The New York Public Library Initiates Energy Savings

Commemorating its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and conservation, The New York Public Library recently installed more than 5,300 energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) throughout the historic Humanities and Social Sciences Library at 42^nd Street.

The switch from traditional incandescent bulbs reduces nearly 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide and removes more than 1.4 million kilowatt hours from the New York power grid annually.

"We are thrilled to begin a new era of energy-efficient and attractive lighting at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library," says Heike Kordish, director of the library. "It was clear that, for the benefit of the environment, it was worth converting to lights that were more energy efficient, but it is also saving hundreds of manhours per year in maintaining the lights. This project is just one of the library's green initiatives. We feel that illumination of knowledge is our key mission."

The 102-year-old institution's switch to CFLs greatly reduced its carbon footprint. The library's example demonstrates how one building can positively impact the environment by utilizing energy-efficient lighting, showing that small changes can have huge impacts.