Communities | Urban Archetypes Project
CanmetENERGY is developing energy consumption profiles of average households in thirty-one neighbourhoods within eight communities across Canada. The project explores how urban form (land use and infrastructure) influences vehicular transportation energy usage and household energy consumption.
The analysed data, presented as community case studies, will benefit urban planners, utility companies and municipalities as they work to reduce their energy footprint over the medium to long term in existing and new neighbourhoods. Municipalities can also use the information to make strategic land use and infrastructure decisions.
Communities of different sizes and geographical regions were engaged so that a range of climates, energy sources, and energy efficiency issues could be represented. Neighbourhoods were selected based on characteristics such as housing type, age of the development, and for being of interest to the municipality in comparing energy consumption.
Data collected from each neighbourhood included land use and physical infrastructure data from the municipality and electricity, natural gas, and oil data from the utilities. Interviews with local residents were also conducted.
Transportation analysis consisted of calculating average energy consumption, greenhouse gases, and costs associated with gasoline for personal vehicles. Regression analysis was conducted in order to understand which urban form variables influenced the number of vehicle kilometres travelled. Urban form indicators including density, mix of uses and distance to the central business district were identified as being related. Average household energy consumption for lighting and appliances, heat, and hot water were also calculated.
The preliminary data CanmetENERGY analyzed demonstrates that compact, mixed use urban forms reduce a community’s energy consumption profile.
The case studies, methodology and summary analysis will be posted as they become available.
COMMUNITY CASE STUDIES:
For more information about the Urban Archetypes Project, or to become part of the energy characterization process, please contact us.