Research Projects

Approximately 20 percent of California’s household greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are related to heating and cooling needs, which are partly a function of house size and orientation, and are therefore strongly tied to land use planning decisions. The few academic studies that have examined residential energy use as a function of urban form indicate that residents living in high density urban centers emit 20 to 50 percent fewer GHG from heating and electricity usage than residents of low density suburbs. These studies have relied upon data sets created by national energy agencies, rather than more disaggregated state- or local-scale data that more accurately reflects local climatic conditions in California. The objective of this research is to 1) investigate the relationship between land use planning factors and residential energy use in California’s various climate zones; and 2) develop a spreadsheet modeling tool that analyzes residential energy use as a function of land use planning factors. Expected results will assist cities and counties with calculating GHG reductions of land use policies to encourage more compact development. Findings will support achievement of ARB’s Green Building Strategy and will also be useful to quantify statewide GHG emission reductions to meet the goals of Assembly Bill (AB) 32 and Executive S-3-05.