The Case for Density

Rapid population growth requires a great expansion of the built environment.   This expansion could be in rural, suburban or urban locations.  Even in the urban context, various levels of density are possible.  William Baker will explore the environmental advantages of urban density by looking at several ways building height and development density impact energy consumption patterns. Buildings’ embodied energy and operational energy will be discussed alongside the urban context including effects on infrastructure. Emerging metrics and trends in the architecture and engineering industry are allowing designers to start addressing energy consumption in terms of building and district-scale performance.