Land use, Mobility and Energy Consumption -Poster of Ideas for the Classification of Urban Settlements

Abstract

In this paper a method that allows to classify homogeneous zones according to the estimated energy consumption for the annual mobility per capita is proposed. With Directive 2002/91/EC, in the UE territory all real estate must have an energy performance certificate. This certification estimates the annual energetic needs of a building and then determines its energetic class identified by a letter from A+ to G. Here it is proposed to apply the same idea to the transport sector and urban planning. This certification will help to increase the performances of the transport system for the benefit of users and environment. Land use and city planning influence the energy consumption, so new plans should be subject to minimum energy performance measures according to local conditions. This will establish minimum levels of energy efficiency that new settlements will have to meet. The proposed methodology, if applied to existing zones will help to identify the least efficient and provides for them measures for improvement. The determination of the class will depend on the energy consumption estimated by simulations of travel throughout the vast area in which the zone under investigation is located. Then we can identify the number of O/D trips for each area of the wide, their traveled distance and mode of transportation. Once estimated, from these data, the per capita consumption for the transport of the inhabitants (of the vast), it is possible define the threshold of transition from one class to another, and then categorize all zones located within it. The proposed classification will be used to vary the costs of urbanization and the taxation of real estate according to the energy performance of the zone. In conclusion, as the class is an indicator easily understood by all, this method will bring local government and public opinion toward more efficient choices and to introduce new design standards.