Esther Underwood Johnson Nature Center: LEED Platinum Certified
The Esther Underwood Johnson Nature Center at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary received the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) highest designation for high-performing green buildings. Only three other buildings in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been awarded the prestigious Platinum-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) designation, including Hickory's Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston.
LEED is a third-party certification process developed by the USGBC in cooperation with industry experts. Projects earn points for satisfying green building criteria in each of six categories, including Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design. The number of points a project earns determines its level of progressive LEED certification, which includes Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
The most advanced roof, window, and ventilation designs were used to minimize energy consumption at the Nature Center. To lessen the building's impact on land and to conserve water, a rainwater re-use system, composting toilets, and a graywater garden were installed. Additionally, a 21 kW solar ground array reduces the electricity drawn from the public electric provider, allowing the sanctuary to take a dramatic step toward energy self-reliance.
The award recognizes the dedicated pioneering work done by the entire project team, and taught Mass Audubon some "important lessons" about green building, according to Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Director Bob Prescott. The director noted, "our experience was that building green did not take longer and had a comparable cost with using conventional construction methods and materials. What's more, we now have a superior earth-friendly facility that is less expensive to run, has surfaces that are easy to maintain, and should last longer than a traditional structure. It is a wonderful model for future public building."
Photo Credit: Richard Johnson. Read Mass Audubon's full article here.
