Wikipedia Green Library

8/12/2019 Wikipedia Green Library

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Green library 1

Green library

Green libraries are a part of the larger green building movement. Also known as sustainable libraries, green

libraries are being built all over the world, with many high profile projects bringing the concept into the mainstream.

Along with library 2.0, green design is an emerging trend, defining the library of the 21st century. Many view the

library as having a unique role in the green building movement due to its altruistic mission, public and pedagogical

nature, and the fact that new libraries are usually high profile, community driven projects.

What makes a library green?

There are many ways to define a green library, but there are a number of central themes that run through all of them,

including, minimizing the negative impact the building will have on the local environment, and if possible having a

positive impact. Reducing the use of water and energy by designing in a way that maximizes the use of natural and

renewable resources. Integrating actual greenery and vegetation into the building and site design; Preferably, using

drought resistant and/or native vegetation. And, maintaining high standards of indoor air quality to help ensure the

health of the people who inhabit the building.

LEED

Despite the fact that there are many paths to sustainable design, the emergence of the trend has created a demand for

quantifiability. In the United States, the non-profit organization the United States Green Building Council (USGBC)

developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system in the year 2000. Their point

based rating has a total of 69 points possible, and buildings can be categorized as certified (26 points), silver (33),

gold (39), or platinum (52+). LEED uses five different categories to judge a building's sustainability; 1) site location,

2) water conservation, 3)energy efficiency, 4) materials, 5) indoor air quality, and a bonus category for innovation

and design[1]

. As of 2003 libraries accounted for 16% of all LEED projects (Brown, 2003).

Special needs

Sustainable library design is strongly tied to the overall green building movement, but libraries have specific needs

that present some extra challenges for green builders.

The biggest challenge is balancing the sometimes conflicting needs of the patrons and the materials. One of the

central themes of the library's mission is to preserve knowledge, so that it can be passed on to future generations. For

over a thousand years books have been the dominant way to do that. While the internet has become the information

medium of choice for many, books still play a very important role in the preservation of knowledge. In order to be

preserved, books must be kept away from extreme temperatures, moisture, and sunlight. In contrast, many

individuals find sunlight to be the most enjoyable light for reading. Sunlight also plays a major role in green design,because it can be used to reduce the reliance on artificial lighting. For a long time, libraries needed to protect the

collection from the damaging ultra-violet rays of the sun. New developments in glass technology over the past ten

years have given designers more flexibility in their ability to place collections (Mcabe, 2003).

Another, often overlooked, challenge the library presents is the weight of the books. A common strategy in green

design is to raise the floors to increase circulation, but the weight of the stacks can be an impediment to this strategy.

To deal with this challenge, many designers have resorted to zoning the library into designated areas, so these

strategies can be enacted in certain areas, and alternatives can be used in others.[2]

Libraries need to be built flexibly,

in order to make room for expansions in size and in wiring capabilities. Library buildings are long term investments

into the community, so when designing them architects need to be looking 50 or 100 years into the future. These

obstacles by no means present insurmountable challenges to green libraries. The special needs of the library justneed to be taken into consideration from the beginning of the project.
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How are libraries becoming green?

Green design is an integrated process. No one aspect of a building's architecture makes it green architecture. Without

proper integration from the earliest moments of the planning phase, redundancies can occur, eliminating many of the

potential benefits of sustainable design. Good sustainable design capitalizes on the synergistic relationships that

occur between the various design elements. LEED groups these elements into five categories. Buildings can be

designed in a way in which, good design in one category helps another category fulfill its goal.

Site selection

Before building can start, a site must be chosen. The selection of the site has a large impact on how ecologically

friendly the library will be. LEED has a number of guidelines to help the site selection process. There are a number

of questions to consider that will help guide the site selection process, including, what kind of impact will

construction have on the local environment, will there be erosion, what can be done with storm runoff, and is the site

already green? Also, the library should be located in a densely populated area, near a number of other service related

buildings. People should be able to reach the building via public transportation and the parking lots should give

priority parking to those driving energy efficient automobiles. The heat island effect can be reduced by shading hard

surfaces, putting them underground, or by implementing a vegetative roof (LEED, 2005)

Water conservation

There are many different ways for libraries to conserve water. A number of them rely on proper site selection. If a

site is selected properly strategies can be used to capture rainwater runoff to be used in irrigation. Another strategy is

to use low flow fixtures, and waterless urinals.

