Libraries in the LEED

The District of Columbia Public Library's LEED-registered Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood branch proved good for the environment and for patrons.

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Green building has come into its own. On February 3, President Obama announced his Better Buildings Initiative, designed to reduce energy use among commercial buildings by 20%. Currently, all federal buildings newly built or renovated must achieve at least a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating.

As focal centers of our neighborhoods and towns, libraries are uniquely positioned to take the lead in helping communities learn and understand what green buildings and LEED mean for them. But what exactly does green building and LEED certification entail?

In its Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) defines green building as, “an integrative effort to transform the way built environment—from individual buildings to neighborhoods and even entire communities—is designed, constructed, and operated.” LEED-certified buildings consider the long-term results of actions and decisions made during throughout the design, construction and operating phases of the building. This concept is expressed as the triple bottom line: the impact of decisions on people (social capital), the planet (natural capital) and profit (economic capital). Green building initiatives go beyond the construction of the singular building and consider how the structure will integrate into the landscape and neighborhoods by encouraging participation in building healthier environments in which we live and work.

What is it like to work in a LEED-certified building?

Working at the LEED Platinum-certified USGBC headquarters in Washington, D.C., I find I feel energized and motivated by the environment. Workspaces are set up in the center of the floor, which means that each desk has access to natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. This design also saves energy because the HVAC system is focused over the workstations rather than in corridors by the windows, where a lot of energy is wasted. The air quality is improved not only through the ventilation system, but also by the choice of low VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials used in furniture and carpets.

Live plants are placed around the office to add to the feeling of biophilia (the natural affinity humans have for nature) and also help clean the air. To continue with that feature, the office kitchen is home to a fresh herb garden, available for people to use on their food, bringing nature indoors. The lunchroom, through providing reusable plates, glasses, mugs and silverware, and energy-efficient dishwashers, caters to an at-home feeling instead that of a standard cafeteria. USGBC, as well as its staff, is committed to recycling materials, and provides many sets of recycling bins in the kitchen that collect paper, plastic, aluminum, glass, and even each day’s coffee grinds. Green behavior by staff is further encouraged by having dedicated bike racks in the garage and two low-flow showers for bike-commuter use.

Information about energy use within the space is easy to find out, as an LCD screen in the lobby displays real-time information about resource use. This sort of feedback allows building occupants and visitors to feel more connected to the systems that make our offices comfortable but are tucked away in utility rooms and closets. These screens serve as a reminder that many buildings use 50% more energy because the cost of long-term energy needs were not part of their building plan.

Libraries and LEED

The District of Columbia Public Library is on a mission to make its buildings green. A number of branches have been built or renovated with green principles in mind. Eric S. Riley, branch manager of the LEED-registered Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, stated that the new library, “a glowing beacon of glass, steel, and translucent blue panels,” saw circulation stats spike from around 6,000 a month at the interim building it replaced to a steady 15,000–16,000 a month.

In building the library, the surrounding neighborhood fully grasped the direction in which the building was heading. They petitioned to have a vegetative green roof, and the library was able to provide it, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Riley states, “I think that this environment has done a lot to instill a sense of morale among the public and the staff. That has a tremendous impact on the public’s response to our library system as a whole. The green buildings are emblematic of the kind of forward-thinking change that people in our community have just really been looking for.”

Green is green

An eco-friendly building saves a substantial amount of money in electric bills. A study conducted by the firm Davis Langdon found that there was “no significant difference between the average cost of a LEED-certified building and other new construction in the same category” (Cost of Green Revisited, 2007). A joint study by Deloitte and Charles Lockwood found that even in retrofitted buildings, the energy savings basically pay off the cost of the building’s renovation within a couple years (The Dollars and Sense of Green Retrofits, 2008).

Green buildings also improve the productivity of the workforce. Buildings that offer more natural light, cleaner air, less-toxic or non-toxic materials, and sustainable cleaning practices see fewer workers taking sick days, which in turn means more productivity. More information can be found at www.usgbc.org/research.

A green future for libraries

Those libraries that have taken action to implement green practices or become LEED certified, please share the your stories. Not only is your experience useful for your local communities, but other libraries can draw from your experiences to make the argument that their buildings should address ways to reduce energy usage and create a healthier space. Showing the correlation between money spent to usage of the library and benefits to staff health can help to express the ROI of the building.

For those libraries looking to renovate or build a LEED-certified library, look to see if there are already campus or neighborhood/city initiatives in your area. Familiarize yourself with green building lingo and philosophy so you can talk to all your stakeholders. Look at the different LEED ratings so you can sell a realistic picture of your future green library.

For those libraries that are not on track for a new building, check out USGBC’s resources to support step-by-step greening efforts (e.g. Paid-from-Savings Guide to Green Existing Buildings) and the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance rating system. Consider adding green tools such as energy meters to your lending library, so community members can borrow the tools to improve their own homes. Consider how the building can become a sustainability learning laboratory for your local community. Form relationships with other organizations, whether by redistributing books after they are weeded, composting, or having the library as a recycling location for community members.

Knowledge exchange opportunities:

• USGBC has many podcasts, webinars, and courses available
• Ask your library administration to become a member of USGBC
• For ideas of what resources to purchase, check out USGBC’s Knowledge Center catalog
• Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in green building by following @USGBC on Twitter

JACQUELYN ERDMAN is knowledge exchange coordinator for the U.S. Green Building Council.