Museum honors Chicago, others for going green

WASHINGTON -- The National Building Museum is honoring the city of Chicago, industrial conglomerate United Technologies Corp. and others for their efforts to improve the environment.

The museum announced its 2009 Honor Awards Tuesday. Other recipients include the U.S. Green Building Council for its popular green building certification system and New York activist Majora Carter for a green-collar job-training program.

Chicago is the first city to be honored with the annual award. Museum officials praised Mayor Richard Daley's efforts to retrofit municipal buildings for energy efficiency and the city's goals for reducing greenhouse emissions.

United Technologies is being honored for boosting the efficiency of air conditioners and elevators it makes.