Our class met with Laura Blaylock at the Tarrant Regional Water District Annex Building. This 26,000 square foot structure achieved LEED Gold certification in 2009, the first in the county.
Photo from Steele & Freeman
The Annex has one of the largest roof-mounted solar panel systems in Texas. With a 16 year payback, the system generates approximately 50-70% of the building's energy. They also received a rebate from Oncor for the installation of the system.
The cisterns are connected to a drip-irrigation system for landscaping, which features drough-resistant native plants. Outdoor lighting is also pointed down to prevent unnecessary uplighting.
Some sustainability features within the annex include local and recycled materials, no- or low-VOC paints, no-formaldehyde MDF cabinets in the breakroom, and Low-E glazing. The countertop in the breakroom as well as the exposed concrete floor here (right) are sealed with a beeswax product. Other flooring in the building includes cork and carpet tiles made from recycled materials. Additionally, the steel structure of the building contains 40% recycled content.
In addition, the TRWD serves almost 2 million people and so they are very dedicated to various water conservation programs.
Jerry is a project manager with experience in commercial leasing and ground-up construction. He works for the Cherokee Nation and is assigned to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection. At this position, he has worked on lawyer offices, forensic labs, border patrol offices, and on many other building projects. He discussed Energy Star, LEED, and Labs21, which is a voluntary program focused on improving the environmental quality of laboratories.
Jerry discussed his current task of standardizing office space planning for federal government buildings, an important issue considering the government does not want to expand their footprint. The federal government is looking to incorporate more teleworking within its various departments and this will definitely allow for space saving. He is determining the amount of office space needed for workers based on job descriptions, not on grade. He stated that 3,000 square feet of savings equates to $160,000 savings and 132 metric tons of CO2 are saved per year.
Here is a video about how teleworking is creating a more sustainable and efficient federal government.
The video below is the first 10 minutes of a great PBS special entitled "Greening the Federal Government." The full episode can be see here.
Our class met with Bill Peterson and Geoff Reiner, architects at Jacobs Engineering. They discussed adaptive reuse and as it relates to downtown Fort Worth. Adaptive reuse is the process of adapting/reusing an existing building for a different purpose. This process contributes to the preservation of greenspace, the lessening of sprawl, and the conservation of energy which is embodied in the existing structure. Reusing existing buildings for new purposes is not only sustainable but the method also adds to a rich history and sense of place for the community.
We started off at Fire Station No.1, an example of an adaptive reuse. The old firestation is now a museum, housing Fort Worth's 150 years of history. Here we discussed the evolution of design and construction of the city's built environment. At the beginning, the structures being built were simply a reaction to the elements. They were made from the wood found locally, and were designed to best optimize natural lighting, ventilation, and shading. As time went on, technology allowed for people to build with materials being transported in. And as technology introduced even more durable materials and attractive building systems, such as air conditioning, the built environment became less and less sustainable. Today, people are looking back at what has been built and are now asking the questions of how to be more sustainable, both with new construction and with the existing structures. The current status of downtown Fort Worth is a mixture of old and new, with wide sidewalks to accomodate pedestrians.
Here is an interesting video on challenges, opportunities and benefits of adaptive reuse.
Our class met with Shanna Cate, the Planning and Development Director for the Trinity River Vision Authority. From their website: "The Trinity River Vision Authority (TRVA) is the organization responsible for the implementation of the Trinity River Vision (TRV) - a master plan for the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas. It is underway now - connecting every neighborhood in the city to the Trinity River corridor with new recreational amenities, improved infrastructure, environmental enhancements and event programming. The TRV will create Trintiy Uptown, a vibrant urban waterfront neighborhood, expand Gateway Park into one of the largest urban-programmed parks in the nation and enhance the river corridor with over 90 user-requested projects along the Trinity Trails."
Citizens of Fort Worth have repeatedly stated that they want a waterfront and better access to the river. The city's current levee system, built after a devestating flood in 1949, is three stories high and has been a barrier to access. And as population and development increased, vast amounts of impervious surfaces have caused runoff and stormwater management problems for the river. The Trinity Uptown development will bring the public infrastructure needed to solve these issues.
Photo from TRVA
Trinity Uptown will include commerical development, boating and water activities, river walk and canals, riverfront dining and entertainment, a town lake and boardwalk, and higher learning.
