World's Most Eco-Friendly Buildings
Northern Arizona University, USA
One of the three greenest buildings, NAU earns its rep by incorporating state-of-the-art technology and design principles. Recycled materials cover about 20 percent of the building's supplies. A "green" roof helps in regulating the temperature of the entire structure and about 75 percent of the lighting is natural. Water is reused throughout NAU to reduce wastage.
The Change Initiative, Dubai
Popular as the world's most sustainable building, TCI is a spotlight stealer in modern Dubai. Scoring a whooping 107 out of 110 in the LEED Platinum Certification test, one of TCI's highlights is the membrane filtration system used for water-purification. 120 solar panels on the rooftop generates 15 percent of the total electricity required.
The Pixel, Australia
The first carbon-neutral building in Australia, The Pixel is designed to for making maximum use of natural light through their sun shade system. Vacuum toilet technology and an anaerobic digester along with a green rooftop are the features of this building. Black waste from kitchens and toilets are processed to produce methane which powers the water heaters. Not to mention the solar and photovoltaic panels and wind turbines which allows The Pixel to produce its own energy.
Shanghai Tower, China
Also well-known as the second tallest building in the world, Shanghai Tower gets a place in this list with a reduction in water consumption and energy usage by 40 and 21 percent respectively. Using wind turbines and a gas cogeneration system it produces about 54,000 kWh energy per year. The carbon footprint of the building down to 34,000 metric tons a day because of the design methodology and new technology used.
The Edge, Netherlands
What's the best thing about The Edge? It produces more energy than it uses! Solar panels, led panels and water propulsion loop sums down to a very eco-friendly structure. The Edge also boasts a unique temperature regulation system. Adding to that, it's considered to be a smart building which can track individuals moving within.