Sears Tower going green

June 27, 5:22 PMAtlanta Leisure Travel ExaminerTodd DeFeo

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An American icon is going green.

Making Chicago’s Sears Tower green will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and conserve energy. The greening of the building will save an estimated 150,000 barrels of oil annually. As part of the green initiative, the building’s owners will push a number of projects, including upgrading mechanical systems, conserving water and testing renewable energy on site.

“Sears Tower, an iconic structure that defines the city’s skyline, will undergo a groundbreaking transformation that creates economic growth with positive impact on our environment, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations,” John Huston of American Landmark Properties, representing the partnership that owns Sears Tower, said in a news release.

The 108-story Sears Tower was completed in 1973 and was the tallest building in the world, passing New York’s World Trade Center. The tower is today the tallest building in the United States and the fourth tallest in the world.

“Buildings are the world’s largest contributor to carbon emissions, and therefore the biggest opportunity to address climate change is to retrofit existing structures,” Adrian Smith, partner, AS+GG, said in a news release. “Our goal in the Sears Tower greening project is to create a holistic approach that integrates high-performance building technologies and design strategies for maximum energy efficiency. In the process, we hope to set a benchmark for how high-rise buildings throughout the world can limit their impact on the environment.”