Ho, Anna and Byrd, Hugh
(2013)
The power of suburbia.
Build, 135
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pp. 74-75.
ISSN 0110-4381
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Power of Suburbia.pdf
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Item Type: | Article |
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Item Status: | Live Archive |
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Abstract
IT IS A COMMONLY held belief that a compact city is a more energy-efficient city. In Auckland, like many other cities, this has become enshrined in policy.
Compact housing is believed to have a lower surface to volume ratio and will therefore lose less heat. The low-density urban form of suburbia is also believed to be energy inefficient because of high oil-dependent private transport use.
At face value, compact houses and urban forms appear to be the solution for a sustainable Auckland. But while these beliefs may be true for now, consider the future when:
●the climate will be warmer
●emerging technologies will replace the internal combustion engine
●harvesting energy from rooftop photovoltaics will be cheaper than the grid.
Should we be designing buildings and cities for the present or for future conditions?
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