Chicago’s 110-story Sears Tower is all set to undergo a $350 million green makeover. You’ll see it studded with wind turbines, solar panels and roof gardens. The revolutionary face-lift will enable the tower to be self-reliant as far as its energy requirements are concerned. Stretching over a period of 5 years, the project will go on to bring down the electricity use by 80 percent. Moreover, it promises to save 24 million gallons of water a year.
Next month, the famous skyscraper will be renamed Willis Tower. As MSNBC reports it, other green updates include installation of solar panels on the 90th floor to heat water, a heat-saving measure to refurbish 16,000 window pieces, an advanced lighting control system and other landscaping systems to save water. The unique renovation also comprises positioning of different turbines on the rooftops. Having already met LEED criteria, it will certainly go beyond the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) standards.