Statistics
The Built Environment , Population Density and Per Capita Emissions
Heat loss through external walls represents a huge portion of wasted energy and money in California. By constructing more buildings with shared walls instead of stand alone structures, California cities and counties can achieve greater energy efficiency for the built environment. This has the added benefit of greater population density and reduced sprawl, which also helps to reduce per capita carbon emissions. An area with a density of 1 household per acre produces roughly 22.6 tons of CO2 per thousand households while an area with 24 households per acre only produces about 8.3 tons of CO2 per thousand households. By reducing the demand for energy through sound planning of the built environment, local governments can help meet the state's energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Increasing Housing Density Decreases Emissions
Sources:
Heat loss calculator by Aeon
NRDC Report: Smart Growth and Climate Change, Page 9