High costs may quash energy plan at library branch

Gail Borden Public Library officials say they may have to shut down plans for a geothermal energy system at their new branch library.

But officials say they are still committed to building an environmentally friendly, "green" building.

The library board this week voted to solicit construction bids for the 10,000-square-foot building at Bowes and Randall roads in Elgin.

However, unless cost estimates come in better than expected, officials say, they'll likely nix the geothermal plan in favor of a more traditional heating and cooling system.

"We have not seen the complete cost analysis yet," library director Carole Medal said. "There's still a chance. We were just told by our architects that … right now it's not looking very good unless the bids come in very low."

Library officials estimate the geothermal system would cost the district $500,000 -- compared with $300,000 for a more traditional system.

The library would see some cost savings with geothermal energy.

But it would take a long time to make up the $200,000 price difference, said John Shales, a partner with Shales McNutt, the library's project management firm.

"It's already more energy efficient than a typical building," Shales said of the design for the new branch. "It's not going to cost as much to run. It's just going to naturally use less energy to heat and cool."

Library officials say they are still holding out hope that the geothermal system will turn out to be cost-effective.

But if it's not, officials say, they are still committed to earning the U.S. Green Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation.

The LEED certification process recognizes energy-efficient, environmentally friendly construction -- with emphasis on everything from energy use to building materials and landscaping.

"Geothermal could have put us in the stratosphere," Medal said. "It probably would have put us in the gold level. But that will not negate our goal for building a LEED building."