Los Gatos Library Earns Gold LEED Certification

The Los Gatos Library has received the coveted Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED certification from the United States Green Building Council, signifying that the project met the highest eco-friendly standards.

During the Nov. 19 Town Council meeging, assistant town manager Pamela Jacobs, who was in charge of the project, presented public officials with the plaque. She said when the new 100 Villa Ave. facility was being planned, town officials' objective was always to achieve the certification. The library had its grand opening in February of this year.

The first goal, Jacobs explained, was for the library to achieve a silver certification, but through input from the Council, the community, town commissions, experts, town staff, and hard work of library's architect Noll & Tam and contractor Bogard Construction, the town achieved gold.

"It's the first library in Santa Clara County to be gold-certified," Jacobs said proudly to the applause of those attending the meeting.

The certification is based on environmental sustainability, energy use, water consumption, materials and resources and indoor air quality, she said.

Jacobs said library patrons can go to the facility and see a monitor on the left side of the lobby that tells them about all the building's environmental features. "We're very proud to have achieved this LEED gold [certification] for our new library," she said.