MFA10103

Aftab Hameed Memon

ISSUES IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

GREEN BUILDINGS

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN CONSTRUCTION

CONCLUDING REMARKSPRESENTATION OUTLINE

CONSTRUCTIONINDUSTRYTODAYPROBLEMSROLEPECULARITIESSUCCESS Timely Completion Within Cost Required Quality ECONOMY SOCIAL Time Overrun Cost Overrun Construction Waste Excessive Resource Consumption Environmental Threat Fragmentation Uniqueness Complexity Resource Driven Schedule DrivenCONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TODAY

CONSTRUCTION TIME OVERRUNWorldwide problem : seldom projects completed on time.In Nigeria : 50% projects experienced time overrun with an average percentage escalation period up to 188%. In Bosnia and Herzegovina : 51.40% project experienced time overrunIn Jordan : 82% of projects are delayed In Saudi Arabia and Ghana : 70% of projects were delayedIn Malaysia : 18.2% of the public sector projects and 29.45% of private sector projects only are completed on time.Time Delay can be resulted of one or more reasons including problems of financing and payment for completed works poor contract, changes in site, shortage of materials, design changes, weather condition and others.

CONSTRUCTION COST OVERRUNCost is a major problem both in developed and developing countries. The trend is more severe in developing countries where these overruns sometimes exceeds 100% of the anticipated cost of the project.United Kingdom (UK) : nearly 1/3 of the clients complaints that their projects generally experienced budget overrun.In Nigeria : A minimum average percentage escalation cost of projects was 14%. In Slovenia : 51 % projects faced price overrunIn Croatia : 81% projects faced cost overrunIn Bosnia and Herzegovina : 41.23% of the projects faced cost overrun. In Uganda : (Northern-by-pass project in Kampala) the cost overrun was more than 100% of the contract price.

CONSTRUCTION COST OVERRUNWorldwide research in transportation projects : 9 out of 10 projects face cost overrun. The common overruns are between 50 to 100%.In Malaysia : only 46.8% and 37.2% of public and private sectors projects completed within the budget respectively. The factors that had been identified contribute to cost overrun : lack of contractors experience, Poor site management and supervision, Inaccurate Time and Cost estimates, Schedule Delay, Frequent design changes, Fluctuation of prices of materials, Cash flow and financial difficulties faced by contractors.

CONSTRUCTION WASTEWaste is one of the serious problems in construction projects.Waste has direct impact on the productivity, material loss and completion time of project resulting in loss of a significant amount of revenue. Waste contributes to around 30-35% of a projects production cost.The amount of construction materials wasted on the site is relatively high and equals 9% by weight of the purchased materials.Construction waste can be generated because of one or more reasons including Frequent design changes, Poor quality of materials, Workers' mistakes during construction, Poor planning, Poor site management, Ordering errors, Materials not in compliance with specification, Effect of weather and others.

CONSTRUCTION WASTEIn Malaysia, the demand of houses and major infrastructure projects make the amount of construction waste getting increased.Major implication of increased construction waste generation has caused illegal dumping and has swelled rapidly in Malaysia.A study done in Johor district alone indicated that 42% of 46 illegal dumping sites are of construction waste.Recent news had highlighted that almost 30 tons of construction wastes was dumped illegally in tropical mangrove swamp near Bandar Hilir, Malacca and construction debris problem near roadside at Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. These illegal dumping has causing risk to human health and environment. The issues of illegal dumping arises due to the cost and location of the project.

CONSTRUCTION WASTEConstruction waste illegally dumped in mangrove swamp (Source: The Star Newspaper, 2011)Figure 2: Construction debris along roadside (Source: The Star Newspaper, 2012)

CONSTRUCTION WASTEA study conducted on 30 construction sites in Malaysia identified six types of waste materials which includes concrete (12.32%), metals (9.62%), bricks (6.54%), plastics (0.43%), woods (69.10%) and others waste (2%) Hence, it is timely for Malaysia to adopt a systematic and efficient waste minimization strategy which that requires to control the generation of waste at different level. Advanced tool likes lean construction techniques can help in reducing waste at source and can minimised the waste produced during the operation by re-using and re-cycling.Adopting waste minimization strategy like recycling and reusing material can save 2.5% of the total budget.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATGY

EXCESSIVE RESOURCES CONSUMPTIONBuilt environment has significant impact on resources : consuming 1/6 of the worlds freshwater withdrawals, 1/4 of wood harvest and 2/5 of materials. About 40% of the energy used is linked to the construction and maintenance of buildings. Excessive resource and energy use : Resulted in growing demand for raw materials, are largely responsible for the depletion of natural resources worldwide, acceleration of global warming and detrimental wastage affecting our ecological integrity.