Energy conservation

Energy efficiency is considered by many to be the most important category in becoming sustainable. In the LEED

rating system it is the heaviest weighted of all the categories. Energy efficient design is in many ways a return topassive design principles that evolved over thousands of years, until the advent of air conditioning and cheap energy

made those strategies appear to be unnecessary. After air conditioning became widely available, buildings were

designed to eliminate influences of the outside environment. Lamis illustrates this point in "Greening the Library"

when he compares two libraries built near the turn of the 20th century, the New York Public Library and the Boston

Public Library; to two more recently built libraries, the Chicago Public Library and the Phoenix Public Library. The

two older libraries have interior spaces that are narrow, so they can be reached by natural light and air. Whereas the

two more modern libraries have large floor plans, with interior spaces far removed from the outside environment.

Making them more dependent on artificial systems of temperature control[2]

.

As environmental awareness increases, as well as the cost of fossil fuels needed to operate giant heating, air

conditioning, and ventilation ([HVAC]) systems, building designers are beginning to recognize that the outside

environment cannot be ignored, and should be taken advantage of. What 21st-century designers are beginning to do

is implement ancient passive design principles, while taking advantage of the most advanced technology available.

The passive strategies vary according to location, but they are always implemented to capitalize on the natural

elements, mostly wind and sun, to manage the temperature and to provide ventilation and light. Active strategies are

more technologically advanced solutions that include using various forms of renewable energy resources and using

sensors to adjust lighting. Using photovoltaic cells that turn sunlight into energy is becoming an increasingly popular

way to reduce energy dependence. In order to fully maximize energy efficiency and comfort, libraries are combining

passive and active strategies.
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Building materials

It is believed that up to 40% of landfill space is filled with construction waste material[1]

. The primary responsibility

in selecting materials for the library is to contribute as little waste as possible. Another responsibility is to choose

materials that can be produced without causing too much damage to the natural environment. In order to fulfill the

first responsibility, post-industrial and post-consumer recycled materials are being used. When purchasing materials

claiming to be made from recycled goods it is important to investigate what their claims mean. It is a commonmarketing practice to exaggerate how green a product is by using misleading statements

[1]. Also, materials should

be chosen that are going to be able to be reused or recycled 50100 years down the road when the library building

has reached the end of its useful life (Tseng, 2007). As non-renewable resources decrease, reusing and recycling are

going to become increasingly necessary in the future.

It is also important to consider where materials are coming from: Resources have emerged to help guide the material

selection process, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). They rate and certify wood based on a number of

factors regarding how it was produced; rights of indigenous peoples, environmental impact, workers rights,

efficiency, management, and conservation (FSC, 1996). Another material option is using quickly renewable

materials such as bamboo in place of wood whenever possible[2]

. The widening availability of green building

materials, along with the development of non-profit watchdog groups are two important factors in the greening of

21st-century library buildings.

Indoor air quality

Along with energy inefficiency, poor air quality has been another side-effect of the post air conditioning building

design. Because most modern buildings are temperature controlled, they are designed to be airtight. The lack of

ventilation can not only make buildings expensive to cool, it also traps harmful toxins that can do serious damage to

people's respiratory systems. Toxins come from a variety of sources. Materials that make up the library, including

paints and carpeting, have volatile organic compounds (VOC's), which produce a ground-level ozone after reacting

with sunlight and nitrogen. The carbon dioxide that people breathe into the atmosphere is another toxin. To improve

air quality, materials can be bought that have a low VOC content, and CO2

monitors can be installed to ensure that

CO2

levels remain at a safe level. On average, people spend about 90% of their time indoors[2]

. Therefore, green

buildings need to be designed in a way in which the air gets recycled, and does not stay stagnant. A green library is

not just about taking care of the environment, it is about taking care of the health and well-being of those who work

in it and patronize it.

Why are libraries becoming green?

First, libraries have been expanding the scope of their mission statements, to include working for the betterment of

mankind. Second, technology is no longer a barrier. Third, it is great for the image of the library. Finally,

sustainability offers the library a degree of independence, because cost of maintenance goes down, as does reliance

on the volatile fossil fuels market.

