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New Hampshire Public Library Awarded LEED Silver

PORTSMOUTH , N.H. — The new $8 million public library here has become the first municipal building in the state to receive LEED Silver certification.

Dedicated in January, the library scored 36 points on the LEED scale, in the areas of energy and water conservation, daylighting, and materials content and recycling.

Designed by Massachusetts Architectural firm Amsler Mashek MacLean, the new library features energy-efficient HVAC, lighting and other systems. Daylighting reaches 75 percent of occupied spaces. Energy models predict that the building will consume about 32 percent less energy than a conventional building of comparable size and function.

The library is outfitted throughout with metered faucets and low-flow toilets. The design team incorporated low-VOC materials throughout interiors to enhance interior air quality.

Portsmouth City Council explored environmentally sustainable practices in municipal buildings for several years, officials say. The city is rewriting its zoning regulations to incorporate and encourage green building practices.

The council recently approved an estimated $3.5 million bond to replace the city’s ageing fire station with a new LEED-certified structure.