Sears Tower today announced plans for a green makeover that aims to
reduce electricity use by up to 80% through a combination of energy
savings and co-generation.
The owners of the tallest building in the western hemisphere said it is
the "most significant sustainable modernization project of an existing
building ever undertaken."
The project will also test green roofts, solar panels and wind turbines for use on the buildings tiered roofs.
The cost of construction for the Sears Tower project is estimated at
$350 million. A number of private and public financing and funding
options are being explored. The majority of the energy savings will be
realized in approximately five years and work will start immediately.
"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," said John Huston of American Landmark Properties,
representing the partnership that owns Sears Tower.
The building, which already meets Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) criteria, will undertake sustainability
initiatives above and beyond those used by the United Stated Green
Building Council to rate a green building.
Modernization strategies, designed by Chicago-based Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), include:
- Efficiency improvements to the building’s exterior
envelope and windows. The tower has 16,000 single-pane windows.
Sustainability plans for the building call for a window replacement and
glazing program. Strategies to achieve a thermal break of the curtain
wall are also being investigated. - Mechanical systems
upgrades in the form of new gas boilers that utilize fuel cell
technologies, which generate electricity, heating and cooling at as
much as 90% efficiency. Mechanical upgrades also will include new
high-efficiency chillers and upgrades to the distribution system. - The
tower’s 104 high speed elevators and 15 escalators that will be
modernized with the latest technology to achieve 40% reduction in their
energy consumption. - Water savings that will be realized
with conservation initiatives through upgrades to restroom fixtures,
condensation recovery systems and water efficient landscaping, which
will reduce water usage by 40% and save 24 million gallons of water
each year. - Lighting that will be upgraded through advanced
lighting control systems and daylight harvesting, an advanced lighting
control system that automatically dims lights in tenant spaces based on
the amount of sunlight entering through the windows. Combined, these
upgrades will save up to 40% of lighting energy consumption.
Wind turbines will be tested to take advantage of the tower’s height
and unique set-back roof areas. Solar hot-water panels will help heat
water for the building. Green roofs that can sustain high-altitude
conditions, and that will be among the tallest in the world, will be
tested to reduce storm water runoff, improve insulation, help mitigate
the urban heat island effect, and provide pleasant vistas for tenants
overlooking the areas.
Adrian Smith, a partner at AS+GG, said "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."
As an important part of the modernization program, Sears Tower’s plazas and retail spaces will also undergo changes.
Owners of the Empire State Building in New York City recently announced a $500 million upgrade that aims to reduce energy usage by 38%.
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