What are the effects of skyscrapers on environment?

Question

do they really harm are enviroment?

Answer 1

Not really, but I guess they could harm bird life and if they are built where trees/natural land used to be, then maybe.  But i feel they hurt as much as a normal building.

Answer 2

It slows the earths rotation by interfering with the air currents and causes global warming

Answer 3

um...they block airflow....?

theoretically they would be less damaging......for the simple fact they house thousands of people while taking up the same ground space as a typically less populated building.

To fit the same thousands of people in a two-storey building would entail taking up a lot more land....

Answer 4

that is a really tough question. I'd imagine that, as a unit, they produce more pollution than the average house. They also provide nest site for birds. I think this question would best be answered by an architect with experience in environmental engineering (the younger generation is required to take those classes). I tried to google this but had limited results.

Also, building UP instead of out might conserve more space for parks and green spaces, so that would be a benefit.

I suspect like everything else in real life, there would be benefits and consequences, and they must be weighed.

Good luck with your research, and please update us on what you find out!!

Answer 5

Every man made structure harms the environment in someway or other.  All the materials that go into the building, the land it takes up and pollution its occupants produce.  This is true of all structures.  Some unique effects skyscrapers can have on the environment would be like the blocking of natural breezes.  The blocking of sunlight that would otherwise hit the ground.  The creation of unnatural updrafts. The trapping of air pollution near the street.  Also, all buildings fail and are replaced eventually.  Large size skyscrapers would produce a lot of waste when demolished.  But as compared to other types of buildings skyscrapers are actually very efficient.  They take up little ground space as compared to their total sq footage of living space.  They are generally more energy efficient compared to individual buildings.  Over all the environment would be better off if we built up with tall buildings and left more natural open space instead of paving miles and miles of land to sprawl out with individual buildings.

Answer 6

I really don't see skyscapers being any sort of environmental concern. They're just really tall and look great in skylines. :)

Answer 7

Naw Look at Dubai, You really get a feel you are in the third millinium when you go there. Unplanned cities like New York's or Bejing's buildings though do as there is no air circulation and Smog becomes a real issue

Answer 8

i don't think so.  take a big condo building for example and compare it to the suburbs.  living in the condo will help save gas because chances are, you live real close to everything.  you'll save water because you don't have a yard.  you'll save electricity because you'll probably have a smaller living space.  also, usually condo buildings have little perks like recycling or a community garden or something.