Photo from TRVA
The Trinity River Vision project plans to be a model for sustainability as well. Through smart design and implementation, a sustainable community will result. One such way the vision plans to apply proper sustainability practices is by designing for density. By way of mixed-use zoning, the project will promote a live, work, play environment.
Photo from TRVA
Sustainability practices will also be implemented by focusing on elements that reflect good quality of life, such as canals, lakes, walking trails, public plazas, ball fields, and ecosystem restoration.
Photo from TRVA
Transportation is a big issue when it comes to sustainability. The circulation network designed will create an urban, walkable grid which will maximize the connectivity for vehicles, pedestrians, public transportation, and bicycles. The roads and bridges will be constructed to accommodate a future mass transit system. The waterways within the development will also be used for transportation purposes.
Another aspect of sustainability this project will entail is promoting good health. Twenty-seven miles of trails will be in place for recreational use. The usable waterways will be great for boaters, and new park facilities will be created so that the public can enjoy the outdoors.
Green building and sustainable contruction methods will be very important. Low-maintenance landscaping, reuse of materials for construction of public infrastructure, flood gates for water quality control, innovative storm water management, and incentives for construction of LEED certified buildings will be among the practices at Trinity Uptown.
Set for a 2021 completion date, the city, residents, and the TRVA are excited about what this development will bring to the city.
The revitalization of Gateway Park (left) will not only restore the park's ecosystem and provide quality flood control, but it is likely to spur economic development around the park. The park will be an important connection between the neighborhoods of the east and southeast of Fort Worth to the Trinity River.
Positive transformation of the Trinity River has already begun and proven to be what residents want. The ability to access the river adds to the city's sense of community.
DIY Urbanism, also known as Tactical Urbanism, is a pretty broad umbrella and can be done anywhere. I thought it was impressive that the concept even has its own Facebook page. Despite occurring in many places all over the world, the meaning is always the same - a short term action that leads to a long term change. The goal is to have a small-scale focus (building by building, block by block) rather than concentrating on large developments and master plans. Our government entities at all levels have little to no money for revitalization projects, while billions of dollars are spent on highways and wide roads only to lead to money and populations leaving the city. The change that is sought must be conducted by local residents and community groups.
This concept begins with old strategies of simply taking care of where we live and the neighborhoods we inhabit. By residents taking an active role in cleaning up their blocks, soon the community has a new spirit and the streets are enlivened with even more activity. People are taking back their cities in simple, yet creative ways. It's about grassroots plans and experimenting to see what works. Many examples of DIY Urbanism were discussed in Rik's presentation:
Photo from gray_matter(s) within Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture
"Parking Day" is occurring in many cities and gaining popularity. People take over metered parking spaces intended for cars and use however they please.
Called a Pedestrian Defense Movement in Mexico City, residents took it upon themselves to construct crosswalks using art. This is also occurring in cities all over the world. The public is painting their own crosswalks, bike lanes, and street signage.
Citizens are setting up their own free book exchange locations. Just another element to liven up the environment and create interaction within a city.
Depaving concrete areas has been made popular by the Portland group, Depave, who even provides instructional videos on their website. More natural community spaces are then created, such as gardens or landscaping. The asphalt is recycled as well.
"Pavement to Plaza" includes completely removing automobile access with temporary materials, only to transition to permanence later. Pedestrians are reclaiming space. This photo (right) is in lower Manhattan around 1997. The successful project was later constructed with permanent materials and became the inspiration for NYC's now widely-praised pavement to plaza program. One very well-know example was the Broadway pedestrian plaza experiment in Times Square.
Below is a successful demonstration of how something seemingly small but creative can really stimulate change. From The Fun Theory: "...the easiest way to change people's behaviour for the better is by making it fun to do."
***
Debby Stein then spoke about her work with the Riverside Arts District in Fort Worth. Located northeast of downtown, this community is an urban village and has been designated for redevelopment by the City. Despite the creation of a master plan, nothing was really happening to further the vision. Debby has worked passionately with residents to bring attention and life to the area. From their website: "Riverside Arts District is the vision of artists, residents, community leaders, and business owners who want to build a walkable, dynamic and creative community in Fort Worth. RAD's first event was Better Block embRACE the STREET - a temporary yet dramatic makeover of Race Street including new streetscaping, public art, an urban garden, dog park, merchants, pop up shops and galleries. The event demonstrated the great potential of this neighborhood and the city's need for an authentic arts district. Upcoming events include Gallery Nights, Outdoor Concerts, Artist Open Studio nights, Garden events and more!" Debby has taken a lead role in understanding the area's potential and communicating and coordinating with local businesses, residents, developers, and city officials.
