Previous studies have shown that urban densification, building form, and compactness largely determine how much solar energy the built environment can capture (Lobaccaro and Frontini, 2014; Mohajeri et al., 2016; Morganti et al., 2017). High-density compact cities can lower per capita energy consumption and improve the ecological footprint, but changes in building form also affect solar availability on facades and rooftops (Mohajeri et al., 2016; Morganti et al., 2017). Sustainable development, however, is not only a physical and technical question. The energy transition must place justice at its core if it is to deliver fair outcomes across society (Heffron, 2022).
Guided by this literature, we examined both physical factors (building density and height) and socioeconomic variables such as household income from census data. The project uses an interactive 3D map together with a data visualization dashboard to analyze how density, height, and income in New York City shape solar energy adoption, and to identify spatial inequalities in the urban energy transition.
Combining spatial and social datasets, we found that solar adoption is highly uneven across the city. On the physical side, high building density in compact neighborhoods causes significant mutual shading, which limits the capacity of building surfaces, especially facades, to capture solar radiation.
On the social side, our clearest finding is a positive correlation between household income and solar energy production, with higher production in turn contributing to emission reductions.
Education level, by contrast, showed little effect on solar output, which we did not expect given its assumed link to environmental awareness and adoption.
Sustainable urban development cannot stop at optimizing physical compactness; it must also address the social equity issues that sit behind these physical metrics.Toward an Equitable Green City
Without targeted intervention, the current pattern of energy development is likely to produce an uneven distribution of benefits. This outcome runs against the principle of distributive justice and risks marginalizing vulnerable groups during the energy transition.
By showing how urban form and socioeconomic status both shape solar adoption, the project gives urban planners a visualization tool for the early assessment of solar potential and its social implications, and contributes empirical evidence for building urban energy systems that are both sustainable and equitable.