Rev up your hybrid engines and hug a few trees today, because the Sears Tower – soon to be Willis Tower – is officially going green.
At a cost of $350 million, renovations will turn the 110-story skyscraper more eco-friendly. Renovations include wind turbines, a green roof and solar panels.
These changes will bring electricity use in the building down by 80 percent and will save 24 million gallons of water a year, owners and architects said.
In conjunction with its environmental makeover, a new next-door neighbor will stand proud next to Sears Tower: a 50-story, 500-room luxury hotel. This new hotel will also be built green, the Chicago Breaking News Center reports.
Officials said they’d like to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environment Design – or “LEED” – status.
Some 3,600 jobs will be created during the five-year reconstruction process.
Back in February, there was talk of giving the iconic tower a silver paint job in hopes of bringing in more green.
If you're happy and you know it, honk your hybrid!
