The environmentally driven ambitions of a small group of staff members at West Vancouver Memorial Library have been recognized on a national stage.
The library recently became the first existing building in Western Canada, and the only library in the country, to be awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.
LEED certification is normally given to new structures that make use of sustainable building practices, but a couple of years ago, the Canada Green Building Council decided to open up a category for existing buildings as well.
"Our application was very much on the front line. They were developing their evaluation criteria at the same time they were processing our application," explained Jenny Benedict, director of library services.
But the library's original goal wasn't to get LEED certification; it was simply to be more conscientious about day-to-day habits.
"We had a core group of staff who were very, very interested in finding better ways to save energy and reduce waste and conserve water and restrict the use of hazardous chemicals. And it sort of became this infectious challenge within this group, who could come up with the next idea of what the library could do in these areas," said Benedict.
To help implement changes, the library adopted a green building policy, which guides decisions about making purchases, housekeeping and solid waste and landscape management. The idea was to reduce solid waste and focus on buying reusable products over disposable ones.
As for energy consumption, little things like turning off fixtures and computers that weren't being used have made a big difference.
Over the past five years, the library's electrical consumption is down 34 per cent, gas is down 42 per cent and water is down 68 per cent.
"We're really, really, really pleased with those percentage changes," said Benedict.
In 2008, they began looking at how they could fulfill LEED criteria, which include sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, material and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation and design process.
It wasn't an easy job, especially considering that the library has expanded five times since it was originally constructed in 1950.
"Each time those expansions were added to the building, they would sort of come with their own set of mechanical systems . . . that weren't integrated," said Benedict.
Finally achieving their goal was very satisfying, she added.
"I think it was just a huge validation really for the staff. . . . I don't think in their wildest dreams they any idea that this is where their interests, their values and their collaborative spirit would lead to over a five-year span."
For more information go to www. westvanlibrary.ca.
