Energy aware spatial planning : impact potential of settlement structures and opportunities for assessment tools to support sustainable municipal development

Abstract

The master thesis analyses interrelationships of different scales and measures of spatial planning and energy issues in detail in order to highlight important interdependencies as well as to come to conclusions referring to synergies between specific spatial characteristics and trade-offs in terms of effects on the energy demand of the built environment. In addition the study comprises an analysis of selected tools for the assessment of energy efficiency of settlements, which allows for an evaluation of the tools concerning relevance, opportunities and shortcomings of the tools for awareness raising and as municipal decision support. The detailed analysis of interrelationships and tools is finally set in context with questions of future sustainable municipal development and the potential role of spatial planning in terms of energy efficiency of municipalities.