An Examination of the Energy-Efficient High-Rise Building Design

Abstract

The need for sheltering that started with the existence caused to the concept of housing and has gone through various phases with sedentary life and urbanization. Due to urbanization, a process experienced in parallel with industrialization and economic development, the need for energy has increased. With the increasing need of energy, a great majority of natural resources are being used in the construction industry, particularly at high-rise buildings. It becomes increasingly impossible to meet energy needs of high-rise buildings with nonrenewable resources. Nevertheless, under today’s conditions and with current technology, use of renewable energy sources is a quite expensive method. In order to meet the increasing demand in energy, it is required to use existing energy in an efficient and productive manner. For this purpose, this study suggests a conceptual framework including principles, strategies and methods related to energy efficient building design while examples of energy-efficient high-rise buildings applied worldwide are examined within the suggested framework.