Urban Cliamtology, Energy Conservation and Thermal Performance of Lhasa City

Lhasa City, with its high altitude, has a stressful cold-dry climate, which severely affects energy conversation and thermal performance. Meanwhile, none of the current energy resource options, including cow dung, coal, and natural gas, and the current ways of use for heating could fully meet the needs of growing economy and sustainability requirements for Lhasa. Therefore, urban designer and architects are trying to figure out ways and means to design effective urban forms that will modify the climate, providing higher temperature for thermal comfort and conserve energy in the city. The paper firstly analyzes Lhasa´s climatic conditions and energy consumption structure. Then from the urban energy conversation point of view, it puts forward some urban planning strategies in connection with local dry-cold climate. It shows that the region needs appropriate urban forms based on the study of the character of the local climate. Lastly from the perspective of architectural energy conversation, it demonstrates the feasibility and desirability of solar energy heating in the plateau cities from the technical and economic level.