- The impact of urban form on energy consumption - Brasilia x Curitiba    1974 kb by    Magalhaes, Fernanda & Duran-Ortiz, Mario | claudiar@iadb.org    Short Outline City shape, density and zoning have a large impact on energy and natural resources consumption. This paper analyses 2 case studies and draws policies recomendations. Abstract Its is widely recognised among planners that city shape, density and zooning have a large impact on energy and natural resources consumption. In this paper we will look at two paradigmatic Brazilian cities – with very different urban patterns - Brasilia and Curitiba, and attempt to describe their carbon footprints in terms of their energy consumption. The paper will attempt to adress the following questions: what kind of consumption patterns (land, energy, travelling, etc) are generated by the more compact and tradicional structure of Curitiba visa a vis the modernist urban sprawl of Brasilia? What kind of urban and transport policies and actions can help those cities to become less resource and carbon intensive? What is being done by local governments? To do that we will look at their urban form, density,land use and travelling patterns and the relationship among those as an important factor towards resource consumption. Brasilia as a modernist city has segregated activities – in particular the residencial and business areas – density are very low, and largely relies on individual transportation. On the other hand, Curitiba is worldly known by its efficient public transportation system, and residential densities and business activities are higher on transport corridors. The paper will show how the carbon footprints – in regard with land use distribution and transportation - for each city are reflected in their motorizad rates and fuel consumption, showing why Curitiba is a much more carbon efficient city than modernista Brasilia, and suggesting what can be done in policy terms to improve performance. Keywords less carbon intensive urban shape Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2009: Low Carbon Cities   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper