Energy Sensitive Spatial Planning as a Public Sector Tool Towards Sustainable Economic and Territorial Development

Abstract

By juxtaposing the research results of two recent research projects, the authors complement two perspectives on current energy sensitivity in Bulgarian spatial planning: (a) an “inside out”—energy efficiency considerations reflected in adopted municipal strategic spatial plans; and (b) an “outside in”—societal appreciation of the role of the local governance planning instruments in addressing energy-related challenges. Largely missing societal awareness about the potential of spatial planning for contributing to greater energy efficiency was identified alongside quite generally approached energy efficiency targets in the plans. The steps claimed urgent in the planning field are to: explicitly define the energy-related aspects addressed and the ways of integrating them into strategic planning documents; better communicate the topic with all the stakeholders in the urban process; and insist for broader support in building relevant institutional and expert capacity for monitoring and evaluating planning results with respect to social, economic, and environmental benefits for local communities.

Appendices

Annex 1: Explicit and Implicit Responses by IPURD to Sustainable Development Imperatives

SD concept: imperatives/action goals	Focus of related policy targets and indicators measuring progress	Explicit and implicit energy-related considerations in the selection of 18 plans for urban regeneration and development in Bulgaria (number of documents referring to particular topic)
Environmental imperative/decreasing pressure on environment and resources	Material and energy flows, emissions, and waste from or towards different territorial location and their impact on the environment	Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (1); Reduction of carbon emissions (4); Reduced energy consumption in renovated administrative and residential buildings (1); Reduced consumption of final and primary energy in dwellings and administrative buildings (1); Number of households with improved energy consumption (1); Increased share of electric urban transport (1)
Social imperative/social cohesion and equity	Level of satisfaction with quality of life, the built environment, and public services	Turning into a commercial, spiritual, and educational center (1); Development of sites of high public significance (1); Development and delivery of efficient public services (1); Renewal and expansion of public service facilities in the intervention zones (1). Enhanced quality of social services—diversification and accessibility (1); Improvement of the municipal educational, health and social, cultural and sports infrastructure (2); Integrated indoor and outdoor living environment providing high quality of life (1); Improving quality of life (1); Sustainable integrated development based on raising the quality of the living environment (1)
Economic imperative/increasing competitiveness and entrepreneurship	Level of innovation activities, research and development on site, and the local, city, and regional value-added impacts	Turning into a leader with attractive investment environment with conditions for growth (1); To transform the city into a research and cultural center (1); A sustainable city with competitive productions (1); Achieving sustainable knowledge-based economic growth (1); Building a competitive economy and information society (1); Scientific progress and economic development (1); Stimulating the economic development by improving the energy efficiency of buildings (1); Improving the city’s attractiveness and competitiveness in the regional and national context by smart, green and inclusive growth (1)
Institutional imperative/good multilevel governance	Level of citizens’ satisfaction with availability and access to infrastructure providing public services; improved quality of life; and built environment	Turning the city into a Black Sea leader with high quality of life (1); Efficient governance (1); Integrated urban management of areas with negative development trends and unrealized development potential (1); Effective management and tourism sustainable development (1); Improvement of the main city infrastructure through investment in energy efficiency, including, integrated transport infrastructure (2); Sustainable and energy-efficient development of the city and its functional systems (1); Provision of environmentally sustainable and efficient public services (1); Enhanced quality of social services—construction and reconstruction of facilities (1); Development of efficient public services (1)

Annex 2: Explicit and Implicit Responses by IPURD to Tensions Between Sustainable Development Imperatives

SD concept: tensions between imperatives/action goals	Focus of related policy targets and indicators measuring progress	Explicit and implicit energy-related considerations in the selection of 18 plans for urban regeneration and development in Bulgaria (number of documents referring to particular topic)
Institutional—social tension imperative/increased participation and improved transparency	Level of communities’ representation, integration, and cooperation; anticorruption measures; accountability and empowerment, level of civic control	Supporting the implementation measures for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility (1); Support and stimulation for energy-efficient consumption and renewable energy use in the built urban environment (1); Stimulating energy efficiency and renewable energy sources (1); Promoting energy efficiency in buildings and installations and the deployment of renewable energy sources (1) Stimulating social integration (1); Creating conditions for overcoming the imbalance between different areas in the city (1)
Institutional vs. environmental tension imperative/preservation of natural and cultural assets	Effectiveness of administrative procedures and/or imperfections and gaps related to the spatial organization of cities and competing land use	Revitalization; improvement of the local conditions (1); Ensuring high quality of life; conservation and development of the natural and built environment (1); Conservation and efficient use of natural resources (1); Sustainable ecological development and local resource conservation (1); Green, environmentally friendly urban regeneration (1); Restoration and development of the living environment and increasing energy efficiency (1); Revival of the city by restoration and development of the urban environment (1). Sustainable integrated urban development based on local potential and improved economic, social, and territorial impact of the developed zones (1)
Environmental vs. social tension/resilience to burden and change	The ecological and spatial footprint of communities’ activities, their adaptability, and financial indebtedness	Improved living environment, clearly recognizable cultural and spiritual values, integrated into the life of local people (1)
Environmental vs. economic tension/resource and energy efficiency	The energy and resource capacity of morphologically specific and spatially defined units of production and consumption	Efficient resource use and provision of quality public services (1); Improving the energy efficiency of the building stock, meeting modern living standards with reduced energy consumption (4); Introducing energy saving technologies and alternative energy sources in public buildings (1); Reducing the energy dependence of public buildings (1); Stimulating the economic development by improving the energy efficiency of public buildings (1); Improving energy efficiency in public and residential buildings (1); Energy efficiency of buildings and installations and the deployment of renewable energy sources (1); Improvement of the technical infrastructure and the quality of the living environment (1)