Happold Consulting wins ‘energy-efficient cities’ brief from World Bank

29/09/2009

Project to develop a ‘rapid appraisal framework’ for energy-efficient cities

Happold Consulting, the strategic management consultancy arm of international multi disciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold, in partnership with Columbia University’s Centre for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy, has won a prestigious 12 month appointment in support of the ‘Energy Efficient Cities Initiative’ (EECI).

In its first project for the World Bank, Happold Consulting is charged with developing a framework to enable city authorities in the developing world to benchmark their energy performance across a range of sectors, analyse a range of options to improve performance and draw up a basic energy efficiency strategy.

The commission involves the creation of a 30 city energy consumption benchmark database, an analytical tool to enable performance benchmarking and a decision-making framework that will enable city authorities to consider a range of economic, financial, regulatory and institutional approaches to deliver reductions in energy consumption.

The framework will cover six sectors (transport, buildings, power/heat, water, waste and street lighting) and enable city authorities to prioritise activities to reduce energy consumption in specific areas. The model will be tested in Quezon City in the Philippines in February 2010.

Rob Carr, Head of Environment & Sustainability at Happold Consulting, said: ‘This project will allow city authorities to see quickly where energy is really being used and guide them to practical and effective measures that will deliver meaningful energy efficiencies.

“It fits in very well with our track record for high-level strategic management consultancy and will draw on our team’s expertise and experience in city and regional planning, as well as a wide range of economic, environmental, institutional and sustainability issues.”

The EECI was launched in October 2008 by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP) to promote energy efficient programmes and planning for cities in developing country. ESMAP's current energy efficiency portfolio has 27 projects targeted at reducing the barriers that prevent developing governments from implementing energy efficiency programs, policies and financial solutions. 

Energy efficiency can offer practical solutions to budget-constrained cities to meet their energy needs without sacrificing their development priorities. This is because energy efficiency measures are generally cost-effective, with higher upfront investment for more efficient equipment or systems offset by lower recurring energy costs. 

Reducing energy use through energy efficiency retrofits and planning can lower a city’s dependence on imported fuels, improve energy security and lower energy costs, thereby freeing-up resources that can improve or extend city services. Such efforts can yield ‘co-benefits’, such as higher local investment, job creation, improved competitiveness and enhanced quality of life (e.g., reduced commuting times, improved air quality and health, more green and community space).