The Blue Sky Program

Project description summary

In an effort to generate community awareness and to highlight the benefits and applications of renewable energy, the Sublette County Library with funding from Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky℠ Program has installed grid-tied passive solar photovoltaic cells on the new addition's south side. The project’s completion date was October 1st, 2009. The generator’s nameplate rating is 4.0 kW and is expected to generate 12 kWh/day with an annual estimated production of 4,300 kWh.

What are photovoltaic cells?

Passive solar photovoltaic cells (PV cells), otherwise known as solar panels, convert sunlight into electricity. The word "photovoltaic" means the process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage). Cells, or panels are generally made from silicon and other materials and are typically placed on rooftops or open land for maximum exposure to sunlight. PV cells are increasingly a method used by homeowners and utility companies alike to generate power. The library's photovoltaic panels are located on the southern aspect of the new addition attached to one of the structurally insulated rammed earth walls.

To learn more about solar photovoltaic technology, visit the National Renewable Energy Technology's website.

Why are they important?

The library believes that people can better achieve enrichment and fulfillment through lifelong use of available information and knowledge, and that the public library is the focal point in the community for both formal and informal association with information and ideas. Sustainable living and renewable energy is a topic that our community members have increasingly expressed interest in.

Even as the cost of photovoltaic systems continues to become more affordable, it may still be out of reach for many of our community members.
The average Wyoming family uses approximately 11,000 kWh of energy a year, and our project installed in a home would generate less than half of that. Our aim is to educate our population about some of the proven benefits of solar energy as this evolving technology continues to become more accessible to the layperson. Some of these benefits include:

• The simplicity to install and maintain these renewable sources of energy
• The minimal environmental impact created where they are installed
• It being a renewable, non-polluting energy resource

We believe the Blue Sky project is an extension of our mission here at the Sublette County Library, and are proud to have partnered with Rocky Mountain Power to provide this opportunity to our community.

More information

The Blue Sky Program

Rocky Mountain Power's Energy Efficiency Resources: View suggestions for saving money on your electric bill

Rocky Mountain Power Environmental Impact Calculator: Determine the environmental impact of your renewable power choices

Rocky Mountain Power's homepage

Interested in learning more about renewable energy and sustainable living? The library has a wealth of resources and we're happy to help. Ask a Question.

The addition also incorporates the following energy and atmosphere specifications:

• Condensing boilers which are the most energy efficient boilers on the market.
• Demand/control ventilation. (CO₂ sensors which indicate how much outside air should come in.
• Economizer is used in the Lovatt Community Room i.e. "free cooling”. The economizer cycle is incorporated in all remote terminal units (RTUs). This is a relatively low-cost way of having variable settings for airflow, rather than behaving in simple on/off modes.
• Heat recovery ventilator — air exhausted from the bathrooms is passed over a heat recovery coil. This warms or cools incoming outside air with outgoing exhaust air depending on season. It also serves to temper the incoming supply air that feeds the heating and cooling units in order to further maximize system efficiency.
• Condensing units do not use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFs) which are both ozone depleting. Puron® Refrigerant is used instead, which is more environmentally friendly.
• Lower flow toilets and lower flow lavatory faucets have been installed.

