I was completely floored (and excited) to read this article about how the Sears Tower in Chicago (recently renamed the Willis Tower) is to undergo a $350M green retrofit that will give it a green roof and it’s own wind turbines. This will reduce the energy consumed by the tower by 80% and its water consumption will drop by 24 million gallons.
As this blog notes:
the U.S Department of State estimates that buildings account for an estimated 36 percent of overall energy use, 65 percent of electricity consumption, 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions and 12 percent of water use in America. Green improvements to Sears Tower are aimed at reducing electricity use by 80% in just four years, equating to 68 million kilowatt hours or 150,000 barrels of oil per year. The architects firm responsible for the retro-design, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, has also designed a 50 storey highly sustainable tower to accompany Sears Tower on its south side which will draw power from the improved efficiency measures and work as a net-zero energy development.
So this renovation – which is to start immediately (note the shovel readiness of it) this project will:
- create a more efficient and thus profitable building (benefiting Chicago businesses and the tax base)
- reduce US consumption of oil by 150,000 barrels a year (reducing cash outflows and helping America’s balance of trade)
- will immediately create 3600 jobs yo complete the work (in the construction industry, which has been hard hit by the financial crises)
- help train and provide practical experience to, construction workers, contractors, design firms & others in creating green buildings (position them for the next economy)
This is a stimulus plan that works. Recently I argued we need a stimulus plan that is low of carbs and fat on data… this is just another example of the types of shovel ready projects that leave a legacy. Canada’s plan to date? Pave some roads and build some bridges all so that we can burn more gas moving cars around.
eaves.ca 
“.. Canada has come in dead last on a climate report card prepared by the World Wildlife Foundation. The US is close behind, but at least is going in the right direction.”Nowhere else on Earth do fewer people steward more resources, yet Canada now stands dead last among the G8 nations in protecting our shared home from the threat of dangerous climate change,” said foundation spokesman Keith Stewart.”http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/canada-…We ran a weak candidate on an important issue, and now look where were are…
The advent of the green roof and the green wall is transforming not only our enviroment but the sheer enjoyment of our open spaces. 100 years from now I think the concensus will be that we made the “right” decision to pursue the green movement.
Being a new blogger, I would like to tell you that you have given me much knowledge about it. Thanks for everything.regardscharcoal grill
If you look at the infrastructure spending recently announced in BC by the federal Conservative government and the BC Liberal (no federal affiliation) government, there were only one or two projects that aimed to decrease energy use. The rest were roads, new centres of this and that, and so on. We missed a chance, here.
If you look at the infrastructure spending recently announced in BC by the federal Conservative government and the BC Liberal (no federal affiliation) government, there were only one or two projects that aimed to decrease energy use. The rest were roads, new centres of this and that, and so on. We missed a chance, here.