July 18, 2007

Anaheim awaits 'green building' certification
The new Haskett Library, along with several other projects, feature environmentally conscious construction.
By ERIK ORTIZ
Staff writer

Patrons of the rebuilt Haskett Branch Library on Broadway may cherish its new collection of books, but it's the building itself that's noteworthy.

The west Anaheim facility, which reopened in May 2006 at a cost of $8.7 million, is poised to join a handful of Orange County buildings as the first "green"-certified project managed by the city of Anaheim.

The library's environmentally friendly features include energy-efficient lighting, water-saving infrared technology in the bathrooms and the use of recycled building materials.

By the fall, the library is expected to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, said Anaheim Public Utilities spokesman Mike Ebbing.

"Green buildings have a positive effect on energy and resource efficiency, waste and pollution generation, and the health of a building's occupants," Ebbing said.

The nationwide trend to build green – which underscores a renewed focus on the environment by federal and state governments – has included residences, schools, shopping centers and fire stations.

About five buildings are LEED-certified in Orange County, according to the local chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. Those include the Fullerton Arboretum Visitor Center at Cal State Fullerton and a Ford Motor Co. building in Irvine.

Certification can be a consuming process, with a third-party reviewing the design and construction of a project. They look at factors such as the materials used, amount of energy and water consumed, landscaping and storm water runoff in scoring a project and determining whether it meets LEED standards.

Last year, Anaheim Public Utilities began a "Green Connection" program in line with the U.S. Green Building Council. The utilities company offers additional incentives and rebates for participants.

"Anaheim is one of the progressive cities in the county," said Jorden Segraves, chairman of the council's Orange County chapter. "Right now they're leading by example."