Correlation of urban built form, density and energy performance

Abstract

In order to optimize the energy consumption in cities and enhance the potential of using renewable energy sources, the form of the city is considered as an influential factor. Numerous indicators have been used to analyse the effect of density and other characteristics of urban form on energy use. The paper presents results of an investigation into the relationships of building energy performance with two important urban density indicators, namely site coverage and volume-area ratio. Generic mathematical model of pavilion urban built form has been developed in order to compare and contrast its land-use/density characteristics with energy performance. Energy analysis has been performed on geometrical models using urban simulation software. The relationship between energy and density indicators are compared by considering an important variables, namely plan depth, cut-off angle and number of storeys. The city of London, representing a temperate climate, is considered as a case study. According to the results, high-rise buildings with deeper plans achieve higher energy efficiency. However, in case of including PV energy generation, low-rise buildings with deeper plans illustrate better total energy performance. Graphical results provide urban planning guidelines that can be used by urban designers, planners and architects to facilitate the most energy-efficient built form density for promoting more sustainable cities.