Achieving energy and resource optimisation within urban mixed use developments utilising passivhaus premium design strategies

Abstract

Cities in 2020 consume 75% of the world’s resources in the form of energy, water and materials; 55% of the world’s population live in these urban environments and by 2050 this figure is expected to rise to 65%. These facts combined with the reality that residential energy use alone, accounts for almost 40% of global energy emissions indicates that the challenge of reducing our profligate use of residential energy, and thus reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, is first and foremost an urban challenge and opportunity. The theme of this paper is prioritisation. By prioritising the development of low rise, integrated-mixed-use developments we are facilitating energy use in the most efficient and beneficial way, toward achieving these reductions. Furthermore the paper argues that such developments are also societally enriching by the creation of another layer of understanding of the urban environment, achieved through reflecting key energy engagements between buildings, uses and sites. The energy logic of such mixed use developments is further justified and enabled, if combined with the reuse of serviced ‘brownfield’ urban sites, a variety of user profiles, long life facilitation of habitation use, and resource efficiencies; all achieved whilst facilitating low carbon living at an urban microscale.