Commuting, energy consumption, and the challenge of sustainable urban development

- Discuss the literature on the relationship between commuting patterns, energy consumption, and urban form.
- Highlight the nature of disagreements among researchers regarding the role of density in urban transportation patterns.
- Emphasize the importance of equity in sustainable urban development.

This paper will provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding commute-related energy consumption patterns. Drawing from urban transportation and built environment literature, I will suggest the degree to which the job-housing imbalance, the geography of housing affordability, and the transportation infrastructure investment have produced heightened levels of energy consumption and inequitable urban environments.