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King Library LEED certification

This research guide describes the green features of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, as defined by the LEED certification for the Operations & Maintenance for existing buildings, and focuses on the interconnections of buildings, community and self.

Rating the King Library: BO+M, Buildings Operations+Maintenance

Don't worry about trying to assign points.  For your LEED credit, review the information  and base your evaluation on the information you find either through visual information (videos, images, site visits) and what you learn from the scholarly literature.

The King Library was certified at silver for existing buildings, operations & maintenance, so start with this information, as you compare it to the newer buildings for the credit you are examining. 

Look at the Building Operations & Maintenance checklist for existing buildings to see all the categories and sub-categories used to rate the library. 

Rating  buildings for LEED certification is complex learning and you need to be certified to do this.  The tab labeled Books on Green/Sustainable Buildings lists books to prepare for the certification exams to become a LEED certified examiner! 

What is LEED?

Why green buildings? Pre-Covid vs Covid-19 time

How many hours does the average American spend in their activities?

How many hours does the average student spend at school and work?

Are these statistics true for you?

How many hours do we spend in buildings at work, school, and home?

In the United States, buildings account for:

  • 39 percent of total energy use
  • 12 percent of total water consumption
  • 68 percent of total electricity consumption
  • 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:  Why Build Green.