Sustainable built environment: assessment of eco efficiency in urban planning

Urban planning solutions and decisions have a large-scale significance for ecological sustainability, eco efficiency, the consumption of energy and other natural resources, the production of greenhouse gas and other emissions, and the costs caused by communities. Climate change brings new and growing challenges for urban planning. The most important factors in sustainable urban planning are at dwelling area level: location, structure, building density, house types, space heating systems, at community and regional level: area density, energy consumption and production systems, location of and distances between dwellings, working places and services, transportation systems, possibilities of walking and cycling, availability of public transport, and necessity for use of private cars. Planning alone cannot stop urban sprawl. Cooperation, interaction and dissemination of information are essential to contribute to sustainable urban forms.