The World's Five Greenest Skyscrapers

Buildings are one of the world's largest consumers of energy and, as a result, one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

So, green building--architectural design based on improving the energy efficiency of a building throughout its entire life span--has become increasingly en vogue.

Tom Ravenscroft highlights the five greenest skyscrapers in the world:

• 30 Mary St Axe (The Gherkin), London - London's "first built green skyscraper" was designed specifically to maximize natural light and ventilation.  By breaking from the traditional rectangular shape, the building uses half the amount of energy as traditional buildings.

• Hearst Tower, New York - The First New York Skyscraper to receive U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold accreditation.  It's diamond shape required 20% less steel.

• Bank of America Tower, New York - Awarded LEED Platinum accreditation.  The building numerous green features include floor-to-ceiling insulating glass and a 4.6-megawatt combined heat and power plant.

• The Bahrain World Trade Center Towers, Bahrain - The World Trade Center is designed specifically to produce power by capturing the wind.  The twin towers were constructed in the shape of sails in order to funnel wind into three wind turbines, which produce 15% of the buildings' power.

• Castle House (Strata), London - Construction is not yet complete on the Castle House.  But, when it is finished, the 43-story skyscraper will boast three 45-kilowatt wind turbines which will produce enough energy to light the entire building.

This list will be changing quite soon, as the energy efficiency of these buildings will be surpassed by China's Pearl River Tower when it opens--the Pearl River Tower will be the world's first zero energy building.

Read the full story at suite101.com:  The Rise Of The Green Skyscraper

Learn more about Emerging Technologies on eBoom's Emerging Energy Learning Page.