Mission

All libraries have a mission statement, and spoken or unspoken, libraries are here to improve the condition of

mankind. An institution can no longer, in good faith aim to improve the human condition while contributing to the

destruction of the future: Buildings produce about 40% of the dangerous greenhouse gasses emitted into the

atmosphere (Anisko & Willoughby, 2006). The environmental debate has evolved. The fact that humans are having a

negative impact on the environment is no longer seriously questioned. Now, two questions shape the debate: What is

our responsibility to fix it, and what can we do to fix it? Individuals and private organizations have a right to find

their personal answers to those questions, but libraries are an investment in the future of our society. Libraries have a

responsibility to not contribute to the destruction of the environment, to educate the people regarding our current
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situation, and empower them to make a difference. Libraries are discovering that their green building gives them a

great opportunity to educate the citizenry (Tseng, 2007). As libraries continue to take a more progressive stance on

improving the human condition, sustainability will have to be a central theme.

Technology

The availability of the technology and knowledge to build green buildings has passed a tipping point. Greenbuildings are constructed all over the world in every sector of the economy; residential, commercial, non-profit,

government, etc. Another breakthrough is the diversity of green technology. There is an abundance of options, so

any green builder has the ability to capitalize on the local natural resources available, and customize the building to

most efficiently operate in the local environment. Along with the advancement of technology, the increasing

awareness of environmental issues decrease the burden on the green builder. With the development of organizations

like the USGBC and the FSC, green builders have information resources available to them. These organizations offer

measurable levels of achievement to strive for, along with acting as watchdogs to help prevent the exaggeration of

green credentials or "green-washing." With these advances, sustainable construction is no longer a utopian fantasy,

but is simply becoming the way good buildings are being built.

Image

The library is undergoing an identity transformation. It is struggling to stay relevant, as a vocal minority predicts its

demise. While its image as an outdated institution is not entirely deserved, it is trying to assert itself as an

irreplaceable part of the community, that plans on being an assertive force for good in the 21st century. Green design

helps it do that three different ways. 1) A sustainable building makes a statement that the library is investing in the

future of the community. 2) Sustainable buildings are smartly designed, aesthetically pleasing, and are powered by

state-of-the-art technology. When people see these emerald marvels they will no longer be able to maintain false

stereotypes regarding libraries as anachronistic relics from an analog age. 3) More and more people take

environmentalism seriously, so a green image is a good image. The public awareness on this issue is only going to

increase. Libraries want the public to believe that they are still relevant, and that their mission is to better

humankind. Many have decided that a green library is a physical manifestation of their mission statement, and it

provides an image of how libraries want to be seen in the 21st century.

Independence

As publicly funded institutions, libraries are constantly battling with budget issues. Swings in the economy can affect

the tax dollars coming into the library, as well as new legislation. Sustainable design offers libraries a way to reduce

maintenance and energy costs, providing them with a degree of independence. Thanks to computer modeling

software, building planning can be done more efficiently than in the past. Precise estimations on quantity of building

materials can prevent waste and save money. Simulations can also be done to predict how big of an HVAC systemthe library needs. Solar 5.5 is a computer program that builds a 3-D model of the library's energy performance, and

then plugs in various passive and active design strategies to see what kind of effect they would have on each other to

maximize the energy savings and cost of the building; it has saved some California libraries up to 46% of the energy

cost compared to meeting minimum state requirements (Boyden & Weiner, 2000).

One of the most important features of green design is a shift from the reliance on depleting fossil fuels to renewable

energy resources. The independence from fossil fuels will save the library large sums of money, and it will relish its

independence if prices continue to rise.

Money will also be saved by having higher morale, health, and productivity from employees. The architectural firm

Heschong Mahone conducted a study that indicated students perform 25% better on standardized tests when in

classrooms lit naturally [1] . High levels of CO2 can decreases performance as well[2] . Savings can also be increased,

because there are governmental incentives to capitalize on, and some utility companies offer incentives too (Boyden
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Green library 6

Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

The Joe and Joan Martin Center is the first public building in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County certified by the US

Green Building Council. In 2006, ImaginOn was awarded LEED certification at the silver level .

