Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Sears Tower to Be Revamped to Produce Most of Its Own Power

By SUSAN SAULNY
Published: June 24, 2009
CHICAGO — The Sears Tower, that bronze-black monument that forms the 110-story peak of the skyline here and stands as the tallest office building in the Western Hemisphere, will soon have another unique feature: wind turbines sprouting from its recessed rooftops high in the sky.
The building’s owners, leasing agents and architects said Wednesday that they are literally taking environmental sustainability to new heights with a $350 million retrofit of the 1970s-era modernist building — and the turbines are only the tip of the transformation. The plan, to begin immediately, aims to reduce electricity use in the tower by 80 percent over five years through upgrades in the glass exterior, internal lighting, heating, cooling and elevator systems — and its own green power generation.
In such a huge tower, with 4.5 million square feet of office and retail space, 16,000 windows and 104 elevators, the project is bound to be one of the most substantial green renovations ever tried on one site, planners said. The Sears Tower is significantly larger than the 102-story, 2.6-million-square-foot Empire State Building, for instance, which is also undergoing renovation to reduce energy consumption.
“If we can take care of one building that size, it has a huge impact on society,” said Adrian Smith, an architect whose firm designed the Sears Tower renovation. “It is a village in and of itself.”
Buildings are among the world’s largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. After the retrofit, energy savings at the Sears Tower, which is to be renamed the Willis Tower this summer, would be equal to 150,000 barrels of oil a year, officials said. The savings are expected to help redeem some of the project’s cost, which is to be financed through private equity investment, grants, debt financing and government funds.
The Sears Tower plans to open a first-floor center to educate the public about the redesign, and hopes to serve as a model for other aging skyscrapers around the world, officials said.

Thursday, June 25, 2009


June 25, 2009

IC Green Container Dwellings Sprout Up in California

by Haily Zaki

sustainable design, green design, shipping container home, ic green, dwell on design, sustainable architecture, recycled materials

Inhabitat loves shipping containers, whether from down under or the Great North. These self-contained quadrilateral wonders are the perfect modular building unit; easily transported, super durable, and, with over700,000 containers being abandoned per year in U.S. ports, in need dire need of being re-purposed. That’s why we are happy to see IC Green, another innovator in the field of shipping container architecture. Check out their line of modest but sustainable and stylish container dwellings as they sprout up all over Southern California, including this weekend at Dwell on Design!

sustainable design, green design, shipping container home, ic green, dwell on design, sustainable architecture, recycled materials

IC Green is a Southern California-based design/build company that specializes in transforming overseas shipping containers into simple, comfortable and sustainable residences. The company features six main models ranging in size from a diminutive open floor plan studio to a full four-bedroom unit with courtyard.

All models come with water conservation measures such as rainwater collection systems, grey-water systems,green roofs, and dual flush toilets. Materials used include FSC certified wood products, VOC free paint, and metal products with high recycled content. All homes are also fitted with radiant floor systems paired with highly efficient insulation to reduce the overall energy demand of each residence. The large glass facades allow for ample daylighting and reduce the need for electrical lighting. IC Green is also currently investigating using LED lighting in their homes. Customized stackable designs are also available upon request. These boxy delights make simple but sweet abodes (and the perfect pool house).

For an up close and personal look at their dwellings, check them out at the special Dwell Outdoor pop-up community at Dwell on Design this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. If you can’t make it to the conference, they also have an upcoming 2400 unit project in LA County, a 1200 unit project with a 480 studio over a garage in Torrance, and a 320 unit on display at their main office in Garden