IEA-EBC-Annex 63 aims to identify strategies that can unify urban and energy planning communities and allow both parties to engage in the process of change to reach long term targets. The research addresses key barriers that expand the scope of planning and lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the new, urban, low-carbon environment. The outcome of this project is that governments, urban decision makers, utilities and urban planning departments can develop a clearer understanding as to how they integrate energy issues into urban planning processes and what actions they must undertake and when, in order to be successful.