NESEA presents 2008 Green Building Open House

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) welcomes the public to come see local sustainable buildings across New England and to talk with energy-saving experts during its Green Buildings Open House on Saturday, October 4th. NESEA's Green Buildings Open House, part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour, is an opportunity to learn first-hand how incorporating green elements can help reduce heating costs, increase energy conservation, and even generate surplus clean energy. A complete list of Green Buildings Open House sites and events is available at www.nesea.org/buildings/openhouse. A few of the hundreds of sites that will be available for viewing on the tour include the following: *The George Robert White Environmental Conservation Center at Mass Audubon is located in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston. This Nature/Education Center consumes 30% less energy than a conventional building. Renewable energy installations such as photovoltaics to generate electricity and a geothermal heat pump to heat and cool the building are two of many features that help reduce energy consumption costs. A range of additional energy efficient features are listed on the website. The George Robert White Environmental Conservation Center is a public/private partnership between the city of Boston and Mass Audubon and is a "green technology building." This building teaches by example about environmentally sustainable design and building principles. *The Clay Center for Science and Technology is located in Brookline. The alternative energy system consists of an integrated 5.4 kW solar array and 1kW wind system that is designed foremost as an educational resource and secondarily as a source of nonpolluting, renewable energy for the science center. There is a kiosk where visitors can explore data recorded by a Heliotronics Data Acquisition System. *Victorian house in Braintree, built in 1895, has been renovated with Energy Star appliances, instantaneous hot water, and a co-generation system by Clean Energy, to name a few features. The co-generation system or CHP (combined heat and power) generates heat and electricity in the winter months. *The first all solar new condominium construction project in New England, Johnson Square Village in Brockton, is a model for sustainable construction. The multifamily building includes super energy efficient features, grid-tied photovoltaics, and is Energy Star and LEED Rated. The solