Energy efficient city: A model for urban planning

Urban sprawl, as consequence of human activities, is directly related to the global energy consumption. Current urban planning is not a process that ensures energy efficient cities. In such a context, this goal becomes essential to achieve sustainable development of territory and human activities. This paper discusses a theoretical model and its practical application which relates energy consumption and solar energy supply with urban parameters, challenging the concept of energy efficient city. In contrast with the dominant approaches to energy efficiency at local scale, the energy efficient city reflects a cellular model of self-reliant city based on the redesign of existing urban areas and the planning of new urban expansions conducted with the effort to reduce electricity use and promote widespread integration of solar energy and smart grids. The application of this model aims to improve the global energy performance of city making previsions of energy consumption patterns and solar energy potential, in new strategic expansion areas and exiting ones. In turn, a detailed framework of guidelines for urban planning is presented to support the optimization, adaptation and development of energy efficient cities. The promotion of adequate urban planning practices is a key point to create opportunities for both reducing energy consumption and supporting the integration of solar energy systems and smart grid technologies in urban context.