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The taller the building, the harder it is to deliver Paris Proof. | Credit: Adobe Stock
Building Paris Proof is already a challenge, but with high-rise buildings it is even more so. So how do we ensure that high-rise projects in the future also meet the agreements of the Paris Climate Agreement?
New buildings in
CO2-neutral new construction
The Paris Climate Agreement contains all kinds of detailed guidelines. These set out exactly what different buildings must meet in order to comply with the agreement. For existing buildings, for example, Paris Proof means thoroughly improving energy performance.
With new construction projects, it's a bit trickier because the requirements are a lot stricter. New buildings must soon no longer contribute to climate change in any way. In other words, they must be truly energy neutral (WENG). This is a challenge, but clients are increasingly asking for it. "In low-rise projects we are already getting that done. But many
What does Paris Proof building mean?
A building is Paris Proof if its operational and embodied emissions meet the guidelines of the Paris Climate Agreement. The operational part is about the emissions a building emits during its lifetime. From building-related energy use, such as heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, to use-related energy use, such as laptops and coffee makers. Embodied emissions are in the materials the building is made of.
The problem of high-rise buildings
What makes it so difficult to go to height with Paris Proof? And how do you get it done anyway?
"So a roof full of solar panels is far from sufficient to cover the energy consumption of, say, an office tower," he continued. "You therefore need other and more extreme measures to arrive at Paris Proof."
The key role of the architect
A Paris Proof high-rise project therefore begins at the drawing board. "Certain choices have to be made already at the first design sketches, otherwise Paris Proof building becomes a difficult story right away," says Goossens. In particular, an efficient building design is an absolute must. The prime example is a cube-shaped building. This is because a cube-shaped building has much less wall surface area (read: the walls, windows and roof of the building), from which energy can "leak" in the form of heat and cooling. For a similar building but with an L- or U-shape, the facade area rises sharply, allowing more energy to "escape," and thus the building's total energy use is much higher.
"For a building that has to meet BENG standards, we can correct that difference in energy loss with installation solutions," says Goossens. "But for a Paris Proof building, that's not an option. Then the building must have an efficient and compact form, otherwise it simply won't work."
Solar panels on the facade
But even with an efficient building form, all kinds of measures must still be taken to achieve Paris Proof. Funnily enough, better insulation is not one of them. "The insulation of new buildings, complete with solar control HR+++ glazing, is already very good these days, there is little room for improvement there," Goossens explains. "Improving insulation further might give you a percent improvement over BENG."
So what does make an impact? For starters, as many solar panels as possible on the east, west and south facades are essential. But that is easier said than done, says Goossens: "First of all, solar panels on the facade currently still have quite a price tag. So if a client is primarily looking for the cheapest possible building, it is quickly no longer an option." In addition, the available facade area is often limited. Here again, the architect plays an important role, Goossens argues. After all, the smaller the window area, the more room there is for solar panels.
Glass boxes are a thing of the past
Curious about all the measures
It can be done, but...
But if everyone is on the same page, it is possible. And that is a good thing, concludes Goossens: "Ultimately, the entire built environment must meet the guidelines of the Paris Climate Agreement. So high-rise buildings must also comply."
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