Art is the catalyst for this area on its path to revitalization. Through coordination of various demonstration projects, such as gallery walks and community drum circles, the Riverside Arts District is really creating an identity all its own and restoring the area one block at a time.
Mark Thompson is with Green Ox Energy, and he discussed renewable energy in Texas. In deregulated markets, such as DFW, the generation side of electricity, such as power plants, and electric providers are competitive markets. The distribution of the electricity, however, is still regulated.
In Texas, the big three in electricity generation have been coal, nuclear, and gas. There are many environmental concerns with these sources of energy, including greenhouse gas emissions, potential for natural disasters (like what we saw in Japan), and high water usage. Mark indicated that coal plants really are antiquated technology, and the EPA has so many restrictions on these plants that it is nearly impossible to building a new one. We have been seeing rising demand across the state and less supply to meet that demand, which is creating an opportunity for smart energy solutions.
The high cost of the above options versus the availability of traditional methods of electricity generation has hampered widespread use. Wind turbines are very large, expensive and locations are restricted since they need consistent wind generation. Similarly, geothermal can also be expensive and the heat pumps are only viable sources for heating and cooling. Green Ox Energy, conversely, has turned to solar energy for their central focus.
The video above features a project by Green Ox Energy, for which they installed a 7.56kW solar powered system and an 80 gallon solar powered water system which serves as a pre-heater for four additional 40 gallon electric tanks. The home is about 10,000 square feet and prior to the solar panel installation, the owner had electric bills that averaged $1,200 per month. The system is expected to generate over 10,000kW per year and produce almost $200,000 in utility savings over the life of the system. The customer sees a seven year payback for the system.
The elements of a solar panel system include the solar silicon cells, glass, frame, mounting hardware (for ground or roof installation) and the inverter for direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) conversion. Systems are used for residential use, commercial use, or utility scale solar farms. The system design is important, which takes into account the orientation to the sun (south and southwest facing angles are most productive), the available space for panels, the possibility of shading, budget requirements, and available incentives.
Photo from Green Ox Energy
The panels are very strong and have little to no damage during high wind and hail storms. The expected lifespan of a panel is 25 years (the silicon does degrade over time due to sun exposure) but it will still produce electricity at 80% of its maximum capacity. The cost for solar panels has come down some due the improved technology. Currently, a typical 15 square foot panel can provide a 245 to 265 W output, and the efficiency is expected to ever-increase. And the system is designed so that an owner can expand it in the future.
The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) is a $48 million LEED Platinum building, the first in Tarrant County and only the eighth in Texas. BRIT's mission reflects that of research, conservation and reusing natural resources. The organization studies plants in an effort to solve more global issues, such as pollution, hunger and water shortages. This 70,000 square foot structure seems to visually represent their mission.
The 5.2 acre site is restored prairie. The design and construction team demolished a health services building that sat on the north edge of the site, and restored over 76% of the site to natural habitat (the LEED requirement is 50%). And although demolition does not necessarily seem "sustainable" and "green," the team disassembled the building part-by-part, and almost 98% of the building was reused and recycled. This site also features low-maintenance native plants, and irrigation for the landscaping is supplied by rainwater cisterns as well as the retention pond. The pond collects rainwater and runoff from the parking lot and is designed to remove silt and pollution from the surface runoff water.
Photo from H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture
The vegetative roof is also a major feature of the building. The living roof supports the local ecosystem, helps to insulate the building, limits rainwater runoff, and is durable.
The 51.87 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof of the Archive Block (see image below). The 285 panel system covers 5,943 square feet and meets approximately 16% of the building's annual electric demand (a savings of about $37,000 per year). The remainder of the roof is a white, reflective surface. Other site features, as seen in the image below, include LED parking lot lighting, low-emissions vehicle parking, and the location of the 166 geothermal wells which supply a majority of the building's heating and cooling.
Photo from BRIT
Photo from Beck. Aerial Photography, Inc.
The design of the building is very important, especially when speaking to energy efficiency. The photo (left) is facing north. The tilt-up concrete walls shield much of the eastern, western and southern exposures. The vast amount of windows on the north side of the building allow for great natural light without the heat gain from direct sunlight. The strategic placement of windows allow access to light and views.
