.By Bill Brown

IBRARIES ARE ON thecutting edge of green design. Long the lonely mis-sion of environmentally responsible architects,green architecture grew out of a desire to lessen thenegative environmental impacts of conventionalbuildings, which use nearly half the energy con-sumed in this country. Many other benefits havebeen discovered along the way. For-many librarians,the meaning of green architecture has shifted from saving ourenvironment for future generations to saving money now.That economic drive provides an optimistic base for what hassometimes seemed like a hopeless cause.

Historically, this comprehensive, collaborative designprocess-variously labeled as green, environmentally sustain-able, or high-performance design-has suffered from a lackof standards. In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council(USGBC) formulated the Leadership in Energy and Environ-mental Design (LEEDThI) rating system to certify green build-ings, and it is rapidly gaining acceptance among library de-signers and library professionals.

Well-designed green buildings cost less to operate andmaintain than conventionally constructed buildings. They useless energy and natural resources. They are better integratedinto their sites and communities. They are more comfortable,enjoy more daylight, and are more attractive to customers andemployees. They are also less likely to contribute to healthproblems and more likely to enhance productivity and learning.

Bill Brown, AIA, LEEDTI' Accredited Professional, is Director ofArchitecture at Veazey Parrott Durkin & Shoulders, Evansville, IN

These spaces often require a slightly greater investmentin design and construction costs, though there are exceptions.The green Oaklyn Library (pictured above) came in belowthe cost for conventional construction. In any case, these

buildings pay off through a lifetimeUp on the Roof of return on that initial investment.The living meadow-roof (above) on the LEEDTl-ing the waynew Oaklyn library, LEEDTI scores projects in sixIN, Will pay for itselfwith energy savings categories including Sustainableover time; it will clean Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy andthe air and water as Atmosphere, Materials and Re-it grows. See the front sources, Indoor Environmental Qual-of the library, on p.64 ity, and Innovation & Design. Of 69

possible points, projects must get 26to be certified, 33 to be certified silver, 39 to be certified gold,and 52 to be certified platinum. Certification is given after thebuilding is complete to assure that predicted performance hasbeen achieved. Seventy projects have been certified since therating system's inception, and over 900 registered projectscurrently await certification. Over 400 of the approximately900 projects registered with LEEDTm are federal, state, andlocal public projects. Local projects make up the largest share.Approximately 16 percent, or 145, of LEEDTm registeredprojects incorporate libraries.

While a handful of high-profile green projects were com-pleted prior to the establishment of the USGBC ten years agoand many continue to be completed without using the ratingsystem, LEEDTM is gaining momentum as the standard forgreen design. State governments in California, Maryland, XMassachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Pennsyl-vania use LEEDTh{ for their projects, as do the local govern- iments of Austin, TX; Arlington, VA; Boulder, CO; Cook Coun- Qty, IL; Portland, OR; Seattle; and, in California, Los Angeles,San Diego, San Jose, and San Mateo. In some of these locales,

LIBRARY JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2003 61

LEEDT'I has been incorporated into local building codes.Requests for proposals (RFPs) for public projects now

routinely require candidates to list their LEEDTm experienceand expertise. This rapid entry of LEEDTMI into the main-stream has created a rush among architecture and engineer-ing firms to gain competence and experience in green de-sign, one of USGBC's goals. The council's inaugural na-tional Greenbuild convention in Austin last year sold outearly at twice the expected attendance and created standing-room-only. crowds on the exposition floor and in the semi-nar rooms.

Early collaborationThe idea that all design decisions are interrelated is es-

pecially true with green design. This requires early collabo-ration among design disciplines (and possibly with commu-nity entities), which goes against standard practice in many

u lc nut lels

Greener LibrarvBy Louise Levy Schaper

architecture firms. This is a key difference between conven-tional design, where some green features may be tacked onat the end of a linear design process, and truly green design,where design integration begins at the earliest stages of theproject.

The selection of a lighter ceiling color, for example, canimprove the performance of lighting, both natural and artifi-cial. Thus, the library will need fewer fixtures or smaller win-dow apertures. This reduces the heating and cooling load,which then calls for smaller mechanical equipment and ducts.These compounding impacts drive down the initially heftyprice of the project. Basically, design integration makes greenprojects cost-effective.

