Materials and Resources - King Library LEED Certification part 3

This week's segment highlights the 'Materials and Resources' section on the Facilities website for the King Library LEED certification process.

The King Library can earn credit points towards LEED certification if it was built with sustainable materials and in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Here are some examples:
*Recycled wood, concrete and steel were used in construction for the King Library.

*The original brass doors from the SJSU Wahlquist Library were reused for the 4th floor boardroom.

*An existing bamboo grove near the Wahlquist Library site was relocated during the construction of the King Library and later transplanted near the old science building after construction was completed.

*A redwood tree that was cut down during construction for the King Library was converted to veneer and featured as an art piece building column from the lower level up through the 8th floor.


LEED credit points can also be earned based on the manner in which materials are used in the King Library.

*Paper recycling bins are located at public printing/copier areas and recycling collection containers for glass/aluminum cans are located throughout the building.

*Recycling collection stations were established for cell phones at the 5th floor Beethoven Center, batteries in 4th floor staff lounge, and printer cartridges in the 4th floor administrative copier area.

*Furniture is reupholstered, rather than disposed of in favor of new pieces.

*Construction projects in the library are required to recycle 75% of all waste materials produced, either by traditional recycling or by sending refuse to Greenwaste's Material Recovery Facility, MRF.

*More than 90% of the library's 'trash' is sent to the MRF, including wood, plastics, metals, food waste, glass, and paper where it is sorted for recycling, composting, or integration in postconsumer products.

*The library's purchasing policy is to buy supplies made of recycled materials or postconsumer products whenever possible....such as office copier/printer paper or paper towels partially made from recycled paper fibers.


Green tip of the week: Look for products with the postconsumer labeling when shopping and consider purchasing postconsumer items made from recycled materials.

Postconsumer labeling is typically found on these items:
*cereal/cookie/cracker packages
*detergent/cleaning supply containers
*glass containers
*paper towels
*writing paper, greeting cards, stationery supplies
*carpeting
*plastic flower pots, trash cans, recycling bins
*fencing
*packing boxes
*re-refined motor oil
*insulation in ski jackets/gloves/sleeping bags made from recycled PET (#1) plastic bottles

Here are some links to photos of postconsumer labels:
http://pebblecreekpartners.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/postconsumer.gif

http://www.casualcomfortinsulation.com/RecycledSymbol.gif

http://nnrg.org/images/FSC%20Mixed.jpg/image_preview

Here's the link for the materials and resources webpage for the King Library LEED certification:
http://www.sjsu.edu/fdo/energy/sustainability/king_lib_leed/kingleed4mr/

Here's a link about the campus recycling program:
http://www.sjsu.edu/fdo/operations/recycling/info/