Willis Tower: 5-Year Green Renovation

Often when we hear “local” we think of small or neighborhood-scale efforts, but there are some large-scale changes going on in downtown Chicago that are pretty incredible. Announced last spring, the Willis [Sears] Tower commenced a 5-year green renovation plan (“Willis” Tower should actually be noted because it is the Willis Group Holdings, Ltd that commenced the green renovation).

Credit to WillisTower.com

Solar panels, wind turbines, and rooftop gardens will be added in addition to updates for every elevator and escalator, reducing their current energy usage by 40%.  Each window will be replaced with thermal prevention windows for better insulation and a new lighting system will sense natural lighting and change artificial lights accordingly.

This $350 million renovation will reduced the structure’s energy consumption by 80% and water usage by 40%, i.e. 24 million gallons of water and 150,000 barrels of oil annually. These changes are estimated to create 3,600 jobs.

It would be nice if there was an update page for the progress but until then we’ll just continue to look at pretty pictures.

Credit to Pondstone Communications Blog

Keep Reading and Check out these Articles:

1. Discovery Channel- Renovation Nation with Steve Thomas
2. Ikea is investing in Green Technology
3. Solar Taxi powers its way through Chicago
4. Chicago Earth Hour
5. 10 Easy Steps to Live Green

One Response to “Willis Tower: 5-Year Green Renovation”

1. Laurent Kanago says:

   September 10, 2010 at 4:04 am

   I was at a symposium where Sieben Energy Associates, the company responsible for the renovation, said that the energy savings from the Willis tower will offset the energy usage of a new construction hotel adjacent to it. The only question I have is, wasn’t the Willis tower supposed to be painted white?

   Reply