Energy and Climate in the Urban Built Environment

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On the built environment — the urban influence

M. Santamouris

Department of Applied Physics, University of Athens

 

 

SOME BASIC NOTES ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Buildings provide shelter and places of retreat for human beings, while also defining our well being and helping to determine our quality of life. As Winston Churchill said, ‘We shape our dwellings and afterwards our dwellings shape our lives’. The same is true of the streets, estates, villages, towns and cities where we live.¹ In addition to the social impact of buildings, the economic impact is also very important. The building industry has a pivotal place in the economy and is one ...