Can taller towers mean greener towns?

As Dubai reaches for the sky with the world's tallest ever building we're going to be looking at whether or not skyscrapers can ever be environmentally up to scratch.

ENVIRONMENT

By Eve IRVINE

The design of Dubai’s latest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, was inspired by a desert flower but ecologists say it’s a symbol of unsustainable development. Climbing to over 800 meters in height it maintains the regions reputation fro mind boggling engineering. The Gulf State is also home to the world’s biggest artificial islands and a ski slope in the middle of the desert. Ecologists say however that the extravagance is harming the environment.

The artificial islands, for example, millions of cubic meters of sand were dug out from the depths of the Persian Gulf. Add to that the future residents' water consumption in a country that has little water resources. And yet the United Arab Emirates are said to be among the greediest of countries in this domain - residents use on average 550 litres per person per day.

The Burj Khalifa took the title of tallest building from Taipei 101, but the latter says it’s now aiming to become the highest green skyscraper and is investing almost $2 million for an ecological facelift. Indeed the bid to build sustainable, environmentally friendly towers is occupying the hands of architects across the globe.

In New York, skyscrapers are responsible for two thirds of the cities carbon footprint. While across in Hong Kong, it’s famous high rise skyline is becoming less visible as pollutants get trapped between the buildings leaving the city in an almost constant haze. The lack of blue skies there is leading to serious health problems. A recent survey showed that half a million of the cities residents want to leave because of the bad air.

Mairead Dundas

Presenter

07/05/2012 - ENVIRONMENT

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