IMPACT OF URBAN FORM ON ENERGY USE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES - A CASE STUDY APPROACH

Growing global consciousness for sustainable development necessitates the requirement for location specific responses to environmental problems in terms of planning and design of urban built form. A quantitative study was undertaken to compare the energy use of two residential neighbourhoods of distinct urban form. The study considered planned (i.e. structured) and unplanned (i.e. organic; unstructured) in Sonipat, India. The study considered key attributes of built form namely: orientation, height, faÃ?ade opening, street width and aspect ratio of building. This paper compares the energy use in both of the neighbourhoods and investigates the influence of the attributes on energy use in buildings. The output of the study suggests that planning policies contribute significantly in achieving sustainable urban development by way reduction of energy use in built form.