OR-16-C008 -- Do Taller Buildings Require More Energy?

Do tall buildings consume more energy per unit area than typical buildings? According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, more buildings exceeding 200 m (656 ft) in height were constructed in 2014 than ever before. Is this increase in height accompanied by an increased energy usage intensity (EUI)? This paper reviews sustainability reports from several major U.S. cities to explore these questions using measured EUIs around the country. Energy benchmarking data from New York and Philadelphia is also used to approach the question from a more detailed empirical perspective. Although "large" and "tall" buildings are sometimes used interchangeably, this paper demonstrates the important difference between them, particularly when discussing energy consumption trends.