With their sleek design and awe-inspiring height, skyscrapers have been a fixture of our cities for well over a century. And today, these modern towers of Babel are both architecturally stunning and environmentally conscious.

Here, Sustainable Energy takes a look at the winner and finalists from the 2014 Emporis Skyscraper Awards, which were announced towards the end of last year.

Arguably the world's foremost accolade for tall buildings and structures, the award focuses on "aesthetic and functional design." To be eligible, buildings must be at least 100 meters tall.

Standing 175 meters tall, Kuala Lumpur's KKR Tower is primarily used for offices.

According to the building's designers, GDP Architects, rainwater is harvested while a "green terraced accessible roof" offers sweeping views of the city and its surroundings, with a canopy providing shade from the sun.

The tallest residential tower in Brisbane, Infinity contains 549 high-end apartments.

Sustainable features include energy efficient appliances and lighting, fixtures and fittings to help maintain water efficiency, and optimized climate control indoors.

A luxurious development in New York City, One57 is home to both residential space and a new hotel operated by Park Hyatt.

The latter says it's committed to slashing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across its hotels by 2020, while cutting water use by 25 percent per guest.

The Soyak Kristal Kule is an asymmetrical structure providing office space. It is the holder of a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED buildings "save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy."

Designed by Foster and Partners, the Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid is 88 storeys and a winner of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's Best Tall Building award for the Middle East and Africa.

According to its architects, the building's smooth and reflective facade has been designed for "minimal maintenance" in what they describe as its "dusty desert environment."

Internal shading within the structure controls both glare and temperature.

Located in the middle of London's bustling financial district, the Leadenhall Building has several sustainable features.

Almost 300 meters have been installed to monitor energy consumption, while external glazing contains vents every seventh storey to enable natural air flow and lessen the need for artificial cooling, which is described by the building's operators as the highest source of energy use in an office.

At 1,776 feet tall, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the U.S. and home to a raft of green and sustainable features.

According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, One WTC's design team have "used the latest methods to maximize efficiency, minimize waste and pollution, conserve water, improve air quality and reduce the impacts of the development."

In the building, 90 percent of occupied spaces use natural light while municipal water consumption has been cut by 30 percent, with 100 percent of storm water recycled.

Located in La Defense, Paris' business district, the exostructure of Tour D2 has enabled a 30 percent saving on the materials used for construction, according to its creators.

Italian for vertical forest, Milan's Bosco Verticale was designed by Boeri Studio and is described as "metropolitan reforestation that contributes to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity."

The development's two towers are covered in greenery – hundreds of trees and thousands of plants.

According to the website Stefano Boeri Architetti this helps to create a "microclimate, produces humidity, absorbs CO2 and dust particles and produces oxygen."

Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Wangjing SOHO is situated in the north-east of Beijing.

A mixed-use development of three towers, the striking development has underground storage for more than 8,000 bicycles, while windows on each floor can be opened to allow natural air flow and ventilation.

Other green features include energy monitoring systems, a grey water reuse system and "high efficiency pumps, fans, boilers and chillers."