Now that the sale of the building that will become the new library has closed, we have archived all of the older Frequently Asked Questions, and we invite you to ask any questions you may have about the renovation of the building and what features the new Barrington Public Library will have. Your questions and answers will appear below. Please Contact Us with any questions you might have!
How has sustainability guided the design of the library?
There was a strong desire expressed at an ECLC public Listening Session for sustainability to be central in the design of the new library. Please point to specific ways this concept has guided the design of the library.
Indeed, on March 23, 2023, a community listening session was held at the ECLC, attended by about 75 Barrington residents. One session, moderated by Cindy Hoisington (a member of the Foundation and the town’s Energy Committee), was entitled “Sustainability, including Energy Efficiency and Building Performance.” The community strongly endorsed SUSTAINABILITY as a core value in the library’s design. There was especially strong support for the use of solar power to provide energy for the building. Below are some of the key ways sustainability principles have been incorporated into the design:
- Solar electricity to generate 55.4 kWh/year to power the building (with about 75-80% of the energy required) and its air-source heat pump HVAC system.
- High-performance insulation for the building envelope, as recommended by SMP Architecture.
- External envelope air-leakage sealing using the “aerosealant” procedure (for the nerds the ACH50 is now 0.8, down from >3).
- A Heat Recovery Ventilation System throughout the building.
- An anticipated Site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of approximately 30 kBTU/sq. ft./year— >50% better than the Energy Star median for town libraries of 71.6 kBTU/sq. ft./year, indicating a highly efficient design.
- Repurposed building materials, including solid cherry doors and other cherry trim elements.
- Reuse of shelving and cabinetry, with all particle board shelving and cabinetry donated to a New Hampshire nonprofit outfitting a new office for a retiring veterinarian certified in wildlife care to specifically care for injured or sick wildlife. The veterinarian is also committed to teaching other vets about wildlife care.
- Full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure accessibility for all visitors.
These sustainability initiatives will help ensure the new library is energy-efficient, environmentally responsible, and built to serve the community for years to come.
Why are we using solar electricity for the new library?
During the planning and design process with SMP Architects, sustainability was identified as a core value for the new library. This led the trustee-appointed Library Building Committee to reconsider traditional energy sources. The previous owner’s utility costs for electricity and liquid propane were estimated to be between $1,500 and $1,800 per month. Of particular note, the use of solar electricity (along with other energy efficient measures) is projected to reduce utility costs for the new library by as much as 70 – 80 per cent!
Early consultations with the town’s Energy Committee and the Resilient Building Group of Concord guided the decision to pursue an all-electric library. For heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), this meant using solar power to drive air-source heat pumps.* Discussions regarding solar energy were made public starting with the first Library Building Committee meeting on July 17, 2023, and continued throughout 2023 and into the Deliberative Session on February 3, 2024. The decision to explore sustainability options, including solar energy, was aligned with the project’s original values and was openly refined over time.
The bond request presented on March 12, 2024, library warrant was reduced by approximately $250,000 by entirely removing solar power costs from the proposal, along with reductions in the owner’s contingency and other budgetary adjustments. The Select Board at its May 18, 2024, meeting voted to allow money raised by the Library Foundation after 6/10/2024 to be used without voter approval in concert with NH RSA 202A:4-c.
We appreciate the community’s engagement and welcome any further questions regarding the library’s design and energy choices.
*see question about the air-source heat pump (ASHP)
Why solar energy for our new library?
The sun provides an abundant and renewable source of energy that can power our essential needs without depletion. Solar panels, made primarily of the abundant material silicon, harness this energy through a simple but effective process: when sunlight strikes the panel, it excites electrons in the silicon, generating an electrical current.
This current, known as direct current (DC), differs from the alternating current (AC) used in our homes. That’s where an inverter comes in—it seamlessly converts DC into AC, making the energy ready for everyday use.
Once installed, a solar system can generate clean electricity for decades, requiring minimal maintenance. Unlike traditional energy sources, solar power doesn’t rely on extracting and burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases like CO₂. Instead, it produces energy as long as the sun shines—without pollution, fuel costs, reliance on limited resources, and with much lower utility costs.
By choosing solar for our new library, we invest in long-term cost savings, environmental responsibility, and energy independence – a smart, forward-thinking choice for our community.
What is an air-source heat pump?
A heat pump is a device that moves heat from one place to another, much like the mechanism inside a kitchen refrigerator. Your refrigerator keeps food cold by pulling heat from inside and releasing it outside. Similarly, an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) transfers heat to keep indoor spaces comfortable regardless of seasonal temperature variation.
An ASHP consists of an electrically powered compressor and a refrigerant fluid. When the refrigerant is pressurized by the pump, it heats up; when the pressure is released, it cools down. By reversing this process, the ASHP can provide both heating and cooling for a building.
- In cold weather, it extracts heat from the outside air and moves it indoors.
- In warm weather, it removes heat from inside and releases it outdoors.
The ASHP is powered entirely by electrical energy – for our new library, this will be solar electric energy – making it an efficient and sustainable way to maintain indoor comfort without relying on fossil fuels.