Seeking low carbon urban design through modelling of carbon emission from different sources in urban neighbourhoods, case study: Semnan

ABSTRACT Today, low carbon policies are more important in developing countries such as Iran with an oil-based economy. The present study addresses Semnan as a major Iranian city and attempts to examine carbon emissions from residential buildings, industrial plants and motor vehicles with new methodology to analyse the interaction of urban design and carbon emissions. First, carbon emission sources were examined; then, the summarised models and methods based on background researches have been divided into two general categories of carbon emission calculation and simulation to be used in softwares based on the level of accuracy and nature of their sources. The results show that the increased penetration of carbon emissions into residential areas can be reduced by designs that conform to climate changes (such as block arrangements and orientations) to avoid the pollutant to enter and to reduce the need for energy consumption.