Our nation’s tallest building is going green. Chicago’s Sears Tower will soon undergo a $350 million makeover. It should come as no surprise that the building, whose completion in 1973, stood at the forefront of architecture and engineering, would lead the charge in the greening of modern skyscrapers. Project officials hope to hit enough benchmarks to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Buildings are the world’s largest producers of carbon emissions. Making them more energy efficient could have significant impact on the environment. The Huffington Post reports that the five-year project would reduce the tower’s electricity use by 80 percent and save 24 million gallons of water a year.
The project will include installation of wind turbines to increase electricity efficiency, and 30,000 square feet of roof gardens and solar panels on the 90th-floor roof to heat the building’s water. “This endeavor is incredibly important as a role model for others to follow,” architect Adrian Smith said. “We see this as a groundbreaking opportunity.”
The massive undertaking will also address another issue: unemployment. The renovation is expected to create 3,600 jobs.