Pertamina Energy Tower. Image © Smilodon CG
For new buildings, though, energy efficiency is becoming an important factor. The 99-storey Pertamina Energy Tower being built in Jakarta, for example, will be so thrifty that wind, solar and geothermal energy can meet all its power needs. “Energy-plus” buildings can even harvest energy from their environment and inhabitants and export it. Like cars, new buildings are typically much more efficient than the ones they replace.