1. the library we want
capital campaign and legacy project
the Valatie Free Library
3203 Church St. box 336 valatie, ny 12184
The Valatie Free Library’s Evergreen Project for the Library We Want.
The future Valatie Free Library on Kinderhook Street (Rt 9) will be a near Net-Zero building.
Considering the exponentially rising costs of energy, a plan to relocate to a much larger space
would prohibitively deplete the operating budget. The library's goal is to reduce both the need
and the expense of energy for the library.
Architecture has provided a unique solution: our building designer has specified energy-efficient
materials and construction techniques. The planned green building project will align our
resource-use with 'ever-green' practices, including the installation of skylights and photovoltaic
solar panel technology, with the goal of attaining Net-Zero energy usage.
The innovative building materials and techniques include energy-efficient thermal Steel
Structural Insulated Galvalume Panels (SSIPs), combined with an expanded polystyrene core.
The 'shell' for the new addition will be composed of SSIPs for the external, load-bearing walls
and form an integral part of the roof system. This building envelope will protect against fire,
hurricanes, and other disasters, saving on fire insurance and drastically reducing resource
depletion of the library's operating budget. The specified materials and construction techniques
are resistant to fire, pestilence and storms developed in the rebuilding of New Orleans and the
Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Valatie is one of the very first to employ these new
materials outside of the Gulf Coast.
With the ability to generate power from the sun during an emergency, such as an ice storm or
other incident, the library's solar power has an additional opportunity for 'net metering': the
library produces power when the sun shines-sending it into the grid-only purchasing power back
from the grid when needed, all serving to lower costs and leave the library's operating budget
intact.
With costs matched by the State of New York's "Public Library Construction Grant Program",
and additional installation costs funded through rebates by the NYS Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA), the building and installation cost of these improvements
should pay for themselves within a few years. Utility savings will yield funds for the purchase of
books and materials for the library's collections, as well as for operating budget and programs.
The hybrid building is iconic for an online innovative hub, serving the entire community, and will
also foster communication and cooperation between many library and community patrons and
groups. The success of this project will include an energized landscape of learning and access to
information for all age groups as well as provide a centralized location and facility that meets
multiple community needs, i.e. community hub.
As the library barn building is prominently visible from Kinderhook Street, these 'green'
initiatives will publicly demonstrate the VFL's environmental stewardship.
Please see the United Nations’ Sustainability Initiative for their Rio+20 Summit which features
our library project: http://futurewewant.org/portfolio/sustainable-library-ibrary/
Capit alCampaign@Valat ieLibrary.net
