ABSTRACT
A supertall building is often referred to as a city unto itself. This vertical assembly of steel, concrete and glass houses many of the same activities that one might find in any other small city. For a tall building to function, energy must be provided, otherwise business cannot happen, society cannot flourish, life cannot be sustained. Currently, the world’s tall buildings are, probably without exception, linked to national grids supplying gas, electricity and potable water, and thus are major, if indirect, consumers of fossil fuels. Even without the potential for climate change triggered by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, building owners are soon likely to face the impact of soaring fossil fuel prices. Architects and engineers are being pushed to deliver ever-more energy-efficient buildings, to minimise dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce the carbon footprints of their projects. Achieving these goals requires a holistic approach.