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh underwent extensive expansion and renovation in 2004 using sustainable

techniques and guiding principles thereby earning silver LEED-certification, one of largest museums in the country

to receive this designation, and the first childrens museum in America to do so. For more detailed information, see

The Green Museum[5]

University of California, Merced Kolligian Library

Opened in August 2005, UC Merced's Kolligian Library was awarded Gold Leeds Certification in 2007. The

180000-square-foot (17000 m2) glass-and-concrete building uses 42% less water and 50% less energy than

comparable buildings. The building's carpet contains 37% recycled content, while its acoustical ceiling tiles contain

66% recycled content that includes telephone books and newspapers. Nearly 30% of the materials used to construct

the building were manufactured locally, resulting in significant transportation and energy savings.[6]

The list of green libraries is growing all the time. For an up to date information on green libraries and green library

projects in the U.S. and Canada see green libraries[7]

.

References

[1] Sands, J. (2002). Sustainable library design. Libris Design Project.(http://www.librisdesign.org/docs/). . Retrieved November 1, 2007,.

[2] Lamis, A.P. (2003). "Greening the library: An overview of sustainable design.". In G.B. McCabe & J.R. Kennedy. Planning the Modern

Public Building. Westport, CN: Libraries Unlimited.. pp. 3145.

[3] "Fayettevill Public Library" (http://www.faylib.org). .

[4] http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=branch_central_sustainable&branchID=1

[5] http://www.pittsburghkids.org/Templates/CMP_Level3_List.aspx?CID=418&SECID=5&MENUID=1

[6] http://administration.ucmerced.edu/sites/administration/files/public/documents/SignKolligian.pdf

[7] http://www.greenlibraries.org/index.html

Anisko, E. & Willoughby, M. (Producers) (2006). Deeper shades of green [Television mini-series episode].

[Directed by Tad Fettig, narrated by Brad Pitt, & with Ken Yeang]. Arlington, VA: Public Broadcasting Station.

Boyden L. & Weiner J. (2000) Sustainable libraries: Teaching environmental responsibility to communities

[Electronic version]. The Bottom Line, 13(2), 74-82.

Boyden L. & Weiner J. (2001) For the public good: Sustainability demonstration in public library building

projects [Electronic version].Public Libraries, 40(6), 44-6.

Brown, B. (2003) The new green standard: With the LEED rating system in place it is easier to make sure yournew library saves money as it treads lightly on natural resources [Electron Version].Library Journal, 128(20),

61-4.

Fox, H. (2004) Seattle central library: Water conservation [Web Video]. Retrieved November 20, 2007, from

http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2205

FSC (1996) Forest Stewardship Council. Retrieved November 23, 2007, from http://www.fscus.org/

standards_criteria/

LEED. (2005) Reference Guide, Version 2.2. US Green Building Council. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.

org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19

McCabe, G.B. (2003). New Concepts for Technology in Library Design. In G.B. McCabe & J.R. Kennedy (Ed.)

Planning the Modern Public Building (pp. 31-45). Westport, CN: Libraries Unlimited.
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19http://www.fscus.org/standards_criteria/http://www.fscus.org/standards_criteria/http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2205http://www.greenlibraries.org/index.htmlhttp://administration.ucmerced.edu/sites/administration/files/public/documents/SignKolligian.pdfhttp://www.pittsburghkids.org/Templates/CMP_Level3_List.aspx?CID=418&SECID=5&MENUID=1http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=branch_central_sustainable&branchID=1http://www.faylib.org/http://www.librisdesign.org/docs/http://www.greenlibraries.org/index.htmlhttp://administration.ucmerced.edu/sites/administration/files/public/documents/SignKolligian.pdfhttp://www.pittsburghkids.org/Templates/CMP_Level3_List.aspx?CID=418&SECID=5&MENUID=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Children%27s_Museum_of_Pittsburgh


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MPL (2006)New Minneapolis Central Library. From mplib greenroof (http://www.mplib.org/greenroof.pdf)

Tseng, S.H. (2007) An eco-building, a healthy life, and good service: A new Century in public library architecture

[Electronic version].Public Libraries 46(4), 50-5.
http://www.mplib.org/greenroof.pdf


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Article Sources and ContributorsGreen library Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=397633897 Contributors: Angry candy, Biruitorul, Chris the speller, C romwellt, Dog-519, Dr. Blofeld, Edward, EoGuy,

Esahr, FayettevilleLibrary, Lightmouse, Martyr13, MeegsC, Michael Hardy, Mina nyc, Orangemike, Quidam65, R'n'B, Soap, Thelibraryloft, Thorseth, Tide rolls, 11 anonymous edits

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Wikipedia Green Library