© 2004-2005 CEMTPP
Outreach
urban energy project
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The Urban Energy Project at Columbia University is a new research and education
initiative focused on urban energy markets, regulation, policy,
and politics. Conducted under the auspices of Columbia’s
Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public
Policy (CEMTPP), the project recognizes cities’ fundamental importance
in the overall
energy equation. The Urban Energy Project employs an interdisciplinary approach
in its
research, involving experts from a number of schools and departments within
the University.
With urbanization trends on the rise globally, it is increasingly critical
to understand and
properly manage urban energy supply and demand. Fueling the urgency of
this effort is the
fact that energy-related emissions in cities have both global consequences
and significant local health and environmental impacts. Cities
located in coastal zones are particularly at risk from rising sea levels and severe weather events exacerbated by global
climate change.
The challenges involved in urban energy management are daunting. Responsibilities
are often split between the marketplace and different tiers of government. Local authorities seeking to exercise
leadership on energy issues regularly find their hands tied —
inadvertently or deliberately — by policies over which they have
no control. Moreover, urban energy use and supply is frequently viewed from a very narrow perspective, when a broad systems approach
is more appropriate.
Despite these difficulties, thoughtful and constructive urban models
do exist. The Urban Energy Project will analyze and highlight approaches
that serve as useful lessons for other cities, states, and countries.
It will focus attention on the relationship
between local energy supply and demand and urban form; building design
practices; local transport networks; local consumption patterns and
waste management planning; local geographic conditions; and the energy
supply infrastructure, among other issues.
The Urban Energy Project will also explore ways that cities exploit ‘smart’ energy
practices and energy-related economic development. For example, the
density of cities facilitates the use of mass-transit systems and walking
and bicycling corridors.
Cities are also good candidates for the use of district heating or
combined heat and power schemes, both of which efficiently deliver
energy services to households and businesses. Finally, cities that emphasize
energy conservation or other energy-related
economic development strategies can realize a competitive advantage
over cities ignoring these issues.
Initial efforts by the Urban Energy Project at Columbia University
include:
1) Collaboration with the City of New York to support the increased
deployment of renewables around the city
2) Comparative analysis of energy policy and practices in a number
of “world” cities
3) Development of an Urban Climate and Energy conference that will
bring together policy experts, business leaders, and academics from
around the world for information sharing and assessment.
The conference
will be a biennial event designed to educate local authorities, the private
sector, NGOs, academics and other policymakers on current developments in
the practice
and understanding of urban energy management. Topics will include
how cities contribute to and are affected by climate change; what
policy mechanisms and data collection systems have been implemented to
monitor or manage urban energy and
climate change impacts; the effectiveness of these measures; and
where cities go from here.
CEMTPP invites collaboration in the Urban Energy Project by policymakers,
business leaders, NGOs, and researchers from around the globe. Inquiries
are also welcome from those interested in learning from Columbia’s
world-class team of policy experts, scientists, and engineers about practical
measures they can employ to improve their understanding and management oflocal
energy use.
For more information, contact:
Stephen A. Hammer, PhD
Research Director/Adjunct Assistant Professor
CEMTPP Urban Energy Program
(212) 854-0602
sh2185@columbia.edu