Method estimates energy consumption and helps urban planning

A research carried out at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism (FAU) of USP resulted in a methodology for energy planning in urban areas that can be applied in different Brazilian cities and even abroad. The methodology takes into account strategies and solutions urban, architectural, transport, and technologies of generation and distribution of energy. The result is more structured, balanced urban areas with better levels of energy efficiency. The methodology was developed by the urbanist Karin Regina de Casas Castro Marins for her doctoral thesis, defended at the FAU last April under the guidance of Professor Marcelo Romero. The researcher applied the methodology in the case of Operation Água Branca, in the West Zone of the Paulista Capital.

Methodology

The methodology created by Karin consists of inserting in electronic spreadsheets several architectural, urbanistic parameters of energy generation and distribution technologies, population density, environment, and transportation of the analyzed site. These include: the format of the blocks, the width of the roads, the access of sunlight to buildings, forms of traffic and means of transport (public, private, motorized or not), as well as pollution as well as the generation of greenhouse gases. Through a series of calculation procedures, we can estimate the total energy consumption with buildings and urban transport in the selected area, as well as built, occupied, green areas, road characteristics, number of buildings, lots and blocks, population, pollutant emissions and greenhouse gases. With this, you can find the most efficient energy solutions. The researcher explains that from the standard of energy consumption it is possible to manage this demand and to plan how it will be the generation and the distribution of energy in urban scale. Options include, for example, the use of solar collectors, photovoltaic panels and even district distribution networks for hot and cold water. "Solutions in district networks are still not widespread in Brazil, but are common in France, Japan, Sweden and Canada. It consists of using, for example, biogas from landfills in thermoelectric plants to generate heat and heat or freeze water and then distribute it to buildings for the conditioning of indoor environments, "he describes. According to the researcher, the methodology was systematized in electronic spreadsheets to optimize calculation procedures. "Our intention now is to develop software with the methodology. We are also seeking partners for the development of this project, "says the town planner.