Variations in direct greenhouse gas emissions across neighbourhoods: A case of Edmonton in Canada

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions vary among cities mainly because of variations in primary energy source, climate, and population densities. Neighbourhood characteristics such as area, configuration, land use, and road network could have further impact on these emissions variations. This study explores whether the neighbourhood types and their elements such as building typology, location, population density and travel behavior have any impact on direct GHG emissions, using the City of Edmonton in Canada as a case. A bottom-up approach considering scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions helped us to calculate emissions from twelve selected neighbourhoods in the city. Our results indicate significant differences in total and per capita GHG emissions across the neighbourhoods primarily based on the floor area per person, building types, and the use of personal transportation. We notice a strong positive relationship between per capita GHG emissions from residential buildings and floor area per person, and the proportion of single-detached dwellings in a neighbourhood. Furthermore, per capita GHG emissions from personal transportation show a strong positive relationship with distance to downtown and nearest transit stations, and the percentage use of personal vehicles to commute. The highest impacts of building typology and transportation on GHG emissions are exhibited in neighbourhoods that are either close to the city core or at the fringe. These results identify aspects of neighbourhood configuration, including building types, dwelling size, use of green energy sources such as rooftop solar panels, and accessibility of a public transit station, which urban planners should consider in their plans for developing new neighbourhoods or retrofitting existing ones with low carbon intensity.