WEEK 1 - SHANGHAI TOWER
Shanghai Tower The Shaghai Tower is a 2073 foot tall making it China's tallest structure and the second tallest structure in the world. It implements a multitude of elements to aid its environmental impact. This allows for energy savings of 21-22 percent over a skyscraper of comparable size. Some of these energy saving elements include: - Wind turbines capturing enough power to cover the buildings exterior lighting - The overall shape deflects wind allowing for lighter less reinforced structure - The double-skin glass facade insulates the structure and reduces energy usage spent on heating and cooling - "Think of that double skin space like a thermos, " says Uhlir. "On a cold day, it will insulate and warm the structure, while it'll cool the building in the summer. Plus, since you can just walk out to a garden, you reduce elevator usage. You don't have to always go down to the ground floor." More than 50% of a buildings energy consumption comes...