One of America’s iconic skyscrapers, the Sears Tower in Chicago, may soon be symbolic of much more than a once-mighty retail chain.  Plans are being made to retrofit the 110-story building to meet extremely rigorous environmental standards, Susan Saulny reports in the New York Times.  Wind turbines on the roof, improved glass window performance, and improvements to "lighting, heating, cooling and elevator systems" will be undertaken at a cost of $350 million.  Lower energy bills will help pay for the costs, but clearly planners are doing this for more than just financial reasons — the financing includes grants and government funds and the building’s first floor will include a teaching center focused on the building’s green characteristics.  Looks like Chicago, home of the first skyscrapers, may be home to the next generation as well. -NH

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