Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

The most sustainable building in the world

It is called The Crystal, it is located in London and has been built by Siemens.

by 2050 the buildings will be low, the roofs will be long, with sharp edges. And they will have glass walls to take advantage of natural light, solar panels to produce electricity, and sensors that will make interiors more pleasant.

This is how Siemens imagined the future and not only imagined it, but also realized it. This is the Kristal building built by the German company in London.

It is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world and aims to respond to the future challenges of cities. The future of cities, this is the theme of the exhibition that is exhibited in the interior of the building. In fact, for the first time in human history, more people live in cities than outside them. in 2007 there were 3.5 billion people living in cities, and by 2030 there will be 4.7 billion, or 60 per cent of the world ' s total population.

The increase in urban populations has a significant impact on the environment. A couple of facts: 80% of all CO2 emitted into the atmosphere is generated in cities, and buildings use 40% of all energy.

But why is this building one of the most sustainable in the world?

Low energy ventilation system: Thanks to its fans on the roof and in the front of the house, the building has a natural ventilation. The system is designed to get the heat out on the hottest days, while on the coldest days it does the opposite.
Intelligent energy system: Much of the electrical energy required by the building is obtained through photovoltaic panels, whose management is carried out by a rigorous intelligent system: it controls each kilogram that is generated.
Collection of rainwater and recycling of dirty water: The rain is treated and transformed into drinking water. All the dirty water in the building is recycled and reused, such as in the toilets and the irrigation system.
The heating system: A heat pump located on the floor is used to heat the building. On cold days the heat is extracted from the ground, and on days when the thermometers rise a lot, the heat of the building is sent to the ground. At the same time, the roof and walls are well insulated and designed to take advantage of the warmth of the sun.
A sustainable environment: The plants and trees in the glass house have been specifically chosen so that they use as little water as possible. The house has a common garden where you can grow vegetables.