One of three case studies under the ‘Community Solutions’ sub-project of the Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment project (link).  This project simulates series of ‘what-if’ urban form experiments from 2020 to 2050 to test alternative energy and emissions reduction policy and behavioural interventions. This area is Victoria was selected as one of the case studies for the EEBE project due to its size, location, aspiring land use and energy and emissions policies and goals, highly accessible data, and staff willing to engage with the study. The effects of potential policy interventions were tested through multiple iterations of a digital “sandbox” model, which replicates this area’s spatial and non-spatial attributes such as land use patterns, population, building types, ages, and technologies. Each “sandbox” is grounded in local census and building stock data tailored to reflect the conditions of the community. Each iteration responded to the influence of the policy options under consideration.

Research questions: How do contemplated local and regional policy interventions affect energy and emissions reductions? Which of those policy interventions also have a positive effect on neighbourhood livability?

Nine experiments tested the effects of growth management policies, energy and emissions policies, transit, and active transportation policies:

Urban form
A ‘dispersed’ scenario added population evenly across the neighborhood; ‘Neighbourhood Centre’ concentrates new development within a designated 200 metre radius buffer of a service centre; ‘Corridor’ concentrates new development within the 400 metres of transportation corridors.

Active scenario transportation 
‘AT+’ examined active transportation options, such as bikeability, walkability, and transit service.

Building energy and emissions 
Deep retrofit ‘DR+’ tested scenario energy retrofits for existing buildings (HVAC and shell) and application of the BC Energy Step Code to new buildings across all scenarios.

Detailed results are reported here.