ENVIRONMENTAL THREATEnvironmental Threat due to built environment : It consumes large amounts of natural resources and produces a great deal of pollutants.Ethics of construction players: Not serious about environmental protection in construction sites, assume that a construction site is only a temporary setup, ignorance source of pollutants generationCO2 emission : Contributing to the global warming and extreme weather. Other Impacts : The harvest of timber leads to the lost of natural forests, widespread use of toxic chemicals in materials.

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONIn November 1994, the First International Conference on Sustainable Construction held in Tampa, Florida, USA, the conference convener Kibert proposed that sustainable construction means, Creating a healthy built environment using resource-efficient, ecologically-based principles. Sustainable construction involves a commitment to:Economic sustainability increasing profitability by making more efficient use of resources, including labour, materials, water and energy.Environmental sustainability preventing harmful and potential irreversible effects on the environment by careful use of natural resources, minimizing waste, protecting and where possible enhancing the environment.Social sustainability responding to the needs of people at whatever stage of involvement in the construction process (from commissioning to demolition), providing high customer satisfaction and working closely with clients, suppliers, employees and local communities

OBJECTIVES OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONEnvironmental dimension:Increase material efficiency by reducing the material demand of non-renewable goodsReduce the material intensity via substitution technologiesEnhance material recyclabilityReduce and control the use and dispersion of toxic materialsReduce the energy required for transforming goods and supplying servicesSupport the instruments of international conventions and agreementsMaximize the sustainable use of biological and renewable resourcesConsider the impact of planned projects on air, soil, water, flora, and fauna.

OBJECTIVES OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONEconomic dimension: Consider life-cycle costsInternalize external costsConsider alternative financing mechanismsDevelop appropriate economic instruments to promote sustainable consumptionConsider the economic impact on local structures..Social dimension: Enhance a participatory approach by involving stakeholdersPromote public participation Promote the development of appropriate institutional frameworksConsider the influence on the existing social frameworkAssess the impact on health and the quality of life.

CHALLENGES IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONShifting to sustainability : A new paradigm where sustainable objectives are within the building design and construction industry. Key Action : The objectives should be considered in decision making at all stages of the life cycle of the facility. Figure below shows the evolution and challenges of the sustainable construction concept in a global context.

GREEN BUILDINGSGreen building practices are:environmentally responsible and resource-efficient to promote building practices that conserve energy and water resources, preserve open spaces.to minimise the emission of toxic substancesto harmonise with the local climate, traditions, culture and the surrounding environmentto sustain and improve the quality of human lifemaintaining the capacity of the ecosystem at local and global levels.

BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDING

Benefits to the targeted groupsS (society) EU (end user)

BREEAM (UK/Global)BRE Environment Assessment MethodLEED (USA/ Global)Leadership in Energy & Environment designGreen Star (Australia)Green Star NZ ( New Zealand)GBTool (Canada)HQE (France)High Environmental QualityHK-BEAM (Hong Kong)HK Building Environmental Assessment MethodSBAT (South Africa)Sustainable Buidling Assessment ToolCASBEE (Japan)Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Energy EfficiencyGBI (Malaysia)Green Building Assessment and indexing SystemGREEN BUILDING STANDARDS

GREEN BUILDING INDEXThe Green Building Index, developed by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) and the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) is a rating system that provides guidelines for developers for designing and constructing green buildings.GBI (Green Building Index) comprises of 6 key criteria as:Energy Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Sustainable Site Planning and Management, Material and Resources, Water Efficiency, and Innovation

GBI CRITERIAEnergy Efficiency (EE) Improve energy consumption by optimizing building orientation, minimizing solar heat gain through the building envelope, harvesting natural lighting, adopting the best practices in building services including use of renewable energy, and ensuring proper testing, commissioning and regular maintenance.Indoor Environment Quality (EQ)Achieve good quality performance in indoor air quality, acoustics, visual and thermal comfort. These will involve the use of low volatile organic compound materials, application of quality air filtration, proper control of air temperature, movement and humidity.

