Building emergy analysis of Manhattan: Density parameters for high-density and high-rise developments

Jae Min Lee and William W. Braham

Ecological Modelling, 2017, vol. 363, issue C, 157-171

Abstract: To better understand how cities work, this study performs emergy (spelled with an “m”) synthesis of buildings on Manhattan Island. Conventional emergy studies have focused on much larger unit of analysis; however, architects, urban designers, and policymakers are operating on a smaller scale of building, block, neighborhood, and district. This study contributes to overcoming the scale and resolution mismatch between the macro- and micro-levels. Overall emergy for entire buildings on Manhattan Island is computed by adopting square-foot-base building cost estimation technique to emergy synthesis. We found that high-density and high-rise developments can achieve their maximum empower at the range of 1–5 Floor Area Ratio (FAR; an indicator of development density computed as total building floor area divided by total parcel area) and building height under 40 stories.

Keywords: Emergy synthesis; Self-organization; Sustainable urban form; Square foot based building material quantity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:363:y:2017:i:c:p:157-171

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.08.014

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