Can a skyscraper have a low environmental impact? Simulating energy consumption for a 100m, 200m and 400m tall residential tower

Soultana Saroglou, Isaac Meir, Theodoros Theodosiou

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The numbers of new skyscrapers that are being built today reflects the high rates of urbanization and population growth on a worldwide scale. New construction, as well as gradually the older building stock, has to be up to date with strict regulations on building energy efficiency. Energy consumption in skyscrapers and the reduction of its impact on infrastructure presents a challenge to the building professionals, with current examples of high performing, green certified towers consuming high amounts of energy. A new perspective is required where the skyscraper is seen as climatically responsive building. In this process, orientation, the thermal properties of the building envelope and the effect of altitude, play a vital role towards its energy efficiency. This paper looks at how the microclimate of the skyscraper, and more specifically how wind speed and air temperature are affected by altitude, and how these can be used as assets in lowering energy consumption. EnergyPlus is used for the simulation of three residential towers of approximately 100m, 200m and 400m tall (approximately 30-125 stories high) in Tel Aviv, Israel. The reductions in cooling energy between ground, middle and top level in the three towers present the base upon which further design strategies can be implemented towards reducing the environmental impact of this challenging building type.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPLEA 2016 Los Angeles - 36th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Cities, Buildings, People
Subtitle of host publicationTowards Regenerative Environments
StatePublished - 11 Jul 2016

Keywords

  • Energy consumption
  • Skyscraper
  • climatically responsive design
  • Environmental impact

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