Article (Scientific journals)
Retrofitting the suburbs: Insulation, density, urban form and location
Marique, Anne-Françoise; Reiter, Sigrid
2014In Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, 3 (2), p. 138-153
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Keywords :
urban sprawl; suburban retrofitting; energy efficiency; urban form; smooth densification
Abstract :
[en] The effects of urban sprawl have been well documented, particularly regarding energy consumption. Suburban neighbourhoods are known to be energy inefficient and urban sprawl is considered as a major issue for sustainable development. To improve the energy efficiency of existing suburban urban fabrics is a major challenge that must be addressed to favour a sustainability transition of our built environment. In this context, this paper aims at investigating several scenarios that could be developed to improve the sustainability of existing suburban neighbourhoods: three main types of scenarios (building insulation, density, and urban form) and twelve sub-scenarios, which are focused on the possible evolution of the existing suburban building stocks, are proposed. Quantitative methods developed in previous research are used to assess and compare building and transportation energy consumption of a representative suburban case study. This application aims at investigating two main research questions: (1) "how to intervene in suburban neighbourhoods?" and (2) «where to intervene?" The main results of this application, which are focused on energy efficiency, are then studied in a larger framework to highlight their opportunities and constraints. The main findings of the paper are that, beyond the traditional polarisation of the debates on the energy efficiency of our built environment between the “compact” and the “sprawled” city, a new pragmatic paradigm, which is focused on the smooth densification of existing suburban neighbourhoods, can make them evolve towards greater sustainability.
Research center :
Lepur : Centre de Recherche sur la Ville, le Territoire et le Milieu rural - ULiège
LEMA
Disciplines :
Architecture
Author, co-author :
Marique, Anne-Françoise ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > LEMA
Reiter, Sigrid  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur A&U > Urbanisme et aménagement du territoire
Language :
English
Title :
Retrofitting the suburbs: Insulation, density, urban form and location
Publication date :
November 2014
Journal title :
Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
ISSN :
2164-7682
Publisher :
Macrothink Institute
Volume :
3
Issue :
2
Pages :
138-153
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
Solutions for Low Energy Neighbourhoods
Funders :
DGATLP - Région wallonne. Direction générale de l'Aménagement du Territoire, du Logement et du Patrimoine [BE]
Available on ORBi :
since 12 November 2014

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