Green Features at the Boston Nature Center

Ground-mounted solar arrays at BNC © Kylee Wilson
© Kylee Wilson

Boston Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary is doing its part to leave a lighter footprint on the environment by utilizing green technology.

Conserving Energy

  • Energy audit performed on the cottages and recommendations implemented
  • Additional insulation installed at the cottages and they are airsealed
  • Lighting audit performed and all incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent tube lighting have been replaced with LEDs
  • Refrigerators are EnergyStar models
  • Replaced computer monitors with energy-efficient monitors
  • On-site composting and recycling
  • Programmable thermostats installed in all heated buildings 
  • High Efficiency boilers installed in cottages
  • Inefficient dehumidifiers have been replaced with EnergyStar models
  • Electric-powered property management equipment purchased and in use

Buying Electricity Generated from Renewable Sources

  • 100% green electricity purchased from Green Energy Consumers Alliance (New England Wind product) for all electricity not produced on site

Generating Renewable Energy

  • 4 photovoltaic arrays (12.2 kW roof mount, 9.8 kW pole mount, 5.3 kW ground mount, 2.7 kW solar roof slates)
  • Photovoltaic parking lot lighting
  • Solar hot water system

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

  • Two Level 2 J1772 connector plugs that are compatible with all makes and models of EV (Tesla owners may need to use an adapter to connect their vehicle).
  • Each plug provides about 25 miles for every hour of charging time
  • ChargePoint Network
  • $0.28 per kWh

Building Green Buildings

  • First green municipal building in the City of Boston: The George Robert White Environmental Conservation Center
  • Geothermal heating and cooling system
  • Energy recovery ventilator
  • High performance low emissivity, argon gas filled windows
  • Day-lighting and light shelves
  • Low volatile organic compounds (VOC) materials and paints
  • Lumber from certified forests
  • Occupancy sensor controlled lighting
  • Daylight sensor to adjust for ambient light
  • Recycled and recyclable and local construction materials
  • Super-insulated building envelope
  • Demonstration green (living) roof on gardener’s shed
  • Energy Monitor system to track electric usage of individual electric circuits and equipment

Replacing Vehicles

  • One Toyota Prius hybrid purchased

Conserving Water

  • 13 dual-flush toilets installed
  • 2 composting toilets in garden gazebo
  • 2 water bottle filling stations
  • EnergyStar/WaterSense dishwashers
  • EnergyStar/WaterSense washing machine    
  • Stormwater management/retention pond

Enhancing Energy Education

  • Interpretation of energy and water conservation features and photovoltaic array
  • Photovoltaic arrays' electricity production on internet in real time
  • Green building tours