Building smarter isn't just about adding tech – it's about designing structures that need less energy from the start.
Rising in Beijing’s Central Business District, the Z6 tower is already making its mark – not for what it has, but for what it doesn’t use: 47% less energy than similar buildings. Set to become China’s first 'net zero' high-rise, the 39-story office complex is designed with energy sobriety at its core – and is fast becoming a blueprint for a new generation of sustainable buildings.
What is energy sobriety? More than energy efficiency, it’s the radical idea that the most sustainable energy is the energy you never need to use in the first place. When it comes to buildings, this all starts with thoughtful design. Instead of asking "How can we power this building more cleanly?" architects ask the more fundamental question: "How can we design this building to need less power altogether?"
The most effective energy-sober buildings follow three key principles: they prioritize passive design – which means maximizing natural light, ventilation, and insulation to reduce energy needs – use low-carbon materials, and integrate smart technologies to minimize energy consumption.
Energy sobriety isn’t about returning to the past or rejecting technology – it’s about using architectural wisdom alongside modern innovations to maximize efficiency.
Energy sobriety starts with the fundamentals. Environmental factors like climate, wind patterns, and sun exposure shape a building’s orientation, which in turn influences its height and overall design.
Rather than attempting to counteract these natural forces, architects are starting to design buildings that work in harmony with them. They’re leveraging natural ventilation, incorporating external terraces for shading, and opting for high-ceiling spaces that bring in daylight and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
Think about it: a building that uses natural ventilation will rely less on air-conditioning during the summer, and a room that’s flooded with natural light until the sun goes down has less need for artificial illumination. By integrating these passive design strategies, buildings actively minimize energy demand.
When energy is needed, modern technology steps in. Advanced materials – like super-insulating panels and smart glass panels that adjusts their opacity based on the weather – help keep buildings comfortable. Solar panels with battery storage, underground heat exchange – systems that transfer heat between the ground and the building to regulate temperature naturally – and heat recovery from waste energy help generate and save power.
Why does energy sobriety matter? Cities generate about 70% of global carbon emissions, with buildings alone responsible for 40%. As cities modernize their infrastructure to tackle climate change, low-energy building retrofits – featuring better insulation, smart management systems, efficient Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning systems – aren’t just optional. They’re essential.
Smart technologies also play a big role, from AI systems that adjust lighting and heating based on how the building is used, to sensors that control ventilation and elevators that return energy to the grid when they brake. Together, these solutions save energy and reduce environmental impact.
Energy sobriety works on multiple levels, from initial design to daily operation, with each tier offering different degrees of impact:
First Tier: Reducing energy demand through passive design elements – think natural ventilation, thermal mass, and strategic daylighting. This foundation creates a fundamental reduction in energy needs.
Second Tier: Addressing remaining energy requirements by meeting them as efficiently as possible – using high-performance mechanical systems, smart controls, and energy recovery technologies that maximize output while minimizing input. Elevator regenerative drives that feed energy back to the building and grid exemplify this approach.
Third Tier: Generating renewable energy on-site through solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems integrated into the building itself.
Fourth Tier: For buildings targeting net-zero status, offsetting any remaining energy consumption through off-site renewable energy purchases or investments.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that energy sobriety equates to sacrificing comfort and design – but these low-energy, architecturally iconic buildings are here to prove otherwise:
The Z6 tower exemplifies the balance between efficiency and experience. This Foster + Partners-designed building achieves a 47% reduction in operational carbon emissions compared to the national baseline, while offering a premium experience to its tenants. A nature-inspired design approach, smart building controls, on-site renewables, and cutting-edge mobility solutions make this possible. The 24 Schindler 7000 elevators and four Schindler 9300 escalators save energy through feedback inverters, while Schindler PORT transit management optimizes movement throughout the tower, further reducing its carbon footprint.
The 105 Victoria Street mixed-use development is designed to achieve net-zero status. Set to be exclusively powered by renewable electricity and employing a zero-fossil fuel strategy during its construction phase, the development will use cutting-edge technologies – including our Schindler PORT technology – and ultra-low-carbon building practices to minimize energy consumption and carbon footprint. The building's 3.5-meter-high ceilings create an abundance of natural light, while the sustainable façade includes windows that can actually be opened – allowing fresh air to circulate naturally and reducing the need for mechanical air conditioning when the weather’s right. 105 Victoria Street is designed to meet BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum certifications upon completion.
In Toronto, Scotia Plaza stands as one of Canada's most iconic high-rises and its largest zero-carbon certified building. At 275 meters tall with a 40-meter-high atrium, the slim, red-granite tower optimizes power usage through modernized vertical transportation. The modernization of 22 Schindler 7000 double-deck elevators, coordinated by Schindler PORT technology, helped achieve this optimization and earned it Elevator World’s 'Project of the Year' award in 2022.
Energy sobriety isn’t just about using less – it’s about making the most of what we have: nature, creativity, and technology. It means designing buildings that require less energy from the start, and ensuring that every unit of energy is optimized.
As the next wave of architecture pushes boundaries, we’re seeing buildings that go beyond minimizing their impact to generating more energy than they consume. This is the kind of architecture we need to lead us forward.