The Effect of Rivers on Energy Balance at the Neighborhood Scale. A comparative analysis of four Rhodanian sites in France and Switzerland

This research aims to compare the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of new neighbourhood projects near the Rhône River in France and Switzerland. The study considers the influence of the river on energy demand and resilience to climate change of 12 project-based visions across four locations, based on three design scenarios developed for each site in architectural workshops at the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Artificial weather files account for the river's effect, facilitating a comparison between scenarios with and without the river’s influence. Methodologically, 3D digital models are used to calculate environmental impacts, integrating data from the Swiss material database and following the SIA 2032 Swiss standard. Findings suggest the Rhône River significantly affects building energy demand, showing a 3-6% fluctuation in demand, depending on water presence or not and 1-2% fluctuation for the global environmental impact. The study underlines the importance of considering climate conditions and water presence in urban planning and building regulations.