Large areas of single glazing Partick Library, Glasgow, 1926 – Designed by: Office of Public Works
Designed to maximise natural light when artifical light was at a premium, Carnegie libraries (and many other public buildings of the era) can be criticised for their presumed consumption of heat and consequent CO2 emissions today. Our research has sought to pinpoint the actual rather than the presumed impact of these buildings both through comparing energy consumption data with that of new buildings of the same type as well as by examining life cycle assessment tools.
The findings reveal unexpectedly positive results which can be read in full in our paper published in Public Library Quarterly.
Chart plotting Operational Rating of all open Carnegie libraries England Wales and Northern Ireland with Display Energy Certificates 2020 see Public Library QuarterlyExisting Carnegie library buildings with DECs exceeding emerging CIBSE 2020 “Good practice” benchmark for heat energy use of 85 kWh/m2K per year in public libraries (a) Kings Heath – Arthur Gilbey Latham, 1906 (b) Rushden – William Beresford Madin (Town Surveyor), 1905 (c) Mile End (James Knight originally 1862, Extension by MW Jameson, Borough Surveyor funded by Carnegie), 1906 (d) Burnley – George Hartley and Arthur Race (Borough Engineer), 1930 – Carnegie UK Trust (e) Harrogate – Henry Thomas Hare, 1906 and (f) Walsall – James Glen Sivewright Gibson, 1906. See article in Public Library QuarterlyExisting Carnegie library buildings with DECs exceeding emerging CIBSE 2020 “Good practice” benchmark for electrical energy use of 32 kWh/m2K per year in public libraries (a) Kayll Road – Hugh Taylor Decimus Hedley, 1909 (b) Stirchley – John P. Osborne, 1908 (c) Annfield Plain – Edward Cratney 1908 (d) Herne Hill – H. Wakeford & Sons, 1906 (e) Heckmondwike – Henry Stead, 1911 (f) Ilkley – William Bakewell, 1907 (g) Middlesbrough – Sir Thomas Edwin Cooper, 1912 (h) Batley – Walter Hanstock & Son, 1907. See article in Public Library Quarterly
