Renewable Cities

Tonight I listened to an inspiring speaker, Prof Steffen Lehmann who presented some research and ideas on the cities of the future, not too distant future that is.

He spoke of the urgency to change the way building and cities are designed to accommodate climate change and the increase in urbanisation. He was effusive in the need for fast efficient public transport that reduced the need for cars, and connected homes to workplaces.

Prof Lehman spoke of the urgency to develop renewable energy efficiencies and distributed power. ‘Solar is beautiful and Green is Cool’ provided the foundation for reduced operating costs in building design. So much of a buildings cost is in energy usage to maintain the internal environment, he believes that the smart buildings of the future will be energy generating! If this is the case then environmental efficiency makes economic sense, this can further encourage investment in the construction industry to lead by design and reduce greenhouse emissions at all points in the process.

Prof Lehman spoke of the need for urban scale fixes, rethinking of city design, green-spaces and accessibility. The potential, expertise and technology is available to create a renewable City, reduce car dependency, compact the city, recycle existing buildings and create urban farming through community gardens

All of these strategies have been identified in Greens policies and are areas where local government can be making a major difference to addressing climate change and positioning the City to generate jobs, support community and survive in a greenhouse world.