Sustainability

Doing our part to LEED the way

The UC Davis Library is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of our buildings and operations. As the largest and most visited building on the main campus, the Peter J. Shields Library has an important role to play in helping UC Davis meet its sustainability goals.

In 2021, Shields Library received LEED Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED EB: OM). This category recognizes sustainability improvements to existing buildings.

The Shields Library project is critical to our campus and the students because it is the largest building and one of the most frequented buildings on our campus.
—Teak Hahn ’21, a green buildings intern at UC Davis Facilities Management who worked on the Shields Library project

A Historic Building Gets a Green Makeover

Shields Library has been part of UC Davis since its earliest days. The original library building — now its north wing, where the Main Reading Room is located — was completed in 1940. Three more wings were added over the subsequent half-century; the west wing, where the main entrance is located today, was completed in 1990.

When UC Davis’ Facilities Energy & Engineering team undertook the project to improve Shields Library’s sustainability and pursue LEED certification, it was a unique challenge due to the building’s age, size and the complexity of its features.

Shields Library’s Green Features

Sustainable Sites:

The roof and hardscape surrounding Shields Library are light in color and highly reflective, which **reduces absorption of the sun’s warmth** **and radiation**, and **reduces indoor cooling costs** during hot months. Trees planted near the building allow for **shade** that also helps reduce solar radiation.

Students planting native plants outside of Shields Library — Replacing little-used lawns with drought-tolerant plants **reduces outdoor water usage**. Designed and planted by the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden’s “Learning by Leading” Sustainable Horticulture program and staff, the landscaping around Shields Library also creates **habitat for native wildlife, insects and pollinators**. It needs no fertilizing, which **improves stormwater quality**, and needs no mowing, which **reduces carbon emissions**.

Energy & Atmosphere:

Three members of the UC Davis Facilities Energy & Engineering team look at part of the Shields Library HVAC system. — To reduce energy use, the **heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system** schedule was updated to avoid running while the building is unoccupied. Other improvements included replacing sensors that regulate fan operations and **reducing overcooling to improve comfort**. These and other energy savings projects **reduced total energy consumption** by 8 percent in the pre-pandemic 2018-19 fiscal year.

Before and after: Facilities Management’s Building Maintenance Services replaced the 27 lamps in the Main Reading Room with LEDs, **saving almost 17,000 watts**.
Other **lighting fixture upgrades** included **motion sensors** and daylight sensors. (If it ever seems dark when you’re looking for a book, that’s why! Just go down the row and the lights will turn on.).

Materials & Resources:

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing criteria informed **sustainable purchases** in several areas of building operations: electric-powered equipment, such as computers and printers; office furniture; and LED lighting, which reduces mercury in lamps.

Clearly labeled **waste bins for compostable and recyclable material** were placed throughout the library to **reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill**. Education and signage are key strategies for diverting waste from landfill bins.

The Bottom Line

With these improvements, Shields Library earned 73 points and qualified for LEED Gold certification, the second-highest level awarded. (LEED Platinum buildings are those that score 80 points and above.)

Hours

Study Spaces Print, Scan, Copy Events & Workshops Exhibits Library Tours Accessibility & Safety

Shields Library is LEED Gold certified

Saving Energy at Blaisdell Medical Library

Energy efficient LED lighting replaced the incandescent lights at Blaisdell Medical Library on the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento in 2022.