Abstract

Hugh Byrd’s research over the last 25 years has focussed on energy and the future form of the built environment. His previous work has influenced both local and central government policy in both the UK and Malaysia. This presentation focuses on Auckland and is part of the ‘Myths and Maths behind a Low Carbon Auckland’ research carried out at The University of Auckland.

The compact city debate has been driven by the Newman and Kenworthy research over 20 years ago that produced the ‘inverse square ‘curve that related transport energy consumption to city density. The more sprawl, the more energy used, the less sustainable the city.

But this research was based on petrol engine cars that will decline as fossil fuel prices increase. What will the impact be of the electric vehicle powered by renewable energy that can be shared by smart metering? This presentation will show how the Newman and Kenworthy curve can be reversed: compact cities are not energy efficient cities when low energy technologies are adopted.