One of the city’s newest facilities, the West Irving Library, has made the list for the Dallas Business Journal’s Best Real Estate Deals in the Green Project category. The 25,000-square-foot facility holds the distinction of being the state’s first net zero energy library and it also has been submitted to the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED Gold Certification.
“For the West Irving Library to be named a finalist in the Green Project category for the 2012 Dallas Business Journal’s Best Real Estate Deals is something that the entire Irving community should celebrate,” said Councilwoman Rose Cannaday. “Credit for this recognition belongs to those residents who voiced a desire to have a state-of-the-art library in Irving that is technology rich and environmentally smart; with support from council, the Capital Improvement Program team at City Hall just took the community’s vision and ran with it.”
The West Irving Library is a net zero facility that is equipped with panels that allow for the conversion of solar energy into electricity, and use of geothermal energy is employed to heat and cool the facility. To help construct the library, the City of Irving secured a grant of more than $1.1 million from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office to offset part of the cost of the installation of the solar system.
“Being recognized for our effort to put the environment first in the construction of the West Irving Library by the Dallas Business Journal coincides with how well this amenity has been received by the Irving community,” said City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. “Another exceptional benefit of making the West Irving Library a green project is that the use of solar energy is saving an estimated $55,000 in building operation costs annually and as a net zero energy facility, the library generates just as much electricity as it consumes on annual basis.”
The West Irving Library, 4444 W. Rochelle Road, is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call (972) 721-2691.