GBI CRITERIASustainable Site Planning & Management (SM)Selecting appropriate sites with planned access to public transportation, community services, open spaces and landscaping. Avoiding and conserving environmentally sensitive areas through the redevelopment of existing sites and brown fields. Implementing proper construction management, storm water management and reducing the strain on existing infrastructure capacityMaterials & Resources (MR)Promote the use of environment-friendly materials sourced from sustainable sources and recycling. Implement proper construction waste management with storage, collection and re-use of recyclables and construction formwork and waste.Water Efficiency (WE)Rainwater harvesting, water recycling and water-saving fittings.Innovation (IN)Innovative design and initiatives that meet the objectives of the GBI

GBI RATING SYSTEMGBI rating for Non-residential (commercial, institutional, and industrial in nature.Factories, hospitals, offices, hotels, etc)More emphasis on energy efficiencyGBI rating for Residential residential buildings (Linked houses, apartment, bungalows, condominium, etc, More emphasis on sustainable site planning & management)

GBI CLASSIFICATION

Heres an example of day lighting at the Hong Kong Science Park. Notice that the light is filtered through translucent skylights and clerestories in a central atrium, thus reducing glare and overheating. The top of the building has shades, see them after the jump:Sunshades are extensively incorporated into the external facades to shield direct sunlight penetration, reducing heat gain to the office so as to reduce electricity consumption for air conditioning Hong Kong Science Park Solar Glass

Hong Kong Science Park Solar GlassBIPV panels have been fitted to the facade, the louvers and the roof canopy of the Buildings in Phase 1. The BIPV is connected to the electricity grid and have an approximately 200 kilo-Watt output. The installation of BIPV panels can pursue new clean energy technologies, reduce consumption of natural resources and cut emissions to the atmosphere. It can save approximately 250MWh of electricity consumption annually.

German Parliament 100% Renewable PowerThe German Reichstag is expected to become the greenest parliament building in the world, thanks to a decision to rely solely on renewable energy. From late summer the building is due to swap to green power sources such as water, wind and solar energy, replacing the conventional power that it has largely relied upon until now. Its extensive refurbishment in the late 1990s, including the glass cupola designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster, had already won it plaudits. Ecologists praised the buildings energy efficiency, which has led to a 94% cut in its carbon emissions.Its roof makes passive use of solar power and natural light and its thick, well-insulated 19th-century walls help retain warmth in winter and reduce the need for air conditioning in summer.At the moment biofuel generators in the basement produce 40% of the buildings energy, for lighting, heating, the flow of air conditioning and water, while the rest comes mainly from coal and nuclear supplies.

At Punggol Eco-Town, the elements of nature will be harnessed in line with the concept of green living by the watersIntegrated public transport systemCharging stations for electric carsCycling lanes3.2 megawatt solar farm pumping straight into the grid and eliminate the use of batteries. [see the Star 5 Oct 2010 p. T3]

*PUNGGOL ECO-TOWN, SINGAPORE

ZEO Building, Bangi Another example

Zero Energy Office (ZEO) houses the Malaysia Energy Centre . It was built with a targeted building energy index [BEI] of as low as 50 kWh/m2 per year; and with the use of renewable energy to bring the building to a zero energy status. ZEO is the only such building in Malaysia that integrates energy efficiency and renewable energy in one working demonstrator building.

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Green Towers In Malaysia Modeled After Fleet of ShipsSustainable Tower in MalaysiaThese unusual, onion-shaped towers are designed for Precinct 4, or the Putrajaya waterfront in Malaysia (30 kilometers south of Kuala Kumpur).Designed by Studio Nicoletti Associati, was inspired by ship sails and traditional Islamic architecture.(http://www.metaefficient.com/architecture-and-building/1282.html )The architects goal was to design buildings that tell of its place of origin which is culturally modern, Islamic and tropical in nature. Added to this is Nicolettis extensive experience in design and construction for extreme climates.The Italian firm brought sustainable strategies like terraces, sunshades, natural ventilation and integrated green space into the design. The buildings will source from alternative energy and are expected to produce 50% less CO2 emissions than similar residential projects.

