City of Bozeman Library

Year Submitted: 2010

Process: Green Building

Industry: Government

Wastes Reduced: energy and materials

Location: Bozeman MT

Contact: Alice Meister

Phone: 406-582-2401

Description:

The Bozeman Public Library was designed and constructed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's green building rating system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

P2 Application:

During construction of the library, recycled, non-toxic or non-polluting materials were selected and used wherever possible. Over 94% of the construction debris was recycled and diverted from the city landfill. Staff and patrons are encouraged to recycle white paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard, newspaper, and magazines. The recycling is picked up for free by Full Circle Recycling. A grand from NorthWestern Energy supported the photovoltaic (PV) system, efficient lighting, heating, cooling, and humidification. Six LEED energy credits were awarded for the library building, indicating a 27% reduction in energy use over conventional buildings. Waterless urinals, water-saving faucets, and irrigation systems reduce demand on the municipal water system. Light pollution is reduced as exterior lighting does not impact night skies and interior lighting does not trespass from the site. Alternative transportation is encouraged through available public transportation, bicycle racks, and preferred parking for carpooling and eco-friendly vehicles.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

Program Budget: $4,000,000 to buy property and clean it up; $10.7 million for the building Barriers encountered: The project ended up with higher building costs than anticipated, which led to ongoing funding issues and borrowing money from the City of Bozeman to complete the project. Suggestions: More bond money should have been secured from the City from the start, as the initial cost estimates were too low. Current projects at the library include working on the grounds: adding benches, landscaping, and creating a sculpture park for the library. Other projects include installing stack lighting for the inside of the building and setting up a radio frequency identification system to keep track of library materials.

Source: Peaks to Praries