, provinces such as North Khorasan, Kurdistan, and Qom exhibited substantial potential for improving efficiency. The study also found that electricity consumption efficiency was generally higher compared to water and gas, and overall resource efficiency experienced an upward trend over the study period. Nevertheless, there remains significant room for improvement in resource efficiency across many provinces. The findings highlight that enhancing efficiency in provinces like West Azerbaijan, Hormozgan, and Isfahan would have the most substantial impact on improving overall resource efficiency at the national level. In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of resource efficiency in Iran and can serve as a valuable resource for policymakers in developing efficiency improvement programs.