Modeling of Energy and Environmental Costs for Sustainability of Urban Areas

The principal aim of this paper is to preent the results achieved by the prac-tical application of energy modelling to urban areas based on two inter related concepts: energy costs and environmental costs. The analysis has been carried out in three standard Municipalities located in a Mediterr-nean Zone (Spain) selected based on their different size and socio-economic activities in order to facilitate the extrapolation of results. Energy flows of the chosen areas have been quantified and classified. In addition, energy and environmental costs have been aggregated for each productive sector.Using the methodology proposed in this paper in novative solutions could bespecially designed for diffe ent areas in order to ensure the sustainable development of u ban areas. F nally, the basis for changing the present deveopment model in the Municipalities is set out by means of the applica tion of sustainability prin ci ples set in Agenda 21.