Green Technology: 7 Eco-Friendly Buildings that Look Amazing

The construction of green buildings is an integral part of environmental policies. Improvement of the environmental situation is impossible only by recycling and a green lifestyle, since architecture also significantly affects the environment.

Therefore, architects from around the world are trying to create buildings that are not only functional, but also energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Let's look at some good examples of such constructions. They are located in different parts of our planet, providing a good way to admire the modern achievements of architectural and engineering developments. It would be a great idea to book a cheap 7 seater car rental and explore a few of them on a family trip. The car will allow you to choose the best angle to enjoy the incredible view of grandiose constructions. On Rental24H.com you will find a large selection of cheap 7 seater car rental vehicles that are available anywhere in the world. This means that your journey to the following environmentally friendly places will be easy and memorable. Well, let's get started!

International Olympic Committee Headquarters - Lausanne, Switzerland

The opening of a new building in 2019 was dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the founding of the organization. It took $145 million to build. The building received a high environmental status due to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and the minimization of electricity and water consumption. 

95% of the materials of the former headquarters of the committee were used in the construction of a new building. The windows are designed to let in the maximum amount of light inside the rooms, rainwater is used for the toilets, and solar panels are installed on the roof.

Bosco Verticale residential towers - Milan, Italy

A residential complex of two high-rise buildings was erected in 2014. In order to improve the air condition in the Porta Nuova area, architects designed terraces with trees, shrubs and flowers on each floor. In total, about 900 trees and 5 thousand bushes were planted there. 

Climbers care for plants, for which special cranes are installed on the roofs of houses. In 2015, the building received the status of the best skyscraper on the planet according to the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. 

Acros Cultural Center - Fukuoka, Japan

Due to lack of land in a large port city, only a small square was allocated for the construction of a cultural center. In order not to destroy this site, the Argentinean architect Emilio Ambasz designed a building with a green wall. The cascade garden, in which more than 35 thousand trees are planted, helps the center to reduce energy consumption, since the temperature inside is stable. Special roof tanks collect rainwater for irrigation.

BMW Museum – Munich, Germany

BMW has just begun to move into the market for environmentally friendly cars, while their center in Munich has long been using alternative energy sources. Thanks to the steel panels on the roof and the external facades, this building exploits the surface to convert solar energy into electrical energy. 

The building has an unusual double cone or funnel design. The funnel consists of a large number of glass blocks held back by iron elements. The building looks very impressive and this proves again that green architecture can be good not only for the environment, but also for aesthetic perception.

Beijing National Aquatic Complex - Beijing, China

Being unofficially called the "Water Cube", the building was erected for the 2008 Olympics. The facade and the roof of the sports facility are lined with special plastic blocks, which not only transmit daylight during the day, but also accumulate solar energy. It’s used to heat pool water. In 2010, the swimming complex was converted into a water park: water rides, slides, wave pools and spas were built inside.

Bank of America - New York, USA

The skyscraper was built in 2009. It became the first LEED Platinum high-rise building in the United States with the highest environmental status. During its construction, special concrete with slag from the metallurgical industry was used. In the future, this building material can also be disposed of without harm to the environment. 

Window panes of the building save energy due to thermal insulation, which prevents the premises from overheating in the summer and cooling in the winter. Special air filtration systems clean it of harmful impurities for supplying both inward and outward. At night, the cooling system is stocked with ice, which is used to lower the temperature in the building during peak hours.

Deutsche Bank Towers - Frankfurt, Germany

The complex of two buildings, erected in the 1980s, was completely modernized in 2011 to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Water for domestic needs and bathrooms here is heated by solar panels, which are installed at the base of the building. 

The lighting system is designed for different weather conditions, taking into consideration the time of day and season. Special sensors dim the lighting in a room where there’s no movement for 15 minutes.