BUILD UNDERGROUND AND CONSERVE ENERGY: FACT OR FICTION?

The facts available from existing usage of underground space for industrial/commercial facilities indicate that energy savings of 50 percent are commonly achieved, and savings of up to 90 percent have been achieved in some instances, compared to equivalent aboveground facilities. These figures deal only with direct energy savings, whereas a complete picture must include life-cycle energy requirements including construction, maintenance and transportation. Consideration of the full picture may alter its perspective in specific cases, although preliminary indications are that the underground picture does look attractive when life-cycle analysis is undertaken.