In order to develop mitigation strategies for reducing the ill effects of urbanization including carbon emissions and temperature changes, it is essential to manage the energy resources effectively and efficiently. It has been studies that the demand for energy in most urban cities of the world is in summer rather than in winter (Grimmond, 2007). It is therefore essential to reduce the energy demands of cities by creating awareness among individuals and citizens to reduce their energy needs. This can be accomplished by using the media to educate the general public to use resources such as gas and petrol in efficient ways. Some strategies could be car pools and the use of public transport in order to reduce the utility of personal cars and vehicles thereby reducing the carbon emissions from cars and other means of transport.
Research suggests that alterations in materials used for building and development with the purpose of changing the material properties of buildings and reducing the time and energy traditionally required for construction and infrastructure projects could prove to be beneficial in reducing time, costs and pollution caused due to the development processes (Akbari et al., 2001). The use of new materials implies that the newer building will have greater and modified reflective emissivity (Grimmond, 2007). The new methods and materials used for building will ensure that “cool” buildings are built which will have a direct positive impact on the use of energy especially through the reduced use of air conditioners, which contributes substantially to energy consumption and carbon emissions in urbanized areas.
There are other strategies which can be used for reducing environmental pollution. These include the developing of district heating and cooling (DHC) which implies the use of combined heat and power resources which facilitate reduction of carbon emissions and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere (IEA, 2006). Co-development systems are generally developed for small buildings and societies which can generate several kilowatts or even for wide scale use for cities at a larger scale to generate hundreds of megawatts of electricity (Grimmond, 2007). Research and studies indicate the viability of these systems is augmenting and these systems have been successful in the reduction of energy losses which occur in the process of transmission (Grimmond, 2007). Additionally, these systems recapture the waste heat and energy thereby avoiding the generation of heat in the air and environment (Grimmond, 2007). More importantly, the capture of the wasted heat and energy can be utilized to meet heating and warming requirements or even to provide cooling through the application of advanced means and methods of cooling technology which facilitates the saving of energy and resources. The generation of electricity is augmented with the use of steam turbines, thereby increasing the potential for energy to be produced using the same means.
Thus, urbanization contributes negatively to environmental changes and has a warming effect on the local and global climate. The carbon and greenhouse emissions from urbanized cities are large due to the increased construction and operational activities which are large and ever increasing in area and demand. The warm conditions of cities results in greater energy needs which in turn results in elevated carbon and pollution emissions which is why it is critical to devise strategies to reduce energy needs which has a direct impact on the needs and requirements for energy, which will have implications not only at local levels but will positively impact the global environment. |
