By 2050, more than 75% of the population will live in cities. A better understanding of the interactions and energy exchanges occurring in the urban environment, between buildings, transports, and local renewable energy sources, is thus an absolutely crucial research step on the road to global sustainability. By aiming to "help stakeholders to identify new opportunities regarding the implementation of zero-energy policy and to provide community planners, traffic engineers, buildings engineers and designers with a tool, information and data aiding in the design and implementation of new...

Imagine entire cities that, for their heating, cooling, hot water, electricity, industrial production, and transportation, only need the energy they produce themselves! Imagine that the carbon emissions of these cities are almost zero. This is nothing utopian; this ambition is achievable. The time of great decisions is at hand. This book offers solutions to achieve these goals, which are applicable everywhere on the planet, and they are illustrated with examples from all continents.