Photo from H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture
Natural sunlight penetrates more than 75 percent of the building.
The interior of the building features many recycled and sustainable materials, such as bamboo ceiling (seen in the above photo of the office space), linen and paper wall coverings, wool carpet, recycled rubber flooring, and recycled sheetrock was used for ceiling tiles and gypsum board. Materials with recycled content were used for over 20% of the building materials in this project. Structural steel, steel pipes and other metal products are some of the most significant recycled content materials at BRIT. And the cypress wood that is cladding for the wall (right) at the entrance lobby actually fell from logging barges more than 100 years ago and was reclaimed and produced into panels.
BRIT also features low-flow plumbing features, low VOC paints and flooring, wall insulation that is made from sand and post-consumer recycled glass bottles, and staff that mostly bike to work.
At the MillerCoors Plant, we met Rashad Alston, the Trade Quality Specialist, and Lairy Johnson, the Environmental and Sustainability Engineer. MillerCoors has incorporated many sustainability measures in their business model and plant operations. Although their sustainability focus began about 10 years ago, only about one year ago, their corporate officials placed a directive on all areas of the company to reduce energy and water consumption by 6% every year, which is something unheard of in this industry considering the high consumption in the brewing process. After just a short period, however, the Fort Worth brewery became the second best in the company in energy use. This is pretty amazing when considering the fact that the plant was built in 1964 and houses equipment just as old. Rashad and Larry indicated that the workers there are very proud of their work and the MillerCoors company, and they are always challenging themselves to do better, even in the world of sustainability.
As we went through the brewery, Rashad and Larry explained in great detail all the inner workings of the beer-making process. Some interesting sustainability features to note include waste diversion efforts. Larry had stated that four of the eight MillerCoors breweries in the country are zero-waste to the landfill. The Fort Worth plant is at 99.996% waste diversion (they are not at 100% only because they cannot burn industrial, non-hazard waste which would have to be shipped on trucks out of the area if they wanted to recycle it). Approximately 94% of their waste is the residual grain, which they sell to dairy farmers to feed their cows. They also reminded us that all the packaging used for the beer is recyclable.
Photo from MillerCoors
Water is a major issue for breweries, both in the beverage and also the waste water created in the process of making the beer. In 2011, the Fort Worth plant was able to achieve a water-to-beer ratio of 3.53:1, the best in the company at the time, when the other major breweries in the company average a 4.07:1 ratio. Much water used to be lost, as well, in the brewing process. They installed a water capture system which reclaims the hot water. Although about 10-12% of the water used is lost to due evaporation, the remaining is captured and reused for cleaning and restroom use. They also create biogas from wastewater and use this biogas instead of fossil fuels to generate electricity and to power their boilers.
The process of brewing beer also creates a lot of carbon dioxide. The Fort Worth plant has set up a capturing system for this and reuses it in their bottling of the beer.
MillerCoors has also created many programs to encourage a sense of community and social responsibility. One project, Water As A Crop, is focused on implementing conservation methods on private lands along the Trinity River (the Fort Worth brewery retreives water from many places in the area, including the Trinity River). Their goal is to protect and restore watersheds on these private lands. MillerCoors provides much support to the farmers and ranchers here for the cost to implement the conservation practices that will better manage water runoff, improve water quality, and increase the economic well-being of the farms. One such example was the brewer's support to a local farmer to plant native grasses in buffer zones along his creek. Once these native grasses took hold, the creek level started to rise, and so it improved the grazing.
MillerCoors, and the Fort Worth brewery in particular, has set a major example not just in the beverage industry, but for all companies looking to operate in a more sustainable and efficient way.
Andre McEwing used to be the executive director of Southeast Fort Worth Inc. He received his Masters of Sustainability from UTA and now works for the Tarrant County College District as the Manager of Supplier Diversity. He is still very much dedicated to the Southeast Fort Worth organization and his commitment to building a sustainable economic development in this area of the city.
Andre discussed the financial returns for green operations and buildings. There are many benefits to sustainable buildings, including lower operating costs, better air quality, increasing value, conservation of our resources, increased productivity of the users of the building, financial incentives, etc. He mentioned the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the fact that there are 300+ holdings in the index worldwide. There are also, as of mid-2009, 26 green investment funds. These points prove that sustainability is only gaining in momentum and popularity in the business and finance world. Something I also found interesting in his presentation was his information from the U.S. Conference of Mayors:
75% of cities are changing building codes and/or ordinances to encourage green or sustainable buildings.