Green Towers In Malaysia Modeled After Fleet of ShipsA stunning new residential development is planned for the Putrajaya waterfront known as Precinct 4, The design, however, is a refreshing and original with unique, marine-inspired structures - which also draw from traditional Islamic designs - arranged in a permeable, radiating block of bioclimatic architecture.

THE DIAMOND BUILDING [THE HEADQUARTERS OF ENERGY COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA [ BEI of 61KwH/m2] AND THE PRIME MINISTERS DEPARTMENT [RETROFIT TO GREEN STANDARDS], PUTRAJAYA*

LEO BUILDING, PUTERA JAYA - AN EXAMPLE OF MALAYSIAS GREEN BUILDING

Back in 2004, Malaysia set out to demonstrate that it is feasible to achieve a building energy index [BEI] of 100kWh/m2 per year and energy savings of more than 50% compared to buildings without energy efficient design. The Low Energy Office (LEO), which is headquarter to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water was then built with an additional 10% of the total building costs and an expected payback period of 8 years.

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Innovative Tower To Feature Atrium Of Wind TurbinesClean Technology Tower ArchitectAdrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture Adrian Smith, Design PartnerGordon Gill, Design PartnerRobert Forest, Management PartnerProject TeamBrad Wilkins, Brendan Gibbons, David Ellis, Ian Mills, Jorge Soler, Les Ventschidea of sustainable development

Innovative Tower To Feature Atrium Of Wind TurbinesBuilding on principles of biomimicry, Clean Technology Tower utilizes advanced technologies and climate-appropriate building systems to foster a symbiotic relationship with its local environment. The tower is sited and formed to harness the power of natural forces at its site- but it refines the conventional methods of capturing those natural forces to significantly increase efficiency. Wind turbines are located at the buildings corners to capture wind at its highest velocity as it accelerates around the tower. The turbines become increasingly dense as the tower ascends and wind speeds increase. At the apex, where wind speeds are at a maximum, a domed double roof cavity captures air, allowing for a large wind farm and the use of negative pressures to ventilate the interior spaces. The dome itself is shaded by photovoltaic cells that capture the southern sun. These systems provide both comfort and energy to the space.

The Devonshire Building was designed by the Dewjoc architecture firm. It is home to the Institute for Research and Sustainability at the University of Newcastle.The Devonshire Building - Sustainable solar shading for science structure.The Devonshire Building is a landmark six-storey edifice in the heart of University of Newcastles campus and is due to become operational in April 2004. It is home to the Institute for Research and Sustainability and the Regional E-Science Centre and is therefore a pioneering construction embracing recycled materials, renewable energy and solar power, reflecting the Universitys commitment to the environment. The Devonshire Building Sustainable Solar Shading

The buildings large roof area also allowed the construction of a rainwater harvest system. The rain is collected via a symphonic rainwater system and then fed into a 20,000 liter underground tank. If the rainwater tank overfills, it overflows to a 40,000 liter geothermal tank to replenish the water for a heat sink that acts as a cooling source for the building and services systems.The Devonshire Building Sustainable Solar Shading

A fluid aesthetic faade solutionSteve Halsall, project architect with The Dewjoc Partnership comments: The prime objective to the building design was the integration of the solar shading with the faade design. Levolux took up the challenge by taking on a proactive role in the design development of the solar shading system, which has resulted in a fluid aesthetic faade solution. The Devonshire Building Sustainable Solar Shading

Stunning Solar Building Will Generate More Power Than It Needs The Masdar Headquarters BuildingConstruction of Masdar City commenced with a formal ground-breaking ceremony on February 9, 2008. The City will be constructed over seven phases and is due to be completed by 2016. Masdars headquarters is part of phase one and will be completed by the end of 2010.Masdar Headquarters will have the lowest energy consumption per square foot, it will feature the largest photovoltaic system and the largest solar thermal driven cooling and dehumidification system. The building will also have integrated wind turbines. It will consume about 70% less water than a typical mixed-use building of its size.

