Sustainable buildings in different countries : Office skyscrapers in different climate zones

Abstract

ABSTRACT. As cities cope with rapid population growth—adding 2.5 billion dwellers by 2050—and deal with expansive sprawl; politicians, planners and architects have become increasingly interested in the vertical city paradigm. Although skyscrapers provide countless benefits to society, they are one of the main consumers of energy as well as the main sources of environmental pollution. In order to offer a better future to next generations, we must start investing in sustainable construction, based on best practices that emphasize long-term affordability, quality and efficiency. Energy efficient design requires different design strategies according to each different climate. This makes it essential for architects, builders, contractors and homeowners to understand the resources of their unique local climate and how it influences the performance of their buildings. Designing passively means working with external weather conditions instead of fighting against it. The current work in sustainable skyscrapers design reflects a long-lasting need to reduce energy consumption and minimize the building’s ecological footprint while still providing first-class living and working environments. The scope of the study is narrowed to office skyscrapers in three different locations and climates. A comparison of the sustainable features the skyscrapers need is carried out according to dry hot, rainy cold and humid subtropical climates. The case studies concern very well-known sustainable skyscrapers as the Bahrain World trade Center in Bahrein, The Lakhra Center in Russia and the Ping An Center in China.