高楼大厦与环境(Skyscrapers and Environment)

inthelate1960s,manypeopleinnorthamericaturnedtheirattentiontoenvironmentalproblems,andnewsteel-and-glassskyscraperswerewidelycriticized.ecologistspointedoutthataclusteroftallbuildingsinacityoftenoverburdenspublictransportationandparkinglotcapacities.

skyscrapersarealsolavishconsumers,andwasters,ofelectricpower.inonerecentyear,theadditionof17millionsquarefeetofskyscraperofficespaceinnewyorkcityraisedthepeakdailydemandforelectricityby120,000kilowatts-enoughtosupplytheentirecityofalbany,newyork,foraday.

glass-walledskyscraperscanbeespeciallywasteful.theheatloss(orgain)throughawallofhalf-inchplateglassismorethantentimesthatthroughatypicalmasonrywallfilledwithinsulationboard.tolessenthestrainonheatingandair-conditioningequipment,buildersofskyscrapershavebeguntousedouble-glazedpanelsofglass,andreflectiveglassescoatedwithsilverorgoldmirrorfilmsthatreduceglareaswellasheatgain.however,mirror-walledskyscrapersraisethetemperatureofthesurroundingairandaffectneighboringbuildings.

skyscrapersputaseverestrainonacityssanitationfacilities,too.iffullyoccupied,thetwoworldtradecentertowersinnewyorkcitywouldalonegenerate2.25milliongallonsofrawsewageeachyear-asmuchasacitythesizeofstanford,connecticut,whichhasapopulationofmorethan109,000.