MASDAR HEADQUARTERS MASDAR CITY, ABU DHABI, UAEAdrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture has won an international competition to design the Masdar Headquarters, the first building in the zero waste, zero carbon emission Masdar City outside of Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates. The Masdar Headquarters will be the first mixed-use positive energy building in the world. The Masdar Headquarters Building

New Record: Wind Powers 40% Of Spain Wind Powersidea of renewable technologyWind power is breaking new records in Spain, accounting for just over 40 percent of all electricity consumed during a brief period last weekend.

As heavy winds lashed Spain on Saturday evening wind parks generated 9,862 megawatts of power which translated to 40.8 percent of total consumption.

Between Friday and Sunday wind power accounted for an average of 28 percent of all electricity demand in Spain. Spains wind power generation equaled that of hydropower for the first time in 2007.

Spain, which along with Germany and Denmark, is among the three biggest producers of wind power in the 27-nation European Union, is aiming to triple the amount of energy it derives from renewable sources by 2020.

North Americas Largest Solar-Electric Plant The plant, which cost $100 million to constructcovers 140 acres of land Solar PowersNorth Americas largest solar photovoltaic system is now running and generating power about 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The 14 megawatt power plant is at the Nellis Air Force Base in the sunny desert of southern Nevada. Its expected to save about $1 million in power costs annually, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 24,000 tons each year.The photovoltaic system is made up of 72,000 solar panels. Its enough to provide 30% of the electric needs on the base, where 12,000 people work and 7,215 people live. But at 14 megawatts the power output of this system is modest, compared to the solar thermal Nevada One project which generates 64 megawatts of power.

11 MW Solar Tower Complex Opens in SpainThe tower project is called PS10 and it uses 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats. Each of the mirrors has a surface measuring 1,290 square feet that concentrates the Suns rays to the top of a 377 foot high tower where a solar receiver and a steam turbine are located. The turbine drives a generator, producing electricity.

PS10 is the first of a set of solar electric power generation plants to be constructed in the same area that will total more than 300 MW by 2013. Power generation will be accomplished using a variety of technologies.Europes first concentrated tower open recently near the sunny southern Spanish city of Seville. The 11 megawatt plant took four years to build it was created by a Spanish energy company, Solucar.

Major Solar Power Plants In Portugal Electric sun cells face the sun at a solar power plant in Serpa, southern Portugal.The sun sets over the solar power plant, one of the largest in EuropeAn engineer walks between sun power panels at the plant. Spread across 60 hectaresElectric sun cells face the sun at a solar power plant in Serpa, southern Portugal

Madrid Spain Huge Air Tree Structure Produces Its Own Power and OxygenIn Madrid, Spain they are currently building a huge structure called an Air Tree or Eco Boulevard de Vallecas. The Tree was created by Urban Ecosystem to be a social center, and to improve the surrounding environment. The structure is also completely self-sufficient, generating all its own power with solar cells. Any surplus energy is sold to the electrical grid. It also produces oxygen using its arrays of plants and trees, hence the tree appellation.

Solar Trees Lighted Up Europe

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUESAdvanced technological methods in achieving sustainable construction are:Lean techniques, Industrialized Building System (IBS), Value Engineering (VE), Automated ConstructionBuilding Information Modeling (BIM), Sustainable Supply Chain Managemnet (SSCM) etc.

LEAN PRINCIPLES

LEAN AND SUSTAINABILITY

Prefabrication

PREFABRICATION

PrefabricationEnvironmental

Material conservationReduced waste on siteBetter air qualityLess CO2 emissionSocialBetter site safetyLess construction noiseReduction on-site dust

EconomicShorter construction timeLess labor requirementGovernment incentivesEnvironmentalMore transport emissionsEconomicHigher initial investmentHigher cranage costHigher transport cosSocialMore unemployed workersJaillon and Poon(2008), Sustainable construction aspects of using prefabrication in dense urban environment: a Hong Kong case study. (7 projects)PREFBRICATION

THE ARK HOTEL, CHINA AN EXAMPLE OF GREEN INDUSTRIALIZED BUILDING SYSTEM [IBS]/PREFAB/OFF SITE BUILT IN 6 DAYS! *

AND LO AND BEHOLD, 6 DAYS LATER.*

VALUE ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMNET

According to the Architectural Institute of Japan, 150 types of construction robots have been developed in the field of building construction.Robots categoryRobots for structure construction works, including fire-proofing, steel welding, iron-bar placing, concrete placing, concrete finishing, and remote wire-releasing.Robots for work completion, including exterior wall spraying, ceiling panel placing, and light-weight wall panel handling.Robots for inspection works, including outer wall tile inspection, and clean room inspection.Robots for maintenance works, including coating glass cleaning, and floor cleaning.A total of 12 systems has been thus far developed by eight construction companies and introduced on more than 20 construction sites.AUTOMATED CONSTRUCTION

