A systematic review of factors influencing spatiotemporal variability in urban water and energy consumption

Understanding which factors influence urban metabolism is a prerequisite for designing policies and plans that effectuate sustainable resource management. A growing number of publications is concerned with these factors. Yet, this emerging field of research lacks a common framework that supports researchers in interpreting their findings, such as generalizability to other cities, and making informed decisions on their research design. Aiming to contribute to building such a framework, we systematically reviewed urban metabolism literature. This review paper presents an overview of factors influencing urban water and energy consumption and their effect on consumption, and it describes the interconnectedness of these factors for six different types of relationships. Results disclose fourteen drivers, changes in societal context that shape consumption patterns, and twenty-one facilitators/constraints. The latter type of factors include consumer, resource and urban landscape characteristics that affect resource consumption by facilitating or constraining specific activities. Findings indicate commonalities between primary studies in terms of prevalent observed effect direction for a given factor. However, the interconnections between different factors can influence the direction and magnitude of effects and thereby result in case-specific variability in consumption patterns. Future research should enhance the understanding of these interconnections, strengthen the evidence for the factors presented here and provide insight in additional factors of influence. It is essential to align these studies in terms of a common terminology, transparent quality assessment and a unified approach to measuring and expressing factors of influence. Connecting with related disciplines working on a common systems approach is key to realize the full potential of urban metabolism research to advance our understanding of cities.</p

Space-time information analysis for resource-conscious urban planning and design: A stakeholder based identification of urban metabolism data gaps

AbstractThe research presented here examined at which spatial and temporal resolution urban metabolism should be analysed to generate results that are useful for implementation of urban planning and design interventions aiming at optimization of resource flows. Moreover, it was researched whether a lack of data currently hampers analysing resource flows at this desired level of detail. To facilitate a stakeholder based research approach, the SIRUP tool – “Space-time Information analysis for Resource-conscious Urban Planning” – was developed. The tool was applied in a case study of Amsterdam, focused on the investigation of energy and water flows. Results show that most urban planning and design interventions envisioned in Amsterdam require information on a higher spatiotemporal resolution than the resolution of current urban metabolism analyses, i.e., more detailed than the city level and at time steps smaller than a year. Energy-related interventions generally require information on a higher resolution than water-related interventions. Moreover, for the majority of interventions information is needed on a higher resolution than currently available. For energy, the temporal resolution of existing data proved inadequate, for water, data with both a higher spatial and temporal resolution is required. Modelling and monitoring techniques are advancing for both water and energy and these advancements are likely to contribute to closing these data gaps in the future. These advancements can also prove useful in developing new sorts of urban metabolism analyses that can provide a systemic understanding of urban resource flows and that are tailored to urban planning and design

Integration of solar energy systems for increased societal support

How can we integrate photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems in the built environment and rural landscapes while increasing societal support and making effective use of space? This important research question is inspired by several grand societal challenges, namely humankind’s response to anthropogenic causes of climate change, the required sustainable energy transition and innovations in the design of systems, products, buildings and local infrastructures which enable an optimal use of solar energy. Consequently, new sustainable energy environments must be created which will meet the needs of users, will fit in a societal context, will have an excellent performance in energy production and which will be aesthetically appealing. For this purpose a new interdisciplinary Dutch research consortium has been established, which will evaluate so-called ‘Solar Integration’ from the perspectives of (1) public acceptance, law and governance, (2) biodiversity, ecosystems and spatial quality, (3) PV system configurations in rural and urban landscapes, (4) enabling technologies for integrated PV elements, and (5) design approaches. This research consortium will support Solar Integration by (a) design-driven research on innovations in PV solar energy, (b) the creation of a broad consortium of stakeholders with various backgrounds and interests, (c) execution of the project in both the Netherlands and internationally, and (d) involving adult and young citizens in knowledge utilization

De energietransitie: een nieuwe dimensie in ons landschap

De transitie naar een duurzame energievoorziening heeft op veel terreinen ingrijpende gevolgen voor onze samenleving. Het gaat onder meer om een verandering van leefomgeving en landschap. Voor een succesvolle energietransitie is het nodig om nu al rekening te houden met de ruimtelijke vormgeving van nieuwe energielandschappen en de manier waarop die tot stand komen. Dit betekent dat alle betrokkenen samen energielandschappen ontwerpen waarin mens en technologie elkaar op een nieuwe manier ontmoeten. Een andere manier van denken: niet het ruimtelijk inpassen, maar het creëren van landschappen die door mensen worden gewaardeerd en economisch haalbaar zijn. Landschappen die zorgen dat de overgang naar een duurzame, koolstofarme toekomst breed gedragen wordt en snel kan plaatsvinden. ECN en WUR hebben hun kennis over energietechnologie en landschapsarchitectuur gebundeld in dit paper. Zo willen ze een bijdrage leveren aan de discussie over wat wenselijk en noodzakelijk is om de energietransitie ruimtelijk in goede banen te leiden

Spatial transition analysis: Spatially explicit and evidence-based targets for sustainable energy transition at the local and regional scale

Climate change, depletion of fossil fuels, and economic concerns are among the main drivers of sustainable energy transition. Over the past decade, several regions with low population density have successfully transited towards renewable energy (for example Siena, Italy). In the Netherlands and other countries, more densely populated regions have drawn up ambitious targets for energy transition. Most of these transition targets lack empirical evidence with regard to spatio-technological feasibility. This lack of evidence may compromise energy transition if constraints are discovered posteriori and short-term milestones missed. To address this shortcoming, we propose an integrated approach. Spatial Transition Analysis (STA) can assist in defining spatially explicit and evidence-based targets for energy transition. STA combines quantitative modelling of energy potentials, qualitative spatial considerations for the siting of renewable energy technologies and comparative scenario development. The application of STA in a case-study (Parkstad Limburg, the Netherlands) revealed that the region has the potential to become energy neutral between 2035 and 2045. Examining and illustrating the different types of constraints as well as the possible choices between renewable energy technologies enabled stakeholders to start planning for energy transition and implementing first interventions. This shows that STA provides a solid framework to foster sustainable energy transition initiated by regional stakeholders and informed by local preferences

Energy landscapes in a crowded world : A first typology of origins and expressions

One of the main drivers of landscape transformation has been our demand for energy. We refer to the results of such transformations as "energy landscapes". This paper examines the definition of energy landscapes within a conceptual framework, proposes a classification of energy landscapes, and describes the key characteristics of energy landscapes that help to define an over-arching typology of origins and expressions. Our purpose is to inform scholarly discourse and practice with regard to energy policies, decision-making processes, legal frameworks and environmental designs. We exam the existing literature, provide a critical perspective using imagery from the USA and Europe, and combine the disciplinary perspectives of geography and landscape architecture. We propose three main characteristics that contribute to the development of a typology: (1) Substantive qualification: General types of energy landscapes distinguished by dominating energy source; (2) Spatial qualification: The appearance of energy landscapes, ranging from distinct spatial entities to less recognizable subsystems of the larger environment; and (3) Temporal qualification: The degree of permanence of energy landscape ranging from relatively dynamic to permanent. Addressing these and a growing number of associated questions will promote more thoughtful protection of the landscapes we inherit while paying closer attention to the relationships between ourselves and the landscapes that surround us