Modern urban planning in the world is nowadays facing severe problems due to the fast increase of the population and migration from villages to cities, which led countries to implementation of strategy of fast, modern urban planning to meet the needs of the population. Since the 1980s, in a context marked by increasing development in energy costs and by rising attention to the problem of global warming, countries have gradually mobilized to control their energy better and reduce the environmental footprint. However, even if there are some great successes, the deployment of renewable energies is still not well developed in developing countries such as Algeria that mainly uses fossil fuels. Considering the huge potential and good climatic conditions, developing countries should take on renewable energies for their future development. This paper aims to understand the impact of modern urban strategy on the application of solar urban planning. This study will clarify the critical role of solar electricity integration used in determining the urban solar potential in four studied regions located on three different continents: Africa, Europe and North America, in the cities of Ibenbadis (Constantine, Algeria), Saint-Hugues (Quebec, Canada), Saint-Malo (France) and Ambolobozobe (Madagascar). The results obtained will allow a comparison of the calculated solar energy potential of three urban sites, the benefits of reducing carbon dioxide as well as a comparison of solar energy costs on three continents.

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This paper aims to provide an evaluation of solar energy efficiency by composite index and to compare the value of solar energy across 19 countries located over four continents: Europe, Africa, America, and Asia. 15 indicators were evaluated for the year of 2019 and grouped into four dimensions: economic, social, technical, and environmental. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to estimate the weight of each indicator, and consistency tests were calculated to evaluate weight efficiency. The obtained results of the SEI reveals that the technical dimension and economic dimension play an important role in the solar energy efficiency of a country. The results indicate potential improvement areas for increasing solar efficiency. SEI can be used as a tool in assessing solar energy potential integration in a country.

The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon has differential impacts on energy use and carbon emissions in buildings depending on the climate of the region and the urban planning strategies in place. This study explores the differential effects of UHI on energy use and carbon emissions in warm and cold climates, using North Africa and North Europe as case studies. We address the following research questions: 1) How does the UHI phenomenon impact energy use and carbon emissions in buildings in these regions? 2) What urban planning strategies are currently in place to mitigate the negative impacts of UHI on energy demand and emissions in these regions? 3) How effective are these strategies in mitigating the negative impacts of UHI on energy demand and emissions in both warm and cold climates? 4) What additional urban planning strategies could be implemented to reduce further the negative impacts of UHI on energy demand and emissions in both warm and cold climates? The UHI increases energy bills and emissions due to the higher demand for cooling energy in warm climates, while in cold climates, UHI reduces energy demand and emissions by decreasing the need for heating energy. Urban planning strategies, such as incorporating green space, using reflective materials, choice of colors, and designing for natural ventilation, can effectively mitigate the negative impacts of UHI on energy demand and emissions in both warm and cold climates. However, the effectiveness of these strategies varies depending on the climate of the region and the specific urban context. In this study, we will provide a recommendation for urban planning strategies that can be implemented to further reduce the negative impacts of UHI on energy demand and emissions in both warm and cold climates. Our study contributes to the understanding of the UHI phenomenon. It provides insights for urban planners and policymakers in developing effective strategies to reduce energy use and carbon emissions in buildings and cities.

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