Location, location, urban locationSite selection, important for any project, is critical for

green design. LEEDTm encourages urban redevelopment be-

H IEN FAYETIEVITLLE Public Library's (FPL) $23.3million Blair Library opens in fall 2004 it will be the

first building project in Arkansas to be registered withthe U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy

and Environmental Design (LEEDT) program. The comrnmitment tobuild a green library came from an intense public process of openmeetings and deep community dialog about what a library is and canbe and what its design and construction should be. Ultimately, theprocess spurred a greener library than anyone imagined.

When I became the FPL director inlate 1997, I recognized that years ofpiecemeal space planning needed tocome to an end. The trustees readilyagreed, and a few months later our citycouncil approved funds to hire a libraryplanning and design team.

Over the next two and a half years,we completed a 20-year master planwith consultant Anders Dahlgren. Wealso held nearly 40 public input meet-ings with an estimated 2000 partici-pants, completed a feasibility study forfunding, received approval from 75% ofthe voters for a temporary sales tax toraise 80% of the funds to build a newmain library, and embarked on a capital

campaign to raise $12 million to com-plete the building and establish an en-dowment. The recognition we receivedfrom local and statewide media-espe-cially for our commitment to publicprocess-was energizing.

Discovering LEEDTh'Until the final design phase, there

was limited discussion about buildingan environmentally friendly building.Most of the dialog was about why a new,library was needed, where to locate thenew library, and the future of the publiclibrary in general. As the emphasis shift-ed to design, the dialog tumed aesthet-ic. However, throughout, participantsexpressed ideas directed to a greater re-gard for the environment. For example,the question of location led to discourse

about tree preservation and reuse, qual-ity of urban life, and walkable cities.

Throughout the public input process,Jeff Scherer, FAIA, principal architect,Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd.,asked the underlying questions thattapped into deeper issues and fears.Scherer and his project manager, SeanWagner, AIA, heard citizens ask morespecifically.for "green" building tech-nologies. Scherer and Wagner surprisedme when they proposed registering theproject with the LEEDTM certificationprogram, something of which I was onlydimly aware. LEEDTM is, in essence, anaudit process for buildings. I realizedthat if the building were LEEDTm certi-fied, our citizens would know that theirlibrary would be as green as we adver-tised. I didn't know that registering for

LIBRARY JOURNAlJDECEMBER 2003 '

Louise Levy Schaper is Executive Director,Fayetteville Public Libr;ry, AR

62

cause of the infrastructure already in place. Alternative trans-portation is usually possible. The site will be less disturbed.Stormwater management exists. And an urban site contributesto the big picture: there will be lower impact on the urbanheat island effect and a limited increase in light pollution. Inturn, LEEDT'I discourages the use of greenfield sites, or un-developed land.

Site selection also influences building design. Opportu-nities to orient the building for optimum solar exposure, forinstance, can enhance the power of daylighting and signifi-cantly improve energy efficiency. That is why it is importantto select your design team before you select a site.

Energy is LEEDThf's middle nameA 'core goal of green design is to produce buildings that

use significantly less energy. Such buildings create less pol-lution. They also deplete fewer nonrenewable resources and

cause less damage from the extraction and transportation ofthose resources.

Using existing industry standards as benchmarks, LEEDTMlawards points for energy efficiency savings. Up to ten points areawarded for besting the standards by 60 percent in a new build-ing and 50 percent in an existing one. Other energy-relatedpoints come when buildings employ renewable energy like so-lar or wind power, undergo additional building commissioning(independent testing), eliminate ozone-depleting refiigerants, ormeasure and verify monitoring and use of green power (powerproduced by utility companies from renewable resources).

The design for energy efficiency requires coordinationwith other disciplines to optimize the building envelope(walls, glazing, roofing), lighting, and controls. Good plansoften result in dramatically downsized mechanical systemsthat can save enough initial and operating costs to pay for theextra expense of the design and materials.

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LEEDTI1 would open up a world of pos-sible green building technologies.

