Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
3.7 Conclusions
Energy efficiency is currently the main concern for environmental perfor-
mance. It is a common denominator in many sectors related to the city: land
use management, building construction, transportation, infrastructure and
more. This entails a holistic approach to urban management in order to pro-
mote green cities. This chapter has shown the strong interrelation between
adopting sustainable urbanism principles and achieving high environmen-
tal performance. It takes years to change cities that were planned to be car
dependent, where uses were separated. However, such continuous effort is
crucial because the world is rapidly urbanising; the number of city dwellers
has exceeded that of rural inhabitants. There are great opportunities to learn
from best practices in various areas worldwide to enhance energy efficiency.
However, user commitment remains essential to reverse current consum-
ing behaviour. Moreover, municipalities' adherence to a comprehensive,
yet lexible, plan advocating energy efficiency over time, even with a change
of personnel, can create more sustainable cites.
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