KTH Architecture and the Built Environment Green Skyscraper: Integration of Plants into Skyscrapers Shahrina Afrin Degree Project SoM EX 2009-35 Stockholm 2009 KTH, Department of Urban Planning and Environment Division of Urban and Regional Studies Kungliga Tekniska högskolan www.infra.kth.se/sb/sp MASTER’S THESIS ON GREEN SKYSCRAPER: INTEGRATION OF PLANTS INTO SKYSCRAPERS Green Skyscraper: Integration of Plants into Skyscrapers Master’s Thesis By Shahrina Afrin Approved as to style and content by: Peter Brokking Researcher and Head teacher, Urban Infrastructure Director of Studies Dept of Urban Planning and Environment Supervisor of the Thesis Committee Dr. Tigran Haas Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and Design Director of Urban Planning & Design Program Examiner of the Thesis Committee Major Subject Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure (EESI) September, 2009 KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN ii MASTER’S THESIS ON GREEN SKYSCRAPER: INTEGRATION OF PLANTS INTO SKYSCRAPERS ABSTRACT This research has been emphasized on integration of plants in skyscraper design which play a vital role for the energy conservation by the building as well as improving the living quality into these vertical cities. Throughout the thesis work it has been studied to establish the necessity of planting to incorporate into skyscrapers, for the well being of our economy, society and the environment. The rules and regulations in various countries have been studied. The provisions of integrate plants into skyscraper includes the four possible options like, Green roof, Green wall, Biofilter and Indoor potting plants which can be incorporate into the design. Benefits and impacts have been studied in terms of energy savings and indoor environmental qualities. For example green roof can reduce 50% of cooling load; green wall can reduce 10 degree centigrade indoor temperature, where as biofilter and indoor plants purifies indoor air by 50% to 60%. Available technologies for green installments, like complete, modular and vegetated blanket system for green roof; modular, free- standing and cable-rope system for green wall; active and passive system for biofilter and different types of indoor plants have been addressed here along with their examples and case studies. At the end the recommendation shows that integration of plants into skyscrapers can change the micro and macro environment, climate, can restore the ecology and benefited to the economy. Results are the noticeable decrease in urban heat island, rapid reduction of energy consumption and cost, refreshing air for a healthy environment. Key words: Green Skyscraper, integration of plants, green roof, green wall, biofilter, ecological impact, climate, energy savings, indoor air quality, aesthetics, design technology. KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN iii MASTER’S THESIS ON GREEN SKYSCRAPER: INTEGRATION OF PLANTS INTO SKYSCRAPERS DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my family, specially my Mom and Dad. Without their selfless effort and endless support I would not be where I am right now. Special gratefulness to my Husband for his endurance and continuous inspiration which helped me finish my thesis work abroad. I would also like to dedicate this work to Mohua Aunty, Topon Uncle, Anindo, Anonna and Rosie Aunty, who assisted me a great deal throughout my entire master’s program in Sweden. My gratitude also goes towards my Grandma, my Mother and Father-in-law, my sisters and brother-in-laws for their incessant encouragement in completing this Master’s Degree. KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN iv MASTER’S THESIS ON GREEN SKYSCRAPER: INTEGRATION OF PLANTS INTO SKYSCRAPERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My first and foremost gratitude goes to my supervisor Peter Brokking, researcher and head teacher, Urban Infrastructure, Director of Studies, Dept of Urban Planning and Environment, KTH- Royal Institute of Technology, whose help, suggestions and constructive criticism brought me up to this far. I am grateful to him for letting me work on my thesis work overseas and deliver his patience and continuous support throughout the period of this research. I am also grateful to my examiner Dr. Tigran Haas, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and Design, KTH for his helpful suggestions and criticisms. I would like to thank Mr. Joakim Stureson for his assistance and technical support in the online presentation. Thanks would also go to Ms. Sofia Norlander, Malin Hansen, and Caisa Naeselius, for their help in the administrative works on campus and online. Gratitude to my friends in KTH, Tawhid Amanullah, Atiq Uz Zaman, Himanshu Sanghani and Jim Loewenstein, for their support and suggestions in numerous ways and other classmates from EESI who have always been there to make Sweden a wonderful experience. KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN v MASTER’S THESIS ON GREEN SKYSCRAPER: INTEGRATION OF PLANTS INTO SKYSCRAPERS Table of Contents ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................................iii DEDICATION................................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................................. v Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. xiv List of Tables .................................................................................................................................xviii 1 Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Green Skyscraper and its features .............................................................. 2 1.3 Skyscraper...................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Differences between a Skyscraper and Green Skyscraper ....................... 4 1.5 Problem Identification .................................................................................. 4 1.6 Specific Aim ................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Objectives ....................................................................................................... 5 1.8 Rational of the Thesis .................................................................................... 5 1.9 Methodology .................................................................................................. 8 2 Chapter 2: Green Building Rating System ........................................ 9 2.1 LEED points available for green roof ....................................................... 11 KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN vi MASTER’S THESIS ON GREEN SKYSCRAPER: INTEGRATION OF PLANTS INTO SKYSCRAPERS 2.2 LEED points available for green walls ...................................................... 12 2.3 LEED points available for BioFilter ......................................................... 12 2.4 FLL Guideline for Performance rating systems ...................................... 13 2.5 Karlsruhe Performance Rating System .................................................... 14 2.6 Green building rating system in Asia ........................................................ 15 2.7 Fields need to be focused ............................................................................ 16 3 Chapter 3: Provisions of incorporating plants ................................ 18 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 18 3.2 Green Roofs: Green outer .......................................................................... 18 3.2.1 Examples of Green Roofing .............................................................................................. 19 3.3 Green Wall: Green outer ............................................................................ 20 3.3.1 Green Wall Categories....................................................................................................... 20 3.3.2 Examples of Green Wall .................................................................................................... 21 3.4 Biofilters: Green Inner ............................................................................... 22 3.4.1 Examples of Biofilter ......................................................................................................... 22 3.5 Indoor Plants: Green Inner ........................................................................ 23 3.5.1 Examples of Indoor Plants ................................................................................................. 24 4 Chapter 4: Benefits of Incorporating Green ................................... 25 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 25 4.2 Potential green roof benefits ...................................................................... 25 KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HÖGSKOLAN vii MASTER’S THESIS ON GREEN SKYSCRAPER: INTEGRATION OF PLANTS INTO SKYSCRAPERS 4.2.1 Energy budgets of individual buildings ............................................................................