Westfield Library Announces Completion of Air Conditioning Improvement

(July 20) The Westfield Memorial Library is pleased to announce that the installation of a new air conditioner was completed on Wednesday, July 19 at 5:00pm. The library reopened to the public and returned to regular hours of operation on Thursday, July 20 at 9:30am

The library lost air conditioning beginning July 12 due to the installation of a new 80-ton split air conditioner and chiller system. The library was forced to offer limited services and hours of operation beginning on July 14, and was completely closed for several days due to the excessive indoor temperatures.

The library’s previous cooling system dated to 1986 – two years older than the building itself – and nearly doubled its 20-year life expectancy. The air conditioner required frequent repairs and resulted in several forced closures of the library building during summer months and failing to work as recently as July 9.

Replacing this outdated cooling system is a Jetson 80-ton split air conditioner and chiller made for multi-story municipal facilities with greatly improved efficiency.

“I am disappointed that the library was unable to provide in-person services for several days during one of our busiest times of the year,” said Allen McGinley, Library Director. “But I have tremendous appreciation for the patience of our residents, and the dedication of our staff who pivoted with the situation and continued to provide high quality library services both in the library building and remotely from other locations.”

“Completing the replacement of the boilers, air conditioner, and chiller will ensure that the library can continue to fulfill its critical duty as the Town of Westfield’s official warming and cooling center,” McGinley added.

The HVAC and lighting upgrades were made possible through a partnership with PSE&G and its Clean Energy Future – Energy Efficiency Program to upgrade the systems.

"I've been on the Board of Trustees for more than 5 years and the aging HVAC system was on the agenda at my first meeting," says Michelle Habayeb, President of the Library's Board of Trustees. "I'm so thankful that not only is this work being completed, but we were able get much of it paid for through PSE&G's Direct Install program."

Under the Direct Install program, the replacement of the two boilers and chiller would have cost around $470,000, said McGinley in a March 2023 news release. “But thanks to a generous incentive from PSE&G, the library was only responsible for $165,000, which represents a savings of more than $300,000,” he said.

In 2020, an engineering consultant had estimated the improvements would cost $1.3 million — improvements the library made several unsuccessful attempts to fund, including by seeking monies through the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act.

“Not only was this project a financial success for the library and Westfield taxpayers,” says McGinley, “but it will also result in significant environmental improvements, as well.”

According to PSE&G and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the project will result in an estimated annual reduction of 177,000 lbs of carbon dioxide, the equivalent to planting 2.9 acres of trees annually or removing 1.4 gas-fueled cars from Westfield’s roads annually.

To sign up for a library card, learn more about the library’s resources, or register for events, please visit wmlnj.org or connect with the library on Facebook and Instagram. The library is located at 550 East Broad Street and is open 7 days a week.

Currently library hours are Monday - Thursday 9:30am - 8:30pm; Friday and Saturday 9:30am - 4:30 pm; and Sunday 1:00-5:00pm.