The Downtown Hayward Library becomes a certified LEED Platinum building, showcasing the City's commitment to sustainability and innovation

Last month, the City of Hayward was officially awarded the prestigious LEED Platinum certification for the 21st Century Library and Community Learning Center located in Downtown Hayward.  

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a rating system that expresses how efficiently a building is designed and operated. The LEED Platinum certification is the highest level of recognition offered by the U.S. Green Building Council and acknowledges the City’s dedication towards sustainability and supporting a greener future for all Hayward residents. 

The Hayward Library & Community Learning Center is one of the largest Net Zero Energy public libraries in the country, powered by 100% renewable energy produced by onsite solar panels. Natural sunlight is a key part of the building’s design to reduce the need for artificial light, while its UV-filtered, double-paned windows provide a shade screen that deflects the sun’s heat and reduces the building’s energy consumption. 

The library and its adjacent plaza also feature a rainwater catchment and recycling system, which helps save and recycle 400,000 gallons of rainwater per year. Rainwater is harvested from the garage and library rooftops and stored underground beneath Heritage Plaza until it is ready to be filtered, treated, and then used for restrooms and irrigation water. This feature is an important climate consideration given that California is likely to experience more frequent and severe droughts in the future. 

For more information about the library’s sustainable design, please visit https://www.haywardlibrary.org/tagged/green.