Green Features
The “Green” Aspects of the New Building
During his first conversations with the Board, architect Bill Conner suggested designing and building a sustainable structure with the environment in mind. Our new Library was planned with minimal environmental impact and healthy indoor surroundings. All materials purchased were scrutinized as to their source and the amount of transport needed to get them to the site, from the bricks to the wooden chairs. For example, all wall coverings are from earth-friendly materials. In the Children’s area, the carpet is made from recycled tires and plastic. Our compass rose is made from recycled bottles, mirrors and glass. During the construction, the Library received a $400,000 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) incentive grant.
The project goal was for the building to become certified as a “green” facility as part of the U. S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program. And it was! The building achieved LEED Certification on September 4, 2008.
Listen as Architect Bill Connor explains his “green" features, and Trustees and staff explain how they made it happen.
Architect Bill Connor was a strong advocate for "going green." He helped the Board of Trustees make decisions that would have a positive effect on the the environment, the health of Library staff and patrons, and the bottom line. His expertise was critical to the design of an attractive and functional building, and also to the building's LEED certification. Here he explains how the Library's construction and building itself are "green," and some of the many decisions that had to be made in the process.
Christene Thurston was President of the Board of Trustees during the planning and construction of the new building. Here she discusses with Town Historian John Scherer how the Board decided to build a LEED-certified "green" building.
Daphne Jordan was Treasurer of the Board of Trustees during the building of 475 Moe Road. She well remembers all of the choices that had to be made in order to build an environmentally friendly building and stay within budget. Here she describes to librarian Tenaya Bannon part of the process of becoming LEED certified and some of the Library's "green" aspects.
Kathy Adam Browne was a long-time Library staff member until her retirement in 2015 as Assistant Director. Here she discusses with librarian Gail Winters some of the reactions of the public to the library's "green" features, the specifics of some of those features, and the role the Board played in supporting sustainability.
Cliff Bueno was a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Expansion Committee. There are many requirements to becoming LEED certified, and here you'll find a description of some of those requirements and how the Library met them.