SuStainable buildingS
and industrial space, all powered by solar arrays,
Concept graphics for
which should be in place by the end of this year.
Dongtan, which is to
be sited in the mouth
Echoing recent comments by US President
of the Yangzi River. Barack Obama, he says: “The smart money is
on renewable energy like the sun and the wind,
efficient materials that cut energy costs, and
dynamic companies that are innovating.”
Independent not-for-profit organisation The
Climate Group identifies one great hope, when
it comes to green and smart buildings. In its pre-
Copenhagen climate change and sustainability
report, Smart 2020 – Enabling the low carbon
economy in the information age, it says IT can
make buildings smart as well as green.
“Smart buildings use a suite of technologies
But progress is evident; whether it is WalMart eco-city on an island three quarters of the size of to make the design, construction and operation of
in the US, HSBC and Bayer in India, or Tesco in Manhattan in the mouth of the Yangzi River. buildings more efficient,” says the report, “applying
the UK, some very large corporates are turning to Peter Head, Director at Arup, says: “Dongtan to both existing and new-build properties. This
greener buildings. And perhaps the most exciting is the template for sustainability in city planning, might include building management systems
developments are on a city-wide scale. not just in China but elsewhere in the world. (BMS) that run heating and cooling systems, or
One of the best known of these is Masdar Sustainable cities like this will successfully address software that switches off all PCs and monitors
City in Abu Dhabi (see opposite page). Masdar, environmental pollution, water shortages and after everyone has gone home.”
a corporation supported by the Abu Dhabi cleaner energy.” The Climate Group says that global building
government, is investing $22bn in building a The first phase of the project, including emissions accounted for 8% of total emissions in
carbon-neutral, zero emissions city featuring the capturing and treatment of water, creation 2002 – 3.36GtCO2e – and that IT could reduce
spectacular solar arrays and wind farms – despite of urban parks, developing community waste these emissions by 15% by 2020.
the Emirate being built on huge oil reserves. management recycling facilities, and building IT could, it is claimed, facilitate intelligent
Green buildings underpin the whole ethos combined heat and power generation, will be commissioning, improved building design, BMS,
of Masdar City as well as green power (Masdar completed next year. voltage optimisation, benchmarking, heating,
is also involved in carbon capture and storage in The environmental impact of actual ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), lighting
the UAE and in the London Array offshore wind construction has not been forgotten either. Arup automation, ventilation on demand and reduced
development in the UK). But the project is has set up a partnership with emissions broker building space through design.
located in an area where the amount of energy CO2e to offset emissions from construction, An example of an IT-enabled green building
required to live comfortably is a challenge to its including the carbon footprint of getting is The Solaire building in New York. Opened
green credential. architects, designers and construction workers to in 2002, it is the word’s first ‘green residential
Chris Twinn of Arup says: “At one level it’s and from the massive site. tower’ and its BMS makes it use 67% less energy
great that they are going for it. Places such as the In the US, the world’s first solar-voltaic city than comparable buildings, earning it LEED Gold
UAE need to detach themselves from fossil fuel. is taking shape. Developers Kitson and Partners Rating energy efficiency status.
“But propagating living in areas where the have teamed up with electricity utility Florida Globally the prize from IT-enabled smart
climate is so harsh could be questioned. There Light and Power to build Babcock Ranch in sunny buildings could be a reduction of $295bn in
is lower energy demand in less harsh, more Florida. This 17,000 acre site will create 20,000 energy savings and $45.7bn in carbon costs – or
temperate climates, so maybe we need a wider permanent jobs in a zero-emissions city complete 1.68GtCO2e. Worth having – but there are words
debate about the most sustainable places to with its own smart electricity grid. of caution too.
build new cities.” “Clean energy and sustainable development “Efficiency is not being built into buildings
Another groundbreaking green city project is are the future of the American economy,”says today to the extent that it could be,” warns
Dongtan in China. Shanghai Industrial Investment Syd Kitson, the developer’s CEO. He promises six Stephen Thomas of Johnson Controls. “It will take
Corporation has teamed up with Arup to build an million square feet of green retail, commercial decades to change how this is done.” n
8 I B U X J M M I B Q Q F O J O U I F F O F S H Z N B S L F U T ) P X X J M M J U B G G F D U Z P V
- J N J U F E
T I P S U U F S N H V F T U N F N C F S T I J Q T U P U I F ' P S V N B S F B W B J M B C M F V Q P O S F R V F T U U P 1 B U I ¾ O E F S # V T J O F T T
T V C T D S J C F S T C Z D P O U B D U J O H T F D S F U B S J B U ! X F T U N J O T U F S F O F S H Z P S H
& Y D M V T J W F S F Q P S U T P O Q S F W J P V T 8 F T U N J O T U F S & O F S H Z ' P S V N F W F O U T B W B J M B C M F W J B X X X Q B U I ¾ O E F S C V T J O F T T D P N
X X X X F T U N J O T U F S F O F S H Z P S H
pathfinder buSineSS l JUNE/JULY 2009 33
PBS12 pp30-33 Green Buildings.indd 33 8/6/09 13:07:07
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