The Framingham Public Library recently announced that the year-old Christa McAuliffe Branch Library has received Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. This award signifies that the McAuliffe Library has met the US Green Buildings Commissions’ high standards for sustainability. This is the first Town of Framingham building to achieve LEED certification.

“The Town of Framingham will receive an additional $104,664 from the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program because the McAuliffe project achieved LEED certification,” explained Ruth Winett, president of the Framingham Public Library Foundation. The Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program funded 49% of the cost of the $8.6 million project. The Town funded 44% of the cost, and donations to the Framingham Public Library Foundation funded 7% of the cost, Winett reported.

To receive LEED Certification, a construction project must earn points in several areas, including using sustainable materials, conserving energy, and reducing greenhouse emissions. Based on the number of points achieved, a project receives one of four awards: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

“Our new branch library reflects the community’s and the Town of Framingham’s commitment to sustainability and to building and maintaining healthy environments for civic engagement,” said Mark Contois, Library Director.

Sam Klaidman, Chair of the Framingham Public Library’s Building Committee remarked that as a sustainable building, the McAuliffe Library “will save Framingham money for the next 100 years, and it will motivate other builders to at least match our results.” Additionally, the Library can “hold educational programs in the new building that motivate individuals to create sustainable homes.”

The McAuliffe Branch Library was featured on the cover of the November, 2016, issue of Library Journal. Architects for the project are Finegold Alexander of Boston.