Compact and Resource Efficient Cities? Synergies and Trade-offs in European Cities Cover Image

Compact and Resource Efficient Cities? Synergies and Trade-offs in European Cities
Compact and Resource Efficient Cities? Synergies and Trade-offs in European Cities

Author(s): Christian Fertner, Juliane Große
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Sociology, Rural and urban sociology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: compct city; resource use; spatial structure; urban form; energy efficiency

Summary/Abstract: Cities are the main consumers of energy and resources but at the same time are considered as centres for innovation which can provide solutions to unsustainable development. An important concept regarding energy and resource ef ciency on the scale of the city and city-region is the compact city. Compact cities and compact urban development are thought to decrease energy and resource demand per capita and increase ef ciency. At the same time trade-offs and potential rebound effects of increased resource ef ciency question certain achievements of a compact urban structure. This paper reviews aspects of resource and energy ef ciency in compact city development in a European context. We conclude that, if the idea of the compact city should have any effect on resource and energy ef ciency, accompanying measures have to be implemented, such as e.g. ef cient public transport systems to offer alternative travel modes. Also the allocation of ef ciency gains due to compact urban development has to be taken into account in order to avoid direct and indirect rebound effects.

  • Issue Year: 23/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 65-79
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: English