LEED Gold Library Tracks Energy Use For Visitors

DALLAS — The new Timberglen Branch Library received LEED NC 2.1 Gold Certification and features an educational kiosk where visitors can use a touch screen to monitor the building’s resource consumption in real time.

The 18,000-square-foot library was built with a focus on reducing energy and water consumption, according to PSA-Dewberry of Virginia, the project architect.

A rainwater collection system has two 50,000-gallon concrete cisterns to collect runoff water for irrigation and toilets. Recycled materials were used throughout the building, which is fixed with indirect lighting fixtures that are automatically controlled by daylight and occupancy sensors. Light shelves and sunshades are also in place to reduce the use of electric light during the day.

Sidewalks, a plaza and the parking lot were paved with light colors to reduce the heat island effect and designers specified an Energy Star-compliant metal roof system.

The kiosk system monitors and keeps a record of electricity, potable water and rainwater use. The building’s energy systems can be explored with a checklist of its LEED features and a study of past data regarding energy consumption, according to designers.

“Through this project, the city has taken several steps to educate and encourage sustainability beyond the building itself,” says Tim S. Kraft, principal with PSA-Dewberry, who led the design team.