Question

Explain some of the environmental advantages and disadvantages of upward urban growth.
in paragraph

Answer 1

Upward urban growth—building taller and denser rather than spreading outward—has notable environmental advantages and disadvantages: on the plus side it concentrates people and services into a smaller land footprint, which preserves surrounding farmland, forests and habitats, reduces vehicle miles traveled and per‑capita infrastructure costs, and can lower overall energy and emissions through shared systems, shorter commutes and better transit use. On the downside high‑rise construction and maintenance often have large embodied carbon and material impacts (concrete, steel, glazing), require more energy for vertical transport, pumping and HVAC, and can worsen local microclimates by increasing urban heat island effects, creating wind tunnels and casting long shadows that reduce daylight and rooftop solar potential; dense street canyons can also trap pollutants and reduce urban biodiversity and green space if podiums and plazas are not carefully designed.