While　China’s　current　energy　policies　predominantly　adopt　single-factor　energy　efficiency　(SFEE)　as　the　benchmark,　academic　research　increasingly　advocates　total-factor　energy　efficiency　(TFEE)　assessments.　This　study　examines　the　differences　between　these　two　energy　efficiency　evaluation　paradigms　in　the　context　of　sustainable　development　goals,　particularly　exploring　the　extent　of　such　divergences.　Guided　by　the　“energy　input　minimization”　principle,　we　construct　a　time-series　dynamic　analytical　framework　to　systematically　compare　the　impact　of　SFEE　and　TFEE　on　regional　energy　efficiency　rankings　from　a　sustainable　development　perspective.　Specifically,　this　paper　innovatively　incorporates　“new　driving　forces”　into　the　production　function,　establishing　a　green　development-oriented　evaluation　system　that　reveals　the　measurement　bias　of　traditional　production　frameworks　on　energy　efficiency　and　its　influence　on　regional　rankings.　The　results　demonstrate:　(1)　China’s　regional　energy　efficiency　rankings　remain　largely　consistent　under　both　evaluation　systems,　with　only　minor　adjustments　for　individual　provinces,　confirming　the　feasibility　of　adopting　SFEE　in　policy　formulation　as　an　effective　method　for　evaluating　and　comparing　regional　energy　efficiency;　(2)　For　most　provinces　under　the　“new　normal”　economic　development　context,　continued　use　of　traditional　production　frameworks　would　lead　to　underestimation　of　TFEE.　After　introducing　factors　such　as　human　capital,　intangible　capital,　technological　innovation,　and　business　environments,　China’s　energy　efficiency　polarization　gap　widens.　The　evaluation　of　efficiency　indicators　provides　theoretical　foundations　and　micro-level　evidence　for　energy　policy　formulation　under　the　“dual-carbon”　goals.　©　2025　by　the　authors.