Solar-powered new Redmond Library receives LEED ‘Platinum’ energy-efficiency certification
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Redmond Library has formally received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification for its commitment to sustainability, Deschutes Public Library officials said Thursday.
As a framework, LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and provides a framework for assessing everything from energy and water use to materials selection and indoor air quality, the library district said in Thursday's announcement, which continues below:
“The sustainable design and construction of the Redmond Library makes it one of the most comprehensively high-performance public libraries in the country,” said Library Director Todd Dunkelberg. “We are proud of this achievement and believe it shows the library’s commitment to sustainability for the communities we serve.”
The new Redmond Library, which opened in early 2025, was designed to operate as a net-zero energy building, powered entirely by on-site solar. The library’s rooftop photovoltaic array allows the building to generate all the energy it needs.
Buildings constructed to LEED certification ensure electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthier environments where people live, work, learn and play.
In the United States alone, buildings account for almost 40 percent of national CO2 emissions, but according to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED-certified buildings have 34 percent lower CO2 emissions, consume 25 percent less energy and 11 percent less water, and have diverted more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills.
By building its new construction projects to meet LEED certification—including the Redmond Library and the new Central Library in Bend—Deschutes Public Library is working to contribute to a better standard of living for everyone.
Library District Board President Ann Malkin said, “Net-zero energy public libraries remain rare across the United States, making the Redmond Library one of a small number of public libraries designed to generate as much, or more, energy than they consume. We hope our stewardship serves as a road map for libraries across the country.”
When the new Redmond Library opened in February 2025, its square footage nearly doubled, compared to the previous building, yet both the 12-month energy costs and the site’s overall electrical use went down. Net electrical use dropped from 276 MWh to 57 MWh, nearly an 80% decrease. That total now also includes electricity used for EV charging.
The LEED Platinum status adds to recent recognition the Redmond Library has received for its design and sustainability.
In addition to national recognition from the American Library Association, the library also received a 2025 Building a Better Oregon Award from the Cascades East Association of Realtors. The long-standing awards program honors projects that have made a significant positive impact on their community. Judging criteria include economic benefit, neighborhood improvement, unique design and materials and environmental friendliness.
In November of 2020, Deschutes County voters supported the Library’s bond measure to expand and improve libraries across the county. In addition to building a new library in Redmond and updating libraries in La Pine, Sisters, and Sunriver, bond funds are being used to remodel the Downtown Bend Library (April 2026–spring 2027) and construct the new Central Library in Bend, which opens on May 11.
Redmond Library facts:
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 40,000 square feet
CONSTRUCTION TIME: 23 months (Feb. 2023–Jan. 2025)
OPENED TO THE PUBLIC: January 2025
ARCHITECT: The Miller Hull Partnership
LOCAL ARCHITECT REPRESENTATIVE: Steele Associates
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Kirby Nagelhout Construction Company
OWNER’S CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: Redpoint Construction Management
CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY AREA DESIGN: Plus and Greater Than
Find more information about the Library’s bond-funded projects on its website: www.deschuteslibrary.org/futurelibraries .
