Low-energy Strategies Research Articles

Thermodynamic parameters for energy sustainability of urban areas

This paper presents some thermodynamic indicators useful for energy planning of urban areas, and for defining the scenarios of integrated low environmental impact energy strategies and actions in an urban area. It is based on the results of the energy balance of a reference volume obtained by the Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques applied to the built-up area studied. The defined parameters allow evaluation of the sustainability of energy use in an urban area and its areal distribution in different building meshes superimposed on the area considered, using entropy.

Low energy strategies for the UK — an economic perspective

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) study, A Low Energy Strategy for the United Kingdom, which Chris Lewis summarized in the June 1979 Energy Policy, concluded that the link between economic growth and energy consumption growth can be broken — mainly through technological improvements. However, the IIED study, while generally accepted as a valuable piece of research, has been criticized for its failure to take sufficient account of economic factors. Here Eileen Marshall examines the IIED study from an economist's point of view. Are the economics internally consistent as far as the demand-side projections are concerned? Should minimizing energy use be the target for energy policy? To what extent is government intervention justified? Should A Low Energy Strategy for the United Kingdom be a basis for national policy?