Connecting Regional Governance, Urban Form, and Energy Use: Opportunities and Limitations

摘要

In this article, we explore the links between urban form, land use planning, and energy use. We organize the reviewed literature as follows: (1) potential energy savings from compact development; (2) achieving compact development through land use regulations; and (3) approaches for coordinating land use regulations regionally. We find that while the literature shows a clear link between regional governance, urban form outcomes, and energy use, questions remain on measuring the impact and communicating the degree to which energy use benefits can offset other real and perceived costs associated with greater land use regulation and regional coordination. Our discussion focuses on how researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can better leverage these connections.