Over the past five years, libraries and cities across the country have seen continued budget crunches, which are compounded by rising energy costs, capitol improvements and ongoing maintenance needs. When seeking funding, MPL has had to maximize investments in infrastructure and capitol improvements to keep buildings open and continue to provide high quality services. Facing budget reductions and increasing energy and maintenance costs, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett challenged city departments to decrease energy usage by 15% by 2012. Milwaukee Public Library - a city department - took the challenge seriously and embarked on a multi-year effort to reduce energy use throughout the library system and especially in the hallmark, downtown Central library. MPL established a schedule to achieve energy reductions in advance of the 2012 deadline. Launched in December of 2011 by President Obama, The U.S. Department of Energy issued a Better Buildings Challenge - a national leadership program that calls on corporate chief executives, university presidents, and state and local governments to reduce energy use in their facilities by 20% by 2020 and share their energy-saving solutions and results. The project provided funds to help achieve significant energy decreases. MPL was selected to participate in the challenge by the City as it was already positioned to quickly implement improvements with Challenge funds.

To meet the Mayor’s goal of 15% reduction in energy usage and achieve cost savings, MPL implemented many energy efficiency measures including installation of a Green Roof with solar panels, repair and replacement of energy-deficient steam traps, installation of more energy-efficient lighting and the incorporation of motion sensors in many library staff areas to activate lighting. At the historic Central Library reserving the ambiance and aesthetic value of the building was imperative when selecting any energy upgrades. The building is a hallmark, downtown destination. As an early adopter, MPL began testing energy efficient bulbs several years ago to ensure the right bulbs were selected. The aging roof at Central Library was also replaced with a green roof that nearly doubles the lifespan of a conventional roof and provides both short- and long-term benefits for Milwaukee residents. In the short-term, replacing 30,000 square feet of traditional roof with a vegetative system has reduced polluted storm water runoff, lessened heat reflected into the atmosphere and improved air quality. Long-term, Milwaukee will benefit from reduced costs for water treatment systems and infrastructure. MPL’s green roof project also included solar panels which convert solar energy into direct current electricity. The solar panels generate about 36,000 kilowatt hours per year, which is sent out to the grid. MPL receives credit for the electricity it contributes to the grid. Funding for the Green Roof was provided as follows:

• 
$950,000 = City of Milwaukee Capital Budget
• 
$250,000 = Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Grant
• 
$100,000 = City's Energy Challenge Fund for Solar Electric System
• $130,000 = We Energies
$60,000 = Focus on Energy

MPL has addressed energy usage by implementing changes that are invisible to the public inside a 115-year old building. These energy efficient changes have saved $36,000 per year. It has also ranked MPL as 60% more efficient than libraries across the country. In fact, in an energy usage comparison by square foot, Central Library is more energy efficient than all 12 of MPL’s branch libraries - all of which are newer than Central Library. With the benefit of mild weather, MPL achieved a 15% energy reduction at Central Library and is on track to meet a 20% energy reduction in 2020. In November, 2013, Maria Vargas, Director of the Better Buildings Challenge from DOE came to Milwaukee to recognize the city for its efforts to reduce energy use in its buildings by 20% by 2020. So far the City of Milwaukee has been a national leader by reducing its energy use by approximately 10% across 5 million square feet of City Buildings. The Central Library is one of the city’s biggest wins and a Better Buildings Challenge showcase project.