As the University’s second-largest recycler, the J.D. Williams Library staff and housekeepers deal with a variety of materials, from tons of paper to the plastic found inside old VHS tapes.
Now, the library is looking to bigger ways of leaving an even greener footprint.
Library staff wrote a proposal for the installment of low emissivity window tint on the windows of the library through the UM Green Fund in 2014. This innovation reflects about 57 percent of solar energy, thus reducing heat and effectively lowering energy costs for the building.
(Among other strategies to reduce its environmental impact, the J.D. Williams Library has increased its efforts for conservation through tinting the north windows to reflect heat. | Photo by: Royce Swayze)
Created in the spring of 2013, the UM Green Fund is a pool of funding of about $15,000 overseen by a committee of students, faculty and staff. Anyone can write a proposal to suggest a project that promotes sustainability.
All donations are matched 50 percent by the University. Since its founding, the Green Fund has successfully funded five projects.
Buffy Choinski, head of the science library and library Green Team chair, said the library staff initially placed tinted windows above the J.D. Williams east entrance for ultraviolet ray protection. When they noticed the change helped with energy costs, they submitted a proposal to the Green Fund for the library’s south windows as well.
Anne McCauley, assistant director at the Office of Sustainability, said she is proud of the fund and the opportunities it presents.
“It gives everyone an outlet for bringing a project on campus,” McCauley said. “It allows for innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit.”
Senior linguistics major Sabrina Kosloske and library employee said the library’s measures were helpful for the campus as a whole.
“Since the library is in a central location on campus, it’s important for them to promote recycling, and they do a good job of it,” Kosloske said.
Library operations manager Stan Whitehorn said a little help from students goes along way to complement the efforts of campus organizations.
“Take care of your business,” Whitehorn said. “I look at the garbage cans around here and there’s so many empty plastic bottles, when right beside them are plastic recycling receptacles. It’s easy enough. A bunch of stuff you’re throwing away? Paper here, plastic there.”
