energy objectives in planning policy

Western Australia's Draft Liveable Neighbourhoods Edition 3 policy, updated in October 2004, is an innovative, performance-based approach to urban planning. It operates as a development control policy, or code, to facilitate the development of sustainable communities.

One area where this policy departs from the norm is in specifying how communities can reduce energy consumption. The Community Design section acknowledges that "street and lot orientation and lot dimensions should facilitate the siting and design of dwellings that can minimize non-renewable energy use and be appropriate for the climatic conditions."

The Lot Layout section goes further in encouraging lot design that allows for climate-responsive dwellings. Recognizing the different climatic zones in Western Australia, the policy suggests that "correctly orientated lots should have guidelines specifying appropriate building setback from the northern property boundary to enable good winter sun access to suitably located and sized windows." The guidelines provide a rating system that "scores" dwellings for solar access based on lot orientation and width. Lots in temperate climates should be oriented to facilitate siting of dwellings and private open space to take advantage of winter solar access and summer sun deflection. Lots in hot humid and hot arid climates should be oriented to facilitate the siting of dwellings to take advantage of micro-climate benefits, including cooling breezes, shading and canopy vegetation.

I have not seen Australian residential subdivisions, but in southern Ontario (Canada) most - if not all - new subdivisions completely ignore these principles. Developers are not responsive to the climate or the site itself, typically clearing trees and topsoil and establishing street and lot layouts that provide the greatest cost efficiency within municipal requirements. Many have single-dwelling lots where houses are only a few feet apart: too close for solar access in the winter and for cooling breezes in the humid summer, and no benefit from the winter heat savings that would accrue if the houses were actually attached. The result is greater consumption of energy for heating and cooling.