Indoor Environmental Quality - King Library LEED Certification part 4

This week's segment highlights the 'indoor environmental quality' section on the Facilities website for the King Library LEED certification process.

This section focuses on how the King Library's construction and operation affects the health, safety, and well-being of the people inside the building.

The Library was built to take advantage of natural daylight, but also to be able to limit the sunlight in certain areas.

*Most of the library materials are housed in the interior of the building, so that many of the study areas could be placed near the windows and natural light.

*The electric lights near the windows are controlled by timers, so they will only turn on during evening hours.

*The glass public elevators and the atrium also bring natural light into the building.

*There are rolling window shades, outdoor overhangs, and window screening dots that help to shield unwanted daylight in conference rooms, offices, and other western and southern areas of the library that would receive the most intense sunlight.

The Library was constructed with materials that are not harmful to the builders or the people inside the building.

*NO building materials containing asbestos, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), or CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) were installed in the King Library. Asbestos, PCBs, and CFCs have been determined to be harmful to human health.

*All paints and adhesives were specified to be low in VOCs, volatile organic compounds that slowly release chemicals into the air over time.

*Smoking was not allowed during construction of the building.

Current library operations work to keep air quality desirable.

*The HVAC system (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) uses highly efficient MERV 14 air filters (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value filter rating system) to remove particulates from the air like dust, spores, pollen, and toner particles.

*If the outside air is determined to be the appropriate temperature and humidity, the economizer cycle can pull in outdoor air for cooling rather than using the air conditioning system. Outside air can also be brought in if the carbon dioxide levels in the building are too high.

*Green cleaning products and methods are used. Vinegar is used as the primary cleaner and the custodial staff washes/reuses mopheads and rags rather than discarding them after every use.

Integrated Pest Management uses a variety of ways to deter and manage pests like insects or rodents.

*Non-chemical means are attempted first... like removing attractants (food), physically blocking pests from entering the building, or trapping/removing the pests (like hanging sticky traps for flies).

*If chemical means need to be used, the least toxic chemical specific to the pest will be used and the people in the area will be notified so they can take appropriate precautions.

Green tip of the week: Consider trying out green cleaning products at home....like vinegar, baking soda, and warm water.

Here's a USA Today article that discusses using vinegar and baking soda as alternatives to traditional cleansers, especially in homes with children.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-04-21-green-cleaning_N.htm

Here's the link for the indoor environmental quality webpage for the King Library LEED certification:
http://www.sjsu.edu/fdo/energy/sustainability/king_lib_leed/kingleed5ieq/

Here's some other webpages that discuss indoor environmental quality:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/