Many benefitsThe idea of being the first LEEDTm

building in the state was compelling.Our library board and even our fiscallyconservative finance manager, whoknew that energy efficiency meant low-er operating costs, supported the idea. Ihad to convince our city administratorsand elected officials that spending$26,000 for LEEDTM registration andadditional professional fees was worthit. A concise written and verbal state-ment of need that stressed the economic

benefits and the mechanics of LEEDTmwon unanimous approval from our citycouncil. It didn't hurt that the citizenshad recently elected a mayor who hadreceived the local Sierra Club chapterendorsement during his campaign.

Once we got started, we evaluatedwhich of the four levels of certification(basic, silver, gold, platinum) we'dshoot for. Achieving "basic" certifica-tion was within our immediate reach be-cause we had already made many gooddecisions. Because our project budgetwould not support gold or platirium lev-els, the design team began to look athow to achieve a silver certificationwithin our established budget.

Community choice and prideFPL's Blair Library will be

green owing to dozens of subtle tech-nologies and choices. The downtownsite is close to alternative transporta-tion and within walking distance tomany users. Carpooling parkingspaces and bike racks are available,as are showers for employees whobike, walk, or run to work. For water

conservation, we've introduced waterlessurinals, a cistern to capture and reuserainwater for irrigation, and native anddrought tolerant landscaping. For build-ing materials, we chose rapidly renew-able and sustainably harvested materialand low "VOC" (volatile organic com-pounds) materials, adhesives, and finish-es. We will exceed national energy stan-dards for building envelope, lighting, and.mechanical system design. To top it off,we used a white reflective roof and a"green" landscaped roof adjacent to anoutdoor reading terrace.

Because Blair Library will earn its"green" status not from a single splashy

"front page" technology, we've devel-oped some cogent images to illustratehow the many smaller decisions willmake the difference to the library's bot-tom line, its environment, and the re-gional environment:o The construction waste we recycled

or reused throughout the projectwould fill the University of Arkansasfootball stadium to the sixth row.

e The library's cozy fireplace and land-scape retaining walls will be builtwith rock from the site. The meetingroom podium and table will be madefrom a walnut tree harvested from thesite.

* We will save almost one million gal-lons of water every year though con-servation strategies.

* We will save approximately 25¢-35¢per square foot, or $22,000-$31,000,

.annually in utility costs over normalcommercial construction in our area.

o We will open without noxious odorsendemic to most new buildings.

o The south-facing views will allownatural daylight to trigger a poweringdown of artificial lighting.

We'll have to wait until we've beenin the new building to know the exactcosts and savings, but we know we'regoing in the right direction for our com-munity. Public input drove home theneed for our participation in -theLEEDT1! program, which resulted in agreener design-a compelling argumentfor libraries to use construction projectsas community learning experiences.The citizen input process facilitated bya design team with extraordinary listen-ing skills, coupled with a well-publi-cized construction project, has helpedour community of 60,000 and our stateknow what it means to go green. 1

LIBRARY JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2003

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, Which is greener, metal studs made from recycled steelor wood studs harvested from certified forests? LEEDT doesnot specifically answer questions like this, but it does en-courage designers to study the options. LEEDTM' documenta-tion requires research into material origins and life cycle, andthe system awards points for use of materials with reused andrecycled content. To support local economies and decreasetransportation impacts, LEEDThI values materials manufac-tured locally or within a 500-mile radius. Rapidly renewablematerials, like cork flooring, are encouraged, as are woodproducts from well-managed forests.

The system requires that green projects include areas ded-icated to recycling. LEEDTM also encourages the reuse of build-ings, which means historic renovation projects can score as wellas new construction. Additionally, construction waste manage-ment is encouraged, which can be simple or not, depending onthe level of cooperation from the contractor and the quality ofthe local recycling industry. _

Let Mother Nature workAndrew Camegie asked that li-

braries designed under his grants in-clude "a representation of the raysof a rising sun, and above 'LETTHERE BE LIGHT."' Turn of thecentury libraries, like those built2000 years earlier, made the most ofnatural daylight and natural ventila- Nestled into the Hillition, two hallmarks of current green Oaklyn Librarys face gathdesign. The relatively recent inven- and its LightBridge. whiction of artificial lighting and me- meaowroof (als Thetthrougjhout the day. The 1:chanical heating and cooling sys- before LEEDf)Awas finaliktems reduced the need to design for seek silver-level LEEDTMdaylighting and natural ventilation. a daunting task, given theThen came architecture mar}ked by that is possible with awilwindowless buildings dependent onartificial means for supporting life. Operable windows be-came an endangered species in libraries for fear of ultravio-let light, glare, and heat gain or loss.

