Editing Skyscraper (section)

===Embodied energy===

The [[embodied energy]] associated with the construction of skyscrapers varies based on the materials used. Embodied energy is quantified per unit of material. Skyscrapers inherently have higher embodied energy than low-rise buildings due to the increase in material used as more floors are built. Figures 2 and 3{{where|date=January 2025}} compare the total embodied energy of different floor types and the unit embodied energy per floor type for buildings with between 20 and 70 stories. For all floor types except for steel-concrete floors, it was found that after 60 stories, there was a decrease in unit embodied energy but when considering all floors, there was exponential growth due to a double dependence on height. The first of which is the relationship between an increase in height leading to an increase in the quantity of materials used, and the second being the increase in height leading to an increase in size of elements to increase the structural capacity of the building. A careful choice in building materials can likely reduce the embodied energy without reducing the number of floors constructed within the bounds presented.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Foraboschi|first1=Paolo|last2=Mercanzin|first2=Mattia|last3=Trabucco|first3=Dario|date=January 2014|title=Sustainable structural design of tall buildings based on embodied energy|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.09.003|journal=Energy and Buildings|volume=68|pages=254–269|doi=10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.09.003|bibcode=2014EneBu..68..254F |issn=0378-7788|url-access=subscription}}</ref>