Evaluating the Effect of Building Form and Density on Urban Energy Consumption (Case Study: Hashtgerd New Town)

Rapid growth of urbanization and increase in urban population has caused different consequences in different aspects. One of the most important consequences is increase in the use of energy resources and the demand for them that is considered in two different characteristics: first, the limitation of in use energy resources, and second, environmental pollution caused by fossil fuels. Accordingly, pervasive public awareness about these characteristics and other aspects of urbanization led to the appearance of new approaches such as sustainable development, new urbanism and etc. in urban planning and designfield. Energy in cities is in relation to urban planning and design factors in macro and micro scale. One the most important of such factors is physical characteristics of buildings which affects building energy consumption. Lots of research has been done in surveying the relationship between architecture elements and energy, but few researches focused on urban planning and design in relation with energy in Iran. In this essay, first, theoretical background and previous researches in the area of city and energy surveyed and assessed. Then, the urban planning and design effective factors on energy consumption in cities summarized and at the end, some implication regard to energy saving approach in residential building prepared. In next step, three scenarios proposed for 35 hectare area of Hashtgerd new town. At final step, building energy consumption in three scenarios calculated by ECOTECT software and using shadow, solar access and thermal analysis and compared with each other. The results of study show that by changing in form, orientation, density and elevation of residential buildings, building energy consumption decreased by 45 percent.