Ohio's First Free-Standing LEED-Certified Library
As a reflection of the nation's interest in the growing green movement, Cleveland Public Library's new Rice Branch received silver LEED certification in August after months of extensive review and a lengthy approval process. In doing so, it became the first free-standing library in Ohio to earn this prestigious designation.
LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability in the U.S. as well as in a number of other countries around the world. The LEED green building rating system, which was developed and is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C., is designed to promote design and construction practices that reduce the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improve occupant health and well-being.
The new branch, which officially opened in January 2010, showcases a number of the latest green building technologies. A key sustainable attribute of the Rice Branch is its raised floor. The modular flooring system sits 24 inches above a separate floor to allow for the installation of the air conditioning, heating and electrical units. This provides for a more efficient air flow than most AC systems, which deliver air from above and must force it downward. As a result, the Rice Branch uses a lot less energy to control the temperature of the interior than had a traditional overhead heating and cooling system been installed. | More »