88% of cities are educating the public about the need for buildings that are energy efficient, healthy, and environmentally sustainable.
Sustainability in our built environment is gaining much attention and local government officials around the country are some of the many who are recognizing the benefits. Many are understanding that green building is simply a better way to build. Even Wal-Mart, a giant corporate retailer, is incorporating sustainable features in their buildings and operations. Some of these include daylight harvesting, parking lot lighting upgrades, more efficient refrigerated case lighting, and water conservation. They are also working toward a goal of being supplied by 100% renewable energy.
Photo from Wal-Mart - PV solar panels on the rooftop
Many resources exist for anyone looking to build more sustainably. One such resource that Andre provided was Build-Smarter.com, a contractor-type website dedicated to providing information on building smarter with alternative materials.
Andre also discussed an upcoming project for TCCD - a new $35 million LEED Platinum building. This 85,000 square foot building will house the New Energy Technology Center which will teach students about sustainable and more efficient building systems, and they will be able to use this very structure as an example for their students.
Allen Smith is the Director of Southeast Fort Worth Inc. He started out working in construction for many years and decided to join the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce because he wanted to give back to his community. While still with the Chamber, he began working with Southeast Fort Worth Inc. in 2012. From their website: "Our Vision is that southeast Fort Worth will be a great place to live, learn, work, play, invest, do business and shop." Since his time there, he has seen great community involvement and support, which is really the backbone for the work he does.
The area the Southeast Fort Worth Inc. covers is from Lancaster Avenue to I-20, and from Lake Arlington to I-35W. Allen, as well as other city and community leaders, see great opportunities for business, employment, and retail development. Southeast has the components to achieve their vision, such as cost-effective land, room to grow, established neighborhoods, well-known institutions of higher learning, and available development incentives; however, Allen stated that it has been a challenge to get developers interested. It has been evaluated that an estimated $70 million a year has been going out of the community due to the fact that the area lacks the retailers and other commercial developments that residents need. Southeast FW Inc. takes a very proactive approach by working with a lot with HOAs and other neighborhood groups to find out what is needed and what residents want, then they go out and seek the developers.
They found that a major step toward attracting businesses and developers would be to improve the neighborhoods they already have and work to infill any empty residential lots. Southeast FW Inc. has been continually working with the city to create a pedestrian-friendly streetscape environment, which in turn is a catalyst for redevelopment. As well, they have been working on the Neighborhood Homes Revitalization Project, the Terrell Homes Residential Project (building new affordable single family homes in empty lots), and promoting Southeast Fort Worth Area Community Gardens.
And the organization's revitalization and redevelopment efforts have not gone unnoticed (see video below).
Today, Southeast Fort Worth Inc. is underway on Renaissance Square, a 180 acre mixed use development to include shopping, dining, entertainment, all residential property types, and light office. The residential area of the development also includes the Uplift Mighty Prep School, which provides college preparatory education and also boasts a 100% graduation and college enrollment rate. The school opened in August 2012.
From SE FW Inc. - The Villages at Renaissance Square Site Plan
From SE FW Inc. - The Suites at Renaissance Square Site Plan
From SE FW Inc. - The Shoppes at Renaissance Square Site Plan
Don Ferrier with Ferrier Custom Homes is simply looking to build smarter, and so he has come to expand his company, focused on building sustainable homes within his clients' budgets and goals. It is interesting that many of his clients have differing goals when it comes to sustainability. Some, such as the Baby Boomer generation, focus mostly on energy efficiency; while others, such as younger generations, consider protecting the environment and our resources to be a top priority. And still others simply have health issues and need a healthier home with better air quality.
Don discussed the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). To the right is the HERS index. An Energy Star rated home is at 85, while Don typically builds homes around 47-55 with no renewable energy source.
A sustainable home begins with
thoughtful passive solar design (left). Don stated that he takes full advantage of this. Passive solar design takes into account the fact that the home should be oriented so that the longest walls face the North and South directions. In Texas, windows along the North wall are good, because one can utilize great natural light without all the heat gain from direct sunlight (in Northern states this can be an issue due to North winds).