Materials & Resources

• An area has been dedicated to recycling near the loading dock. This area may be used to separate paper, glass, plastics and metals.
• The renovation of the existing building accommodated the library's evolving use of the space. In addition, at the renovation, the clerestory windows were retrofitted to become operating and ventilating units, upgrading them to a more energy efficient window. This will provide increased cooling ability to the library in the summer months.
• A large portion of exterior building materials are reclaimed or utilize local materials. Exterior building materials include recycled Wyoming snow fence, oxidized steel panels, and rammed earth. The reclaimed snow fence comes from many miles of snow fence systems throughout the state of Wyoming. Centennial Woods (the supplier) is located in Laramie, Wyoming. The wood did not need to be treated with any form of chemical and therefore is 100 percent natural. If a board needs to be replaced, it can be easily reordered from the company and will not need to be treated.
• The oxidized steel panels are similarly a low maintenance material. With a long life span and the potential for being 100% recycled if ever removed, these steel panels are a responsible siding choice.
• The rammed earth system used local sand pits for material. The exterior two foot thick wall is comprised of two wythes of rammed earth and a rigid insulation break within. The interior wythe of rammed earth will absorb and re-radiate the warm or cool air of the interior while the exterior wythe of rammed earth serves to mitigate the temperature swings of the exterior environment. There are no additional interior or exterior finishes—the rammed earth is the final product.
• In the concrete mix design, fly ash¹ is used at slab on grade, slab on deck, and at the exterior foundation walls.
• Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) is being used for for framing at 24 inch O.C. spacing. LSLs are a strong, stable, engineered wood product. Because of its strength, it uses less material in the building. It is also environmentally friendly because it uses smaller diameter trees from the forest and therefore is a more efficient use of forest resources.
• Glue Laminated Beams (GLBs) are being used for the heavy timber framing work that support the large spans of the Lovatt Community Room and lobby as well as the Western Collection room. These beams are more dimensionally stable and stronger than solid wood timbers. Being composed of smaller dimension laminations also supports a more efficient use of forest resources.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Low and no VOC (volatile organic compounds such as adhesives, sealants, paints, coating, carpet systems, and composite woods) materials were used in the construction.
• Composite woods and veneers are required to contain no urea-formaldehyde. Blanket insulation is called out as formaldehyde free with 20 percent total glass cullet recycled content. Sprayed insulation is called out with a minimum of 5 percent recycled content.
• Low VOC paints meeting or exceeding the VOC and chemical component limits of Green Seal certification requirements were used.
• A form release agent called Farm Fresh² was be used in the concrete bonding. This is a colorless bio-based oil and is low VOC compliant.
• Architectural Stained Concrete and Architectural Sealed Concrete were used throughout the project. Slab on grade is exposed so there is no material waste by adding another flooring material in a majority of the spaces. Specified is a water based low VOC curing compound for all architectural concrete. In addition, the design used a low emitting finish.
• There are walk off mats at the three main entrances. Walk off mats help reduce the amount of pollutants that enter the building on people’s feet. These include pollens, which is a trigger to people with asthma.
• Carpets in the existing building are natural fibers and comply with the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label testing program³.

Day Lighting & Glazing

Day lighting is a large part of the overall energy efficiency strategy used throughout the building.

• Day lighting in the Lovatt Community Room is incorporated at the south side through clerestory windows. Motorized shades are used for lighting control. This should reduce the need for electric lighting during the day.
• At the south side, large overhangs were designed to shade the community room in the summer months but allow for desired solar heat and ample light in the winter months.
• At the north side, the Western Collection room takes advantage of diffuse northern light through large windows.
• The double pane insulating glass has a 1/2” air space, low e-coating, and low uvalue and shading coefficient.
• All spaces with occupants will have views to the outside and access to daylight.

Innovation & Design Process

• This building is the first commercial construction in the United States to utilize a Stabilized Insulated Rammed Earth wall (SIREWALL®). This construction method has the value of a low-embodied energy process and a highly durable finish. The SIREWALL also has a large thermal mass and effective R-value which will help regulate building temperatures from severe temperature swings and enable more efficient heating and cooling of the building⁴.

Interested in learning more about renewable energy and sustainable living? The library has a wealth of resources and we're happy to help. Ask a Question.

^† Information in this section was retrieved from the SUBLETTE COUNTY LIBRARY ADDITION AND RENOVATION Green Design Components report by Matt Thackray, Project Manager, Carney Architects. Date of issue: January 31, 2008.

¹ Coal fly ash is a waste product of coal-fired power plants and can be used as a substitute for up to 60 percent of the Portland cement in a concrete mixture, depending on the application. It makes the concrete stronger and gives it improved workability compared to a conventional mix. The environmental advantages include reducing the use of high embodied energy Portland cement and reusing an otherwise land filled waste product.

² Farm Fresh is a natural organic chemical release agent made from vegetable oil and used in construction of a bondable concrete surface. Used in environmentally sensitive areas such as near water areas, it is biodegradable. (Concrete Construction, August 2006)

³The CRI Green Label executes testing and certification to indicate carpet, carpet backings, cushions and adhesives that emit low VOCs. It is approved by the American Lung Association in its Healthy Homes program assuring indoor quality. (Carpet & Rug Institute web site www.carpet-rug.org, April 16, 2010)

⁴ For more information about SIREWALL technology and building process, visit www.sirewall.com.

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