Environmental Retrofit for US Tallest Skyscraper

The tallest skyscraper in the US, Chicago’s Sears Tower, is to be put through an environmentally friendly “retrofit”, according to a statement issued by its owners on June 24th.  This, they said, would make Sears Tower – also the world’s fourth highest unsupported structure – a symbol for green office facilities around the world. 

Sears Tower

Sears Tower extends to 1,450 feet in height, and is comprised of 100 storeys.  Constructed in 1973, its design incorporates no less than 16,000 windows.

According to the new proposals, its overall electricity use is to be cut by 80 per cent and its water use, 40 per cent.  In order to implement these cuts, Sears Tower’s owners intend to do the following:

• Take out all 16,000 current windows and replace them with new ones, in order to make a so-called “thermal” break between the external environment and the inside
• Modify Sear Tower’s present elevator network so that it consumes 40 per cent less electricity than at present
• Install advanced water conservation technology
• Fit solar thermal panels
• Install light dimming technology
• Create a network of wind turbines
• Get rid of the granite areas around the base of Sears Tower and replace them with greener areas
• Fit new gas boilers incorporating new fuel cell technology

Sears Tower Energy Efficiency

Overall, said Adrian Smith – an architect involved in Sears Tower’s energy efficiency drive – the intent is for it to set the standard for environmentally friendly construction.

“We hope to set a benchmark for how high-rise buildings throughout the world can limit their impact on the environment”, he said.

”Our plans are very ambitious”, American Landmark Properties (the owners of the tower) representative John Huston added.  “Our plans to modernize and transform this icon will re-establish Sears Tower as a leader, a pioneer.”

In April 2009, Enviro-News covered the energy efficient plans for another iconic US structure, New York’s Empire State Building.  Here, the plan is to implement a 40 per cent energy and CO2 emissions cut. 

The cost of Sears Tower’s retrofit will be $350 million, and it is anticipated that the work will be ongoing until 2014

The completion of a deal forged with insurance firm Willis Group Holdings later on in 2009 will see the Sears Tower lose its current title, and be rebranded the ‘Willis Tower.’