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L.A. County Opens Their First Green Library Today
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Los Angeles County dedicated its first "green" library today in Whittier. The new Sorensen Library is a state-of-the-art facility that was built using recycled materials and includes sustainable features. This 10,655 square foot library replaces the original 1,048 square foot Sorensen Library opened in 1956, once the smallest in the County's public library system.The Sorensen Library's new "building structure is entirely made of steel, and approximately 40 percent is recycled," explains the County in the library's dedication announcement.
Some of the eco-friendly design features include roofing material that reduces heat gain from the sun, large windows for natural lighting, interior lights that only illuminate when natural light is insufficient, absorbent parking lot pavement, drought-tolerant landscaping, low-water fixtures, and reclaimed water irrigation. The library expects to use 25% less energy and 50% less water than a conventionally-designed library.
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