AbstractA linear programming optimization technique is applied to the problem of allocating new land using activities in an existing urban area. While it is recognized that energy is not yet as decisive a factor in the determination of household and firm locational patterns as other factors such as accessibility and time costs, the model attempts to resolve land allocation problems by means of minimizing total transportation energy costs alone. Such an analysis may serve as a benchmark against which other policies and their energy repercussions could and should be measured.