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Actually, in a high rise {btw you suburb folk are cute calling an 8story building a highrise, because most in any urban area [of course not the 14th best city in the world (eye roll)] would typify this as a midrise} the concrete construction, extensive shading cause by the ratio of roof space to side space, and use of LEED sun shades, roof designs, and structural glass insulates temperature far greater than the owens corning could ever imagine.

High rise structures faired FAR greater in this outage. Add on top of the better insulation in high rises the fact that most true high rises now and days once built incorporate redevelopment of the electric grid to get powerlines below ground through market capitalism (400 new connections provided within 1 acre of space makes people at power companies lets say... happy) and therefore retained power, as mine did except for a brief moment when the grid had to find a correction for many transformers blowing at the same time.

I wish I had the software link on this computer that can show you the efficiency of high rises to retain colder temperatures and warmer temperatures better. I think the company is called ESolutions or something along those lines but it is an energy efficiency calculation program that is used for LEED design confirmation.

Also ditto to a lot of what has been said, when the power went out, youd rather be able to rely on man power, than vehicle power as was seen by the ridiculous gouging and lines that occurred at gas stations that were in operation. When I needed food, I walked 400' to the next door grocery store, which was also operating as usual because it was built within a high rise. Also, its really difficult for your car to get crushed by a tree when it is parked in a 4 story below ground garage. Also it is really really difficult for a 19 story building to have any damage incurred from a little wind.

This storm has reaffirmed my love of living in a condo and NOT in a house which costs the same. Sorry for the preachiness, but you asked for it.

by Tysons Engineer on Jul 8, 2012 3:11 pm • link • report