Photo from Ferrier Custom Homes
All Southern exposure should have enough of a canopy to shade the windows in the summer when the sun is higher in the sky but allow the sun to penetrate the windows in the winter when it is lower. Also, the placement of deciduous trees along the Southern side of the house is important because they will help shade in the summer but will allow sunlight through in the winter when the leaves have fallen. Proper attic insulation was discussed by Don as well. Insulation should be placed on the underside of the roof to help insulate more efficiently and keep the ducts, usually located in the attic, from feeling the effects of temperature extremes.
Don discussed a home he built for his daughter, which also happened to be the first LEED-Platinum home in Texas (third in the nation).
Photo from Ferrier Custom Homes
With the use of structural insulated panels (SIPs), Don stated that they were able to cut the use of wood from the structure by about 40%, as compared to typical construction. This is a very well-insulated building system and is very durable. The photo above is from the job site and the video below animates the use of SIPs.
Don also discussed the use of advanced framing, which is allowed by code by not widely practiced, in which studs, load bearing walls and roof systems are placed at 24" OC. This technique is sustainable due to the fact that it cuts down on materials used, considering most designers and contractors build at 16" OC.
This home also features a standing seam galvalume roof, which equates to less maintenance, is very durable, and resulted in lower insurance premiums. The metal roof also contributes to energy efficiency because it reflects the sun's rays rather than absorb the heat. In addition, with the use of SIPs, insulated concrete forms (ICFs), and spray foam insulation, any noise from rain or hail landing on the roof is minimized or completely eliminated.
Don has found that more and more appraisers and lenders are starting to understand the value of sustainable design and features of a home, and more and more buyers are beginning to look for such a home. Something I found very interesting is that Don's daughter needed to sell this home, and a doctor relocating here from California, deliberately looking for a green home, eventually bought it. In Texas, this can be somewhat difficult to find, but this particular story, as well as Don's project list, proves that demand is rising.
The list of sustainability features begins with the fact that the library is an adaptive re-use project. Completed in early 2011, the Bedford Library was created from an existing Food Lion grocery building. What I thought was very interesting about this project is that because the city was so limited in funds to not only build the library but also to operate it, the library manager, Maria Redburn, took it upon herself to investigate specific design and construction components to determine what would be most efficient and cost-effective. Although she initially assumed a sustainable building would cost significantly more, her research proved the opposite, and soon Maria was leading the library's sustainability efforts.
Photo by Hidell - PV solar panels on the roof
Maria discovered the vast savings in operational costs with a reflective white roof and PV solar panels (left). The entrance of the building features a solar kiosk, which tracks the building's electric demand and PV solar generation. This can also be tracked online through DECK Monitoring. The architect, Hidell, incorporated many LEED requirements as well, including recycled flooring, Low-E windows, the use of natural and LED lighting, and a timer system for the lighting.
The property also features the use of a geothermal system to heat and cool the building, which greatly improves the building's efficiency and reduces life-cycle costs. The library has 150 geothermal wells that go 250 feet into the ground. The video below is a very informative depiction of how a geothermal system works for commercial buildings as well as the many benefits.
The office space in the library is interesting as well, since it contains open desk areas. These open desk areas with low partition walls allows for better collaboration and communication between workers as well as less lighting since rows of LED ballasts were used. In addition, the use of carpet tiles allows for the replacement in the future of any individual damaged tiles without replacing the entire flooring.
Because the City of Bedford is very fiscally conservative and budget cuts have forced almost every department to cut staff over the years, Maria and her library staff have had to get creative in their operations in order to work as efficiently as possible.
Photo by Hidell
Maria convinced the city to buy an Automatic Materials Handling Unit (she was able to use the argument of energy and operational cost savings to convince the city to buy this). The machine checks in returned books, sorts them, and checks for any issues, which drastically limits this time-intensive activity and frees up the already-lean staff for other tasks. The machine is also hooked up by a conveyor system to the outside drop box. Maria had conducted a cost-benefit analysis, time studies, and had valued the ROI - all came back with a six to seven year payback and staff savings.
Photo by Hidell
The library also features automatic self-checkout stations (right), which frees up the staff to be available for customer questions and concerns. Maria noted that her staff is always striving to be the best by introducing more efficient ways of operating. And as proof of how far they have come, the library was a finalist for Library of the Year. Here sustainability does not only existing in the design of the building, but also in the productivity of the staff.
.jpg)
