Energy density mapping at building level may enable utilities to succesfully target their energy demand management, as well as contribute to the broader objective of contributing to the sustainability of the municipalities with which they are working.

In June 2014 the smeSpire survey platform published a new survey about GeoICT organisations and “energy density maps”; the survey has been implemented by the Sunshine project and the GeoSmartCity project.

In one-month the survey collected 118 responses, mainly from Europe, about the knowledge of “energy density maps”, their potential use for Covenant of Mayors and other energy policies.

The results of the survey are available in this slideshare presentation:

The basic idea is that the information on energy consumption or energy performances, if georeferenced, can be used to automatically create urban-scale “energy density maps” (or simply “energy maps”), that may be useful inputs for planning activities and large-scale energy purposes. Energy maps are normally GIS-based and often prepared at the neighborhood, local authority or sub-regional scale .

An energy map might be used in a variety of ways:

• District heating network
• Energy strategy
• Identifying energy solutions
• Priority projects
• Carbon compliance/allowable solutions
• Inform growth options