Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
that dominated the last century to urban planning on a more human scale.
New cities should be planned as self-sufficient units that offer a variety of
housing and job opportunities to maximise walkability and minimise car
dependency. Expanding cities should follow a more polycentric trend, where
new districts are created and not exclusive residential areas. This can help
create more jobs and, again, minimise commuting, thus decreasing energy
consumption. Moreover, a shift toward public transit systems is essential to
enhance the efficient use of available energy and resources. This is a notion
well addressed by transit-oriented development.
Regarding informal expansion, the people's way of developing is 'smart';
however, their settlements need a more comprehensive approach to ensure
the provision of needs (such as housing and services) in a more environmen-
tally responsive pattern. This must be the basis for projects whether they are
upgrades or redevelopment. During redevelopment, it is important to main-
tain high densities, walkability, mixed uses, mixed housing and to integrate
with nearby open spaces. Providing access to safe water, sanitation, secure
tenure, durable housing and sufficient living area should not divert projects
from attending to other aspects of sustainability.
Some studies have shown that informal areas consume less energy due
to their compact design. However, this compactness and extensive use of
bricks, concrete and asphalt increases the effect of the urban heat island in
the area, thus reducing comfort in outdoor spaces and increasing thermal
loads on buildings. There is still a need to further investigate this issue in
order to identify adequate intervention to improve environmental perfor-
mance and to reduce energy use.
10.3 Integrating Renewable Energies into Urban Planning
Globally, there is a growing concern with reaching the 20% renewable energy
targets of 2020* and going beyond that to 30% or to doubling the current share
of renewables in the energy mix by 2030
†
and afterward. This target should
be integrated in the urban planning system whether relating to decentral-
ised production (by various users) or centralised production in power plants.
In both cases, this could include regulations to facilitate installation of solar
and wind energy production equipment. Currently, in some countries, urban
regulations might restrict the installation of photovoltaic (PV) modules on
*
The EU target for 2020 is 20% of the energy demand from renewable energy as stated in
European Union [2].
†
Within the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (post 2015), Goal 7 states: Ensure access
to affordable, sustainable and reliable modern energy services for all. Relevant targets are: 7.2
double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030; 7.3 double the global
rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 as stated in Ref. [3].
