CHICAGO (AP) - An air traffic control tower at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has been awarded gold status by a group that monitors standards for eco-friendly buildings.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Green Building Council announced the gold certification Monday for the south air traffic control tower at O’Hare. City officials say it’s the first gold-certified air traffic control tower in the U.S. The tower is one of three that the FAA operates at O’Hare.
City officials say the tower uses no natural gas and less electricity. They say that saves enough energy to fully power an airport fire station and saves more than $20,000 annually on utilities. The tower also has a green roof and a geothermal system that makes the tower’s heating and cooling systems more efficient.
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