Automated Construction Fire-proofing robot Steel welding robot Exterior wall spraying robot Concrete finishing robot Tunnel cave detection systemAUTOMATED CONSTRUCTION

Contribution : plays vital role in economic growth, helps in improving the quality of life of its citizenryNegative Impacts : implication to the environment and social aspect of the country, emission of CO2 by buildings contributed to the global warming and extreme weatherResource Consumption : About 40% of the world's resource and energy use is linked to the construction and maintenance of buildings.Green building approach : environmentally responsible and resource-efficient, promotes building practices that conserve energy and water resources, preserve open spaces, reduce energy consumption up to 50%, CO2 emission up to 39%, water used up to 40% and finally reduction in solid waste up to 70%. Advanced technological methods : Lean techniques, Industrialized Building System (IBS), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Value Engineering (VE), Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) etc.

The solar glass incorporated into this building at the Hong Kong Science Park is the darker blue glass. The electricity is generates is fed back into the grid. Solar glass is a kind of solar installation called BIPV or Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics. It basically a kind of solar cell that can be incorporated into a house or building in a virtually seamless way. Solar glass generates electricity, while still being aesthetically pleasing, and it occupies building surfaces that would otherwise require reflective glass and window shades to avoid the sun's heat. The only drawback to solar glass is that doesn't produce much electricity, and it's fairly expensive (about fives times as much as regular glass, not counting components such as wiring and inverters).On a strict analysis of energy cost savings, integrated solar glass rarely pays for itself. But that doesn't deter architects and owners around the world from installing it. Solar glass generates electricity at a predictable cost, qualifies for financial incentives and often has publicity value. Not to mention the uniqueness of a building with custom glazing that generates electricity. Its roof makes passive use of solar power and natural light and its thick, well-insulated 19th-century walls help retain warmth in winter and reduce the need for air conditioning in summer.At the moment biofuel generators in the basement produce 40% of the buildings energy, for lighting, heating, the flow of air conditioning and water, while the rest comes mainly from coal and nuclear supplies.But in future the Reichstag, which has been the home of Germanys parliament for nine years, will go a step further, entirely abandoning conventional sources in favour of renewables, which will be provided by an outside supplier.A parliamentary subcommittee agreed last week to seek bids from renewable energy producers to replace that conventional power use, and expects to choose a supplier by late summer.Parliamentarians hope that the switch to clean energy will boost Germanys reputation as one of the greenest countries in the world and help the renewable energy sector. Germany has one of the most globally successful and innovative clean energy industries. Boosted by a subsidy system, around 13% of its electricity comes from renewable power - mostly wind - a figure that is set to rise to 27% over the next 12 years.

*The Clean Technology Tower is a highly efficient building which will be constructed in Chicago. The tower will have wind turbines positioned at the corners of the building, to capture wind at its highest velocity as it accelerates around the tower. At the apex, where wind speeds are at a maximum, a domed double roof cavity directs the wind towards an array of wind turbines. The negative pressure created by the turbines will be used to ventilate interior spaces. The dome itself is shaded by solar cells that capture the southern sun.

The complex includes over 1.8 million square feet of office space as well as a 300,000 square foot hotel, a spa and street-level retail.It was designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, the same firm who designed the recently featured solar Masdar Headquarters.

The complex includes over 1.8 million square feet of office space as well as a 300,000 square foot hotel, a spa and street-level retail. Dedicated elevators will provide access for both office and hotel tenants to all of the towers amenities. An adjacent grand plaza and park enhances the towers relationship with the surrounding neighborhood and provides a public gathering space for tenants. The plaza also complements an existing adjacent winter garden and strengthens the connection between the existing retail and the new tower. The tower is easily accessible via both public and private transportation. Hotel and office lobbies have dedicated street entrances and vehicle pick-up and drop-off locations. Service access to the building and parking are available below grade. The tower affords tenants unparalleled views of the city, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Office space will be located on high floors to maximize available views and take advantage of the direct natural daylight. The towers domed top offers unrestricted skyward views, creating a truly modern, grand atrium space.

This tower in Chicago is an evolution of the Pearl River Tower which both Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill were responsible for while at SOM. Where Pearl River used the face of the building to funnel wind into two large turbine zones this design uses an array of smaller turbines at the corners of the building to catch the wind at its highest velocity.

Climate responsiveLevolux were brought in to provide solar shading to the glazed southern elevation of the building. Levolux 400mm aerofoil fins were fitted to steel bow trusses and are motorised to operate in banks are controlled by light sensors and a Levolux Multicontroller. The louvres are also climate responsive and allow optimisation of daylight and solar penetration according to the time of day and the season. On the southern elevation Levolux also installed a newly designed, extruded aluminium, J tread, walk-on brise-soleil system, attached to the steelwork behind the aerofoils. Galvanised walkway was fitted on the north elevation.

The Devonshire Building is a solar building, that automatically opens and closes banks of shades on its south facing faade. The intelligent system tracks the amount of sunlight entering the windows, and takes into account the time of day and season. The key architectural aim was to design a building that would incorporate as much natural daylight as physically possible. The blinds help manage overheating, and they are backed up by a geothermal cooling system. To top it all off, the building has solar modules on its roof that generate 25 kW of power.

Construction of Masdar City commenced with a formal ground-breaking ceremony on February 9, 2008. The City will be constructed over seven phases and is due to be completed by 2016. Masdars headquarters is part of phase one and will be completed by the end of 2010.

The 1.4 million square foot building was designed by Chicago architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill.It will serve as the centerpiece of Masdar City, which will end up being about a $22 billion development in Abu Dhabi (the capital of United Arab Emirates).

Masdar Headquarters will have the lowest energy consumption per square foot, it will feature the largest photovoltaic system and the largest solar thermal driven cooling and dehumidification system. The building will also have integrated wind turbines. It will consume about 70% less water than a typical mixed-use building of its size.

The Masdar Headquarters building will produce more power than it needs (an energy positive building). In fact, the solar roof (one of the largest in the world) will be constructed first, and it will power the construction of the rest of the building. The video link on this page has a great view of the sun-infused interior.

Wind power is breaking new records in Spain, accounting for just over 40 percent of all electricity consumed during a brief period last weekend. As heavy winds lashed Spain on Saturday evening wind parks generated 9,862 megawatts of power which translated to 40.8 percent of total consumption. Between Friday and Sunday wind power accounted for an average of 28 percent of all electricity demand in Spain. Spains wind power generation equaled that of hydropower for the first time in 2007.In July the government approved legislation that will allow offshore wind parks to be set up along the nations vast coastline in an effort to boost the use of renewable energy sources. While more expensive than land-based wind farms, offshore wind parks can take advantage of stronger, steadier coastal breezes.Spain, which along with Germany and Denmark, is among the three biggest producers of wind power in the 27-nation European Union, is aiming to triple the amount of energy it derives from renewable sources by 2020.North Americas largest solar photovoltaic system is now running and generating power about 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The 14 megawatt power plant is at the Nellis Air Force Base in the sunny desert of southern Nevada. Its expected to save about $1 million in power costs annually, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 24,000 tons each year.

The plant, which cost $100 million to construct, covers 140 acres of land at the western edge of the Nellis base. The company that owns the panels is leasing the land at no cost, and Nellis is agreeing to buy the power for 20 years at about 2.2 cents/kWh, instead of the 9 cents they are paying to Nevada Power, saving the Air Force $1 million each year. None of the $100 million cost came from the Air Force.

The photovoltaic system is made up of 72,000 solar panels. Its enough to provide 30% of the electric needs on the base, where 12,000 people work and 7,215 people live. But at 14 megawatts the power output of this system is modest, compared to the solar thermal Nevada One project which generates 64 megawatts of power.

SunPower designed and built the photovoltaic power plant using its proprietary single-axis solar tracking system which follows the sun throughout the day and delivers "up to 30 percent more energy than traditional fixed-tilt ground systems," the company says.Europes first concentrated tower open recently near the sunny southern Spanish city of Seville. The 11 megawatt plant took four years to build it was created by a Spanish energy company, Solucar. The tower project is called PS10 and it uses 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats. Each of the mirrors has a surface measuring 1,290 square feet that concentrates the Suns rays to the top of a 377 foot high tower where a solar receiver and a steam turbine are located. The turbine drives a generator, producing electricity.

PS10 is the first of a set of solar electric power generation plants to be constructed in the same area that will total more than 300 MW by 2013. Power generation will be accomplished using a variety of technologies.

The first two power plants to be brought into operation at Sanlucar la Mayor are the PS10, the worlds first tower technology solar thermoelectric power plant constructed for commercial operation, and Sevilla PV, the largest low concentration system photovoltaic plant in Europe.

One of the worlds largest solar energy plants, covering the hills of a valley dotted with olive groves in southern Portugal, started delivering electricity to about 8,000 homes on Wednesday. The solar panels, which are raised around 2 meters off the ground, cover an area of 60 hectares (150 acres) and produce 11 megawatts of electricity in one of Europes sunniest spots Portugals poor agricultural Alentejo region. GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of General Electric, financed and purchased the project in an approximately US $75 million transaction last year. PowerLight, now a subsidiary of SunPower, designed, deployed, operates and maintains the plant. The plant uses PowerLights PowerTracker system that follows the suns daily path across the sky to generate more electricity than conventional fixed-mounted systems. Via: Reuters and Inside Green Tech

SERPA, Portugal (Reuters) - One of the world's largest solar energy plants, covering the hills of a valley dotted with olive groves in southern Portugal, started delivering electricity to about 8,000 homes on Wednesday.The solar panels, which are raised around 2 meters off the ground, cover an area of 60 hectares (150 acres) and produce 11 megawatts of electricity in one of Europe's sunniest spots -- Portugal's poor agricultural Alentejo region.Kevin Walsh, managing director for Renewable Energy GE, which built the project, said the plant was expected to have the highest capacity of any solar energy project in the world but a plant in Germany had overtaken it."But as far as we know -- thanks to great Portuguese sunshine and high technology -- this plant right here in Serpa is expected to produce the most power -- more than 20 gigawatt-hours per hour," Walsh said.The plant, which has 52,000 photovoltaic modules, is near the town of Serpa, 125 miles southeast of Lisbon.The scheme fits into Portugal's plans of reducing its reliance on imported energy and cutting output of greenhouse gasses that feed global warming.Portugal's emissions have surged about 37 percent since 1990, one of the highest increases in the world.By bringing modern technology to one of western Europe's poorest regions, the $75-million plant is expected to bring alternative development to the Alentejo.There are also plans to build a solar power plant in the neighboring town of Moura.

In Madrid, Spain they are currently building a huge structure called an Air Tree or Eco Boulevard de Vallecas. The Tree was created by Urban Ecosystem to be a social center, and to improve the surrounding environment. The structure is also completely self-sufficient, generating all its own power with solar cells. Any surplus energy is sold to the electrical grid. It also produces oxygen using its arrays of plants and trees, hence the tree appellation. This is a great innovation the streets of Europe could soon be lit by "solar trees". These self-contained streetlights could save cities energy and money too. Unlike regular streetlights, they do not require costly underground wiring to install, and they are immune to blackouts. Designed by Ross Lovegrove, the lights have 10 solar panels arrayed at the top of tree-like branches, which charge built-in batteries. The batteries then power LEDs for illumination. Compared to conventional streetlights, they emit much less light pollution, because LEDs generate a very directed light. The trees also incorporate light detectors! So the lights automatically turn on sunset and off at sunrise.

The solar trees went on display for four weeks in October on a busy street the Ringstrasse in Vienna, Austria. They were able to provide enough light during the night-time even when the sun did not show for as much as four days in a row. The director of the program, Christina Werner said. "Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe.

Putting solar powered LED light systems on trees would cut down on the carbon emissions and also slash the bills of local authorities, she said.Street lighting consumed 10 percent of all the electricity used in Europe in 2006 or 2,000 billion KWh, and resulted in carbon emissions of 2,900 million ton.The use of more energy-efficient lighting in the Austrian city of Graz, with a population of almost 300,000 saved the city 524,000 KWh of electricity and 67,200 euros [US $96,800] in 2005.

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