Library green building features

We are to “serve and preserve” the land, according to Genesis 2:15. Confession of Faith in Mennonite Perspective spells this out more fully: “We are called to care for the earth and to bring rest and renewal to the land and everything that lives on it.” As we built the library and bookstore, this call led to our commitment to disturb and abuse God’s creation as little as possible and to restore the land if we could.

The commitment to being stewards of what God has put in our care set the larger framework for our decisions. In addition, we wanted to create a place where resources are accessible and preserved, and where people feel invited to come for reflection, discovery, collaboration and inspiration.

To guide the design and construction of the building, we followed standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council in their LEED certification program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED buildings are required to meet rigorous standards in areas such as energy efficiency, water management, use of recycled materials and indoor air quality. With the help of experienced planners, we chose materials, features and systems for the building that met these goals:

  • A geothermal ground-source heating and cooling system uses the temperature of the earth to heat and cool the building; no natural gas is used.
  • Triple-pane windows and efficient insulation reduce energy needed for heating and cooling.
  • Carefully designed windows, including north-facing clerestories use daylight effectively and reduce use of electricity for interior lighting.
  • Photocells dim electric lights according to how much daylight is available.
  • Building materials come from the region rather than being transported long distances. Cherry trees, already harvested from a nearby area, were used for 7,041 board feet of trim and 500 square yards of paneling.
  • Sustainable building materials that can be replenished readily, such as wood, were chosen instead of petroleum-based plastics.
  • Paints, adhesives and fabrics that do not emit fumes keep the interior atmosphere healthy.
  • Rain gardens next to the building retain water runoff from the roof rather than sending it through city storm drains. Deep-rooted, drought-resistant native plants cleanse the water as it returns to the aquifer below.
  • Restored prairie grasses near the building minimize time and fuel spent on mowing. Experience gained in this prairie experiment will guide planning to restore more campus land to natural sustainability.

These features are just a few of the sixty-nine aspects of green building design and construction that we considered. We expect to achieve long-term benefits , including reducing the use of natural resources, enhancing comfort and health of all who use the library, controlling operating costs and restoring native features to the environment.

While we are pleased to have the first theological library building registered with the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED certification, we are motivated by the larger goal of our responsibility to God and our hope to share this vision of sustainable building practices with others in our community and the church.