Rethinking density: Thermal and non-thermal pathways of localized concentration and spatial continuity in non-residential building energy use

초록

Reducing building energy consumption provides significant economic and environmental benefits, including lower operational costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the links between urban spatial forms and non-residential energy use across 62 South Korean cities, emphasizing both direct (non-thermal) and indirect (thermal) pathways. Unlike prior research, this study develops a dual-pathway, multi-scalar framework that jointly evaluates how density and spatial continuity are associated with energy use through agglomeration efficiencies and temperature mediation. Using a nationwide dataset of 249,597 building–year observations (2015–2019), the analysis measures city-level population density, neighborhood density within a 5 km radius, and the extent of spatially clustered urban development. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) estimates direct and indirect pathways to both total and per-unit-area energy consumption, with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression as a preliminary descriptive adjunct. Results indicate a positive statistical association between city-level density and total energy use (≈17,000 kWh) and per-unit-area use (≈16,000 kWh) (p < 0.01), aligned with patterns of intensified activity and infrastructure demand. Conversely, neighborhood density exhibits a negative correlation with total energy use (≈ –40 kWh, p < 0.05), co-occurring with seasonal thermal patterns consistent with localized cooling during warmer seasons. Spatially continuous urban clusters are negatively associated with total and per-unit-area energy use (≈2,100 kWh and 1,700 kWh; p < 0.01), reflecting a spatial configuration consistent with energy performance characteristics inherent in compact and contiguous development. Our analysis reveals that energy performance depends on not only density but also spatial configuration and scale. Our findings identify a morphological baseline for energy planning, suggesting that while city-scale density increases total energy load, meso-scale spatial continuity offers a structural pathway toward efficiency. These results provide the quantified evidence necessary for transitioning from broad city-level zoning to scale-sensitive urban energy management.

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