Interesting news- a giant tower being planned in Shanghai, China, is considered to be the latest “green building” scheme to be planned for the People’s Republic. Known as the ‘Pearl River Tower’, it is planned to soar 71 stories into the grey polluted skies of Shanghai harbor. According to the building’s architects, it will be “the most advanced in the world” of its kind.
Firstly, its shape is a curve facing prevailing winds, like a giant sail. According to its American architects, its design should increase wind speeds and direct them into slots in the building. Wind turbines will be located inside the building behind those slots, generating economically viable wind power. The architects claim that the building may generate as much energy as it uses. The cooling system, instead of using energy and space guzzling air ducts, uses a cool water system. The water flows through the building in ducts through concrete beams, saving not only energy but large amounts of space as well. The extra space will be used for turbines and offices. Other features include a wide-spaced double glazed wall that channels hot air upwards, and solar photovoltaics in the front of the building to collect solar energy. Finally, automatic control systems around the building make sure that power isn’t wasted by shutting down systems wasting energy.
Thinking about all that, that is a pretty impressive building. But of course, the costs are ridiculously high, so its unlikely that this can be reproduced on a mass-scale right now.
According to Amy Englehart, director of SOM’s East Asia office, this building, “could only have been commissioned in China”. This statement is unfortunately, an important reminder to the West that China is rapidly catching up to western standards and even surpassing them in some ways. While in the US “green buildings” can constitute any big box store than conserves a little more energy than its counterparts, true “green skyscrapers” are now being built in China’s coastal cities. US green construction companies often focus on redevelopment and refitting of old buildings rather than on designing entirely new buildings based on the concept of sustainability. Of course, for China it is easier to find the funds necessary for developing entirely new green infrastructure, since their economy has been in a “growth” phase in the last two decades. But for the US, wouldn’t it pay off to place the funds down now for new eco-buildings which will repay itself many times later? SOM, the Pearl Tower’s contractor company, has already expressed their belief that the extra investments in the Tower will start making money in five years’ time.
While sustainable cities can be achieved by refitting older buildings in the downtowns, preserving history and culture while saving energy and costs, China is pioneering the newer, more direct approach. By clearing out older buildings entirely, China is starting with a “tabula rasa” from which to construct sustainable cities. The effectiveness of this strategy will become more apparent after a decade of work, however. Another important point is that the Pearl River Tower is, the exception rather than the norm in China. For the moment, the Tower is one of the few green buildings being constructed in China. It can only be hoped that the Chinese government will encourage more eco-friendly buildings with the successful completion of the Pearl River Tower. The US should also bear this in mind. We should start putting money to similar projects, not only just to catch up with China but because it the long run it should pay off.
1. www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8317211.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8317211.stm
10/28/2009
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