NEW PORTSMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY NAMED NH'S FIRST LEED-CERTIFIED MUNICIPAL BUILDING

by Mary Ann List, Director
Portsmouth Public Library
(603) 766-1710
mlist@lib.cityofportsmouth.com

The new Portsmouth Public Library has become the first municipal building in New Hampshire to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification.

The new $8 million "green" library, which was formally dedicated in January, is also the first new library construction project and one of the first public buildings of any type in New England to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The USGBC is the nation's foremost coalition of building industry leaders working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

Library and city staff and officials first began exploring the concepts of sustainability and environmentally sensitive construction for the new library building project in November 2002.

Based on well-founded scientific standards, the LEED program rewards efforts in six areas of building: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor air quality and innovation in the green building design process. The new library achieved high marks in the areas of energy conservation, recycling, materials selection, and daylight and views.

Energy models performed by Andelman and Lelek Engineering, Inc. indicate the new Library's heating, cooling and ventilation system will consume 32.5% less energy than a standard system. Assisted by a grant from Public Service of New Hampshire, premium efficiency motors and highly efficient lighting fixtures and fluorescent tubes were installed in the building. Metered faucets and low-flow toilets contribute to the reduction of water use.

Natural light flows directly into 75% of occupied spaces, and staff and customers have views to the outside in 90% of the library. Paint, carpet and composite wood were all chosen to emit very low amounts of fumes, and manufactured materials consist of recycled content whenever possible.

"This certification is the result of a successful collaboration between City staff, the architects and builders, our LEED consultant, and all the Portsmouth citizens who participated in developing the City's Master Plan that called for balanced and sustainable development," said Library Director, Mary Ann List.

In 2004, the City entered into a contract - funded in part through a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation's Piscataqua Region - with the Jordan Institute to guide the project through the LEED process. Architects Tom Amsler and Jennifer Littlefield of Amsler Mashek MacLean; the project engineers; Construction Manager Robert Smith; and contractors from North Branch Construction worked weekly with City staffers David Allen and Dan Hartrey to incorporate green building attributes into all aspects of the building design and construction.

The official Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design plaque will be presented to City officials in about a month. The Library received silver-level certification. Basic certification is awarded to projects achieving between 26 and 32 points. Silver level certification requires 33 and 38 points. The Portsmouth Library received 36 points. Gold and platinum levels of certification are awarded to projects with up to 69 points on the LEED scale.