Land use decisions are energy use decisions. The findings of two key studies on the topic of land use and energy are summarized below.
Comparing Neighbourhoods for Sustainable Futures
A study by the http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/sune/index.cfm Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation looks at five Canadian cities and compares different kinds of neighbourhoods within them in terms of some key sustainability features.
For example, if finds that in centrally located neighbourhoods of the GVRD (e.g., Kitsilano, Yaletown):
- Homes are closer to destinations like work, school, and shopping, as well as to public transit, which encourages alternative transportation choices.
- Residents own fewer cars and drive less for weekday urban trips (accounting for the average number of people and income per household).
- Households produce correspondingly fewer greenhouse gas emissions from weekday urban driving.
National Climate Change Process Municipalities Issue Table
The following table, taken from work by Canada's National Climate Change Process Municipalities Issue Table (and adapted from Allen et al. 1996), shows how various land use changes can affect energy consumption.
| Land Use Decision | How it Affects Energy | Energy Implications |
| Combination of land use factors (shape, size, interspersion, etc.) | Travel requirements (especially trip length and frequency) | Variation of up to 150% |
| Interspersion of activities | Travel requirements (especially trip length) | Variation of up to 130% |
| Shape of urban area | Travel requirements | Variation of up to 20% |
| Density / clustering of trip ends | Facilitates economic public transportation | Variation of up to 20% |
| Density / mixing of land uses / built form | Facilitates cogeneration of heat and power | Savings up to 15% Efficiency of primary energy use improved up to 30% with district energy |
| Layout / orientation / design | Passive solar gain | Energy savings of up to 20% |
| Siting / layout / landscaping materials | Optimize microclimate | Energy savings of at least 5%; more in exposed areas |
