Derivation of energy-embodiment functions to estimate the embodied energy from the material content

The embodied energy includes the direct and indirect energy consumed for the entire production process. These values are needed to estimate impacts on energy consumption due to changes in consumption patterns. We have developed a model of the economic system to account for every production process. This model illustrates interrelations among production processes by incorporating sectors that produce multiple products. The model is consistent with available input-output coefficients and the material flow in each process. By exploring our model, we derived energy-embodiment functions that evaluate the embodied energy of an arbitrary product in terms of material content. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.