Green energy in municipal planning documents

Abstract

Urbanization causes many changes to the land management system. It is estimated that cities are responsible for 75% of the total energy consumption, and in 2045 they will be inhabited by about 70% of the world's population. These are the reasons why they should be reflected upon with regard to the problem of environmental protection, and further by means of energy production from renewable energy sources, an efficient public transport system, or securing green areas in a city space. In protecting the natural environment, urban development policy should, according to the guidelines of the European Union, be adapted to the requirements for the reduction of the need for heat, electricity and gaseous fuels. The EU directives indicate the need to increase the share of renewable energy in final consumption (in the first stage, up to 15%) and to reduce CO2 emissions by 20%. The aim of the article is an attempt to determine how to implement green energy into cities through planning documents. Material for analysis was obtained from standardized interviews carried out with the inhabitants of Zielona Góra and the documents which are the base to the implementation of the Urban Energy Audit (EAM). Policy concerning the introduction of green energy to cities should primarily be determining tasks to carry out at a national (centralized) and local (decentralized) level. Tools to implement this vision at a local level shall be, inter alia, municipal planning documents.