A comparative study on the role of energy efficiency in urban planning system of Iran and Germany

Special attention on controlling energy consumption in different scales become increasingly important nowadays and a more comprehensive review on urban planning can be effective to achieve energy efficiency targets in this level. Germany has found its place as one of successful countries in improving energy efficiency in architecture and urban planning on a worldwide scale. Recognizing organizational system and its application in urban planning can be helpful for similar activities in Iran. In order to achieve the right result, assessment of defects and difficulties in optimizing energy consumption is essential. The approach used in this research is a comparative case study. The library sources and collected information from online credible sources is used in research process. After collecting the data and a review on similar examples, urban planning system of both countries, Germany and Iran, will be introduced. In a comparative case study, the causes of failure in Iran are described and research hypotheses are developed. The results obtained in this study indicate that the main differences in urban planning of Iran and Germany, on one hand can be in urban planning system and participation of non-governmental organizations, and on the other hand can be the lack of related topics of energy efficiency in urban planning documents. In a comprehensive and large scale overview, the ineffectiveness of activities in energy planning can be related to the lack of a national master plan to coordinate all organizational bodies of power in Iran. In surveying aforesaid, attempts are taken to eliminate defects in order to improve decision-making and organizing urban planning system properly, while introducing a framework to strengthen optimizing energy consumption program in Iran. In this regard, a framework has been provided to continue the researches in urban planning and energy consumption by emphasizing on Germany’s experiences which can be utilized as a sample of leading countries experiences in achievement of energy efficiency goals.