Green buildings as sustainability education tools
| Date | 31 August 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831211266546 |
| Pages | 397-407 |
| Published date | 31 August 2012 |
| Author | Laura L. Barnes |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Green buildings as sustainability
education tools
Laura L. Barnes
Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
Champaign, Illinois, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of green building technologies and
practices and illustrate how public libraries can use them as tools to teach their communities about
sustainability and foster behavior change.
Design/methodol ogy/approach – Through literature searches, case studies analysis, and
individual phone and e-mail interviews, the author identified ways that public libraries can use
their buildings to demonstrate green technologies and practices and show their patrons how to apply
them at home, at work, and in the community.
Findings – Education is a component of LEED certification. Many LEED certified libraries publicize
a list of the green technologies used in their building projects. Some sponsor programs related to the
green building and include permanent displays in the library to explain how the technology works.
The Fayetteville Public Library went beyond these basic techniques to not only improve the
sustainability of their operations but also become a community test bed for a renewable energy project.
Originality/value – This paper sheds light on how building projects can be used not only to educate
the public about green technologies and practices, but also inspire others to begin using similar
techniques at home, at work, and in the community.
Keywords Library buildings,Sustainable development, Publiclibraries, Communities,
Environmentalmanagement, Education
Paper type General review
Introduction
Libraries are trusted community institutions, which makes them ideal locations for
green technology demonstrations and strategic ally positions them to become
community models for sustainability. Green building projects are not only
intrinsically valuable, but can also serve as excellent vehicles for launching a
broader community conversation about environmental issues.
According to the Institute for Sustainable Communities, a sustainable community is
one that “is economically, environmentally, and socially healthy and resilient. It meets
challenges through integrated solutions rather than through fragmented approaches
that meet one of those goals at the expense of the others. And it takes a long-term
perspective – one that’s focused on both the present and future, well beyond the next
budget or election cycle (ISC, 2012).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
The author wishes to thank the members of the Sustainable Librarians LinkedIn Group and the
STS-L, Envlib, and ISL-All-Synergy e-mail lists for their assistance with identifying green
library building projects. Their suggestions were invaluable. Thanks also to Paul Mills of the
Fountaindale Public Library and Sharon Jarvis, Branch Manager of the Bronx Library Center, for
sharing details of their libraries’ green building projects and community education efforts.
Green buildings
as sustainability
education tools
397
Received April 2012
Revised May 2012
Accepted May 2012
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 30 No. 3, 2012
pp. 397-407
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378831211266546
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