Nantucket Official Guide | Page 139

ustainability is swiftly becoming
a watchword in the arena of home
and building construction on Nantucket.
Housing Nantucket creates affordable
and “green” units, and many new island
dwellings meet the stringent LEED for
Homes certification standards which
incorporate safe
building materials
and provide for
clean indoor air, as
well as enhanced
water and energy
efficiency.
Site stewardship is
of paramount importance, with an
eye toward minimized disturbance
of the job site during the construction phase. Erosion
controls are also
considered, with
installation of
drought-tolerant
non-invasive plants
in the landscape whenever possible, as
well as non-toxic pest control options.
The newly refurbished Nantucket Community Music Center at 56 Centre Street

Inset photo ©Michael Galvin

truly exemplifies sustainability in construction. Environmentally responsible lumber
was utilized, along with low-VOC paints
and glues and recycled materials. Wells
placed under the lawn provide geothermal heating and cooling. Groundwater
with a constant temperature of 55 degrees is pumped
through condensers to create air of
a desired temperature. Rainwater, captured and
collected from
the roof through
downspouts, is
fed into a holding tank under
the driveway. The
lawn, planted
with violets, wild
strawberries and
clover, provides
a food source for
birds, bees and
bugs. A small vegetable garden on
the premises is a
source of food for staff and illustrates that
only a bit of land is necessary to create a
productive kitchen garden.

www.nantucketchamber.org • 137

R E A L E S TAT E

S

Real Estate