Coastal Cities to Build Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods by 2030

TIRANA, 13 September

Until 2030, those who have apartments in the coastal cities will spend less on air conditioning in their residences, because they will be built in such a manner to save electrical energy. Thanks to the General Local Plans, Sectorial Local Plans, and Detailed Local Plans, the city halls of the coastal strip of Albania (which includes 12 cities), assisted by UN-Habitat, will implement an action plan that will develop initially the areas and standards, for the urge of energetic efficiency in buildings. 

The city halls of the coastal cities, should increase the energetic efficiency in buildings with public and social functions, aiming the complete regeneration of the buildings that make possible the reduction of the usage of the electrical energy, by using other alternative energetic resources (such as solar energy), and by improving the infrastructure of the inner networks of the buildings. 

The city halls should put in their rules of development, high standards for energetic efficiency, and as a result, all the new buildings should comply with the high standards of the energetic efficiency. At the same time, it should be urged the usage of green terraces (or green roofs) with mixed functions, such as shared properties, with spaces reserved to solar panels, and with support services. 

The city halls of the coastal strip should develop classified and differentiated standards for the development of new residential blocks, with ‘green’ certificates, offering differentiated taxation for the usage of these assets. Also, part of the plan is the transformation into sustainable neighborhoods and urban residential blocks. 

Five principles promoted by UN-Habitat predict to urge the sustainable urban development, creating livable and efficient settlements. The new urban centers should be successful, relevant, livable and safe. The urban centers should carry these elements and characteristics, which contribute to the fulfillment of the aforementioned principles: 

• Lively roads, that support and promote the life in roads, allowing different activities, as well as facades and favorable road width, that reduce the presence and the role of vehicle transportation. The 5 principles encourage the high densities and the mixed usage of the territory that serves as an incentive for the creation of these roads. The high densities should generate services with enough economic and commercial demand, meanwhile, the mixed usage of the territory should ensure relevant spaces for services and products. The urban centers in accordance with the 5 principles, should be able to connect the demand with the offer, therefore stimulating and ensure the prosperity in the lives of these residents, which fulfill their material and spiritual needs in these centers. This is a key characteristic of these sustainable urban centers. 
• Friendly blocks and neighborhoods for the pedestrians that promote walking, as a measure to bring the people in the public spaces, to reduce the traffic jam, and to incite the economy and interactions in the services. The lively roads, encourage walking and cycling, meanwhile, a road network makes it possible that the necessary services of the administration to be reached easily on foot, or with a bicycle, ensuring safety and time efficiency. The high density, the mixed usage of the territory and the social mixture make possible the closeness with the workplace, residence, and services. The walking helps in the reduction of the usage of the vehicle, ensuring the ease of traffic, the pollution of air and the issues of the resources’ depletion. In the end, it is healthier to walk than to drive. 
• Affordable in transactions, economic activities, in services and housing, promoting the short distances, reducing the costs and the services for different groups of society. 

The application of these 5 principles helps in the reduction of the misused time and resources, bringing the reduction of costs for the main services. The principle of the social mixture should promote a rational distribution of urban public resources, and offer relevant housing for groups with different income, through the rules of urban centers’ planning, ensuring social equality and promoting the economic efficiency. An urban center that offers affordable and welcoming accommodation, is a good example with basic characteristics for the formation of sustainable urban centers.

Source/Monitor.al 

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