Skyscraper that Uses 50% Less Energy than Traditional Building

30 St Mary Axe, an ecological skyscraper tower in London comprise advanced environmental strategy with its aerodynamic shape which maximizes amount of natural lighting and ventilation in the building. The building uses 50% less energy than traditional office building.  The fresh air naturally ventilates interiors of office and minimizes artificial cooling and heating. The building consisting of forty storeys is tapered at the base and the crown to improve connections with surrounding streets and provides maximum amount of sunlight to the mall. Half of the towers’ at ground level will be used as shops and a separate new building will be a restaurant serving an outdoor cafe.  

The exterior cladding of the building consists of 5,500 flats having triangular and diamond shape glass panels.  The office areas include a double-glazed outer layer and a single-glazed inner screen that offers a central ventilation cavity which contains solar-control blinds. The ventilation cavities serve as buffer zones and reduce the requirement for additional heating and cooling. They are ventilated by exhaust air, drawn from offices. Thus 30 St Mary is a crucial building that is ecologically, technologically, architecturally, socially good.

More about this building at architect's website.