INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Name : Shannon Jayasinghe To : Mr. Phil Harris

Module : 6CN012 ( SUSTAINABILITY )

PEARL RIVER TOWER– “Re-defines Sustainable Development”

Contents

1) Introduction2) What is “Pearl River Tower” ??3) Environment Sustainability4) Economic Sustainability5) Social Sustainability

Introduction In this fast growing modern world , new technology is introduced but most technology is not yet sustainable.

“Pearl River Tower”- has approached to a zero-carbon statues. This is the most Eco friendly sky scraper in the world. Designing innovative products for increased wellbeing is an art and a technology that are aimed at people to make a transformation from an actual state of being to a desired state of being.

Furthermore this presentation shows new innovative and efficient measurements applied, technology used and the combination of the architecture that is good-natured to everyone around.

Pearl River Tower

Pearl River Tower is a 71-storey sky scraper situated in Guangzhou, China is a Zero-carbon building. It’s a office complex. The owner is China National Tobacco Corporation. Construction started 28 September 2006 Completion 2012, Building height is 309.70 m (1,016 ft) , Total floor area is 212,165 m2 (2,283,725 sq ft) . Main contractor Shanghai Construction Group Architect Gordon Gill at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) Developer Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc.

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Environment SustainabilityThis building is designed with the concept of satisfying the natural resources working and learning activities to perform in the building and on the environment as well. “Pearl River Tower” has adopted new and innovative solution to fulfill needs to become sustainable. Wind turbine generators – The designers have integrated Darrieus wind turbines which is more efficient than horizontal axis wind turbines. The shape of the building is designed to get the maximum wind velocity to the turbines and obviously maximum wind power, making it 15 time more effective than a stand alone wind turbine.

Actual Design-Built

Darrieus wind turbines

Environment Sustainability Energy-efficient walls - This new development utilization of external walls is really amazing !! They use natural sunlight as a lighting system and the facing system traps the heat and use it for heating water. The facade system automatically senses the sun and open and close solar panels making the building use a 80% smaller air-conditioning system that a same average size building uses and the electricity produced from the solar panels are used as AC current.

Radiant cooling system- “Pearl River Tower” has the largest radiant cooled air conditioning system in the world. This method uses less initial cost and whole life costing than a the standard cooling system making this system very efficient and less maintenance.

Radiant Cooling

Innovative façade system

Utilization of sun-light

Economic Sustainability

“Pearl River Tower” – is the most energy efficient building on the planet . The extra cost used to make this more sustainable is recoverable within 4.8 years according to Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) , its really amazing for a building, which has a lifespan more than 50 years.This building uses radiant cooling system which uses much less space than the standard air conditioning system making the designers to add 5 more floors increasing the rentable space by 7% .

Social Sustainability

This development project presents its occupant the true state of well-being by using the natural resources and new and innovative technology to its uses . This environment gives the occupant the feeling of open and free.

Sustainability

1) Energy Efficient – Less energy saves money.

2) Eco-Friendly – Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.

3) Long Term Benefits (ex. Less maintenance).

4) Cleaner Environment.

5) Maximum efficient usage of the environment.

6) New Innovation.

1) Mostly High Initial cost.

2) Technology Availability.

3) Convenience – Space.

4) Technology is less efficient(ex. Solar power, wind turbines).

Advantages Disadvantages

Conclusion

Conclusion“Pearl River Tower” – is a model for future sustainable developments. Even though the new innovative technology is use around the world this is the first development which they have applied it to a single structure together. This is a amazing integration between the building and the environment. Protecting and saving the natural resources, energy consumption , and socially satisfying the needs of man makes a building sustainable for long run.

References

Straube, J.F “Air Flow Control in Building Enclosures: More than Just Air Barriers”, Proc. Of 8th Bldg Sci. & Tech. Conf., Toronto, (pp. 282-302).Andy .W, (2011), Natural Ventilation, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, http://www.wbdg.org/resources/naturalventilation.php , Accessed on 10th April 2012.About Design for Wellbeing - http://www.designforwellbeing.org/?page_id=245 (Accessed on 11th December 2011).Valeria .R, (2011), http://vr3qz.wordpress.com/commitment-to-the-enviroment/ Accessed on 10th April 2012.What’s building services, (2007), http://www.cibse.org/pdfs/WHATISBS.pdf, Accessed on 10th April 2012.Adams, S. (1989) Practical Buildability. – London: Butterworths, CIRIA building design report.CIRIA (1983) Buildability: an assessment, CIRIA Special Publications, CIRIA: LondonBuildability Advise, http://www.buildabilityadvice.com/page2.html - Accessed on 10th April 2012.Mike .R, Alison .C , (2004) Industrial and Commercial Buildings.Gavin .T, (year) Managing the Building Process, Second Edition, Elsevier.Sustainability - http://www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainvu/who-we-are/what-is-sustainability/ - Accessed on 10th April 2012.“Pearl River Tower” - http://www.gizmag.com/pearl-river-tower/14696/ , Accessed on 10th April 2012What is Sustainability? , http://www.mecsd.com/sustainable_issues/ , Accessed on 10th April 2012