Abstract
The most significant element in the development of a city, of course, is its people. It is the human beings who populate a city, their values and ways of interacting, that give a city its distinctive character, its strengths and weaknesses, and its potential for future development. Nonetheless, cities are also composed of man-made physical objects—roads, bridges, tunnels, factories, railroads, and buildings. Cities are always characterized by dense concentrations of buildings: large, multi-story office buildings; medium-size commercial buildings for stores and light industry; schools and hospitals; multifamily apartment buildings; and single-family homes. Buildings have an enormous effect on people’s lives, energy, the environment, and the economy. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is concerned with all these elements, but primarily focuses on energy use. In the United States each year, residential and commercial buildings are responsible for one-third of all energy use and two-thirds of electricity use. While these shares can be different in other countries, it is likely that there will be trends toward similar patterns in Eastern Europe. As described below, energy use in buildings involves a variety of technological and institutional considerations relevant to the development of European cities, and especially to cities in Eastern Europe, where the shift to market-oriented economies presents a variety of challenges and opportunities.
Published Version
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