Now it is common knowledge that poor indoor environ-ments can be life-threatening. However, few building ownersconsider the benefits of good indoor environments, whichhave a documented positive impact on health, productivity,human performance, leaming, mood, comfort, and employeeretention. Personnel require a much greater investment thanbuilding costs. Small improve'ments in human performancemore than offset most of the cost of improved indoor envi-ronments. LEEDTm calls for a minimum for indoor air qual-ity and control of environmental tobacco smoke. A buildingwins points for CO2 monitoring, increased ventilation effec-tiveness, indoor air quality management plans, use of low-emitting materials, indoor chemical and pollutant source con-trol, controllable heating and cooling systems, thermal com-fort, and available daylight and views.

Enlightened designers have leamed that the benefits ofdaylight and natural ventilation can be enjoyed without ener-gy penalties. In fact, properly designed daylighting improves

g human performance and health, saves energy, and reduces thecost of library construction. Aided by new glazing technolo-

tu gy, intelligent lighting controls, and sophisticated daylighting> and energy analysis software, green designers can fine-tuneg building envelopes to take advantage of high-quality sunlightX while controlling heat loss or gain.

What are .the hurdles?LEEDTh certification can be complicated, and critics

have found it cumbersome and sometimes inconsistent. Italso adds immediate expenses to a project. Registration andcertification fees typically total less than $3000 for librariesunder 75,000 square feet but max out at $9000 for librariesover 300,000 square feet. Prerequisites for LEEDT^1 certifi-cation include basic building commissioning, which is notyet standard practice in many regions. In addition, designfees typically rise owing to the need to spend more time ondesign and construction phase meetings, research, and doc-umentation. Usually the burden of educating the fundingagencies, the public, contractors, and other stakeholders fallsto the design team, which often includes one or more specialconsultants. Bid prices may reflect costs to fulfill additionalrequirements'associated with LEEDTM1, such as certifying re-cycled content of materials used.

The good news is that standard1 construction documents now incor-

porate LEEDTh' requirements, andnew computerized reporting tem-plates in LEEDTm 2.1 have stream-lined documentation. Manufactur-ers, seeing that LEEDTNM compli-ance sells, have caught up with re-porting requirements and nowmake information that was once

side difficult to find part of their stan-ers eastern light efficiently, dard literature.h rises above the C;: , When planning a project, con-ed on p. 61), draws light i sider hiring an experienced green de-rnilding, was~ designed a xeine re ezer3, but planners may sign firm or at least make sure the de-certification retroactively, sign team includes a knowledgeablee required docurnentation, green design consultant. Then incor-ling contractor porate any additional certification

costs into the initial project budgets.The USGBC has a listing of LEEDTm-accredited profession-als (www.usgbc.org). Also, the American Institute of Architectsoffers an excellent tutorial on writing green RFPs, which in-cludes guidelines and examples of actual RFPs (www.aia.org/pia/cote/rfp) and feedback from users of those RFPs.

A greener futureApproximately five percent of new commercial and in-

stitutional construction is some shade of green. As demandcontinues to grow, competition will heat up among designers,contractors, and manufacturers. This should drive down costsfor green design. The prices of innovative new green materi-als and systems should follow suit as demand and productionvolume increases. Perhaps conventional design will becomeobsolete as the benefits and savings of green design becomeobvious to even the mo'st entrenched critics.

Such an outcome will be a good introduction to the realtechnological shift to come. If we reach a point where all newand existing buildings are LEEDTLcertified, we will still bewasting our finite resources. Truly green architecture will ex-ist when we are designing buildings that restore fresh waterand air and produce more energy 'than they consume. That isa challenge that enlightened librarians can help us meet, onebuilding at a time. l

1/:00 ; 1M See the online version of this article for"What Green Design Elements Work for Libraries"

LIBRARY JOURNAL/DECEMBER 200364

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TITLE: The New Green StandardSOURCE: Libr J 128 no20 D 2003

WN: 0333501872008

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