Green Features at Wellfleet Bay
In 2006, the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary’s nature center was awarded a Platinum LEED rating from the US Green Building Council, its highest rating. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a system that provides voluntary standards for green buildings. To achieve this highest LEED standard, Wellfleet Bay features the following green technology and sustainable building features:
Conserving Energy
- Additional insulation has been installed and the residential buildings have been airsealed
- All CFL light bulbs and fluorescent light tubes have been replaced with LEDs
- Refrigerators have been replaced with EnergyStar models
- Computer monitors replaced with energy efficient monitors
- Xcelerator electric hand dryers installed
- Programmable thermostats installed
- Recycling program
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
- Photovoltaic arrays: 4 arrays: 21.12 kW in ground and roof mounts; 41.0 kW ground mount; 5.9 kW roof mount; 3.92 kW roof-mount—additional 39.55 kW system will be installed in FY 2018.
- Solar thermal systems installed to meet all hot water needs
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
- Nature Center awarded LEED Platinum designation in 2008
- Energy recovery ventilators
- Day-lighting
- Fly ash concrete in foundation
- High performance building envelope
- High performance, argon filled windows
- Low volatile organic compounds (VOC) materials
- Occupancy sensor controlled lighting
- Recycled and recyclable construction materials in renovation and new addition
- Current heating system being replaced by more efficient air to air heat exchange system
Replacing Vehicles
- Toyota Prius hybrid purchased
- All-electric Chevy Bolt purchased
Conserving Water
- 8 composting toilets
- Gray-water garden
- Rainwater collection system
- Low-flow showerheads installed
- Energy-efficient dishwasher installed
- Energy Star and WaterSense washing machine installed
- Water bottle filling stations installed
Enhancing Energy Education
- Green building tour and brochure
- Interpretation of energy and water conservation features and photovoltaic array
- Photovoltaic array electricity production on internet in real-time (currently offline and being upgraded, will be working again by May 2018 and may be back online by May 2018)