At a time when Marylanders are bracing for unprecedented energy rate increases, the design process is nearly complete on Carroll County?s first green county building.
The new Finksburg Public Library at Old Westminster Pike and Green Mill Road will boast several energy-saving measures, including a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Such a system captures the 50-degree temperature of the ground through wells to heat and cool a building, said Ralph Green, director of general services.
Instead of heating a building starting from a 2-degree winters? day, for example, the system could work to heat the building starting from the earth?s temperature of 50 degrees.
Commissioners told Thomas Rio, chief of building construction, Thursday to try to save the county money by researching the building?s payback, which is how long it would take the county to earn back in energy sav-
ings the system?s $325,000 price tag.
An engineering consultant would charge almost $9,000 for the same payback research, Rio said.
“We don?t want to be spending an awful lot of money on an experimental building,” Commissioner Dean Minnich said. “We don?t want to tell people we can?t build schools.”
Finksburg residents were involved in the design process and pushed for a geothermal system, Rio said.
Finksburg resident John Lopez told commissioners Thursday that he installed a geothermal system at his house three years ago and paid $100 for electricity on his last bill.
Other energy-saving features
» Carpeting made out of recycled materials.
» Addition of bicycle racks and a staff shower room to encourage employees to bike to work.
» Total cost of the library is $3.8 million; construction is slated to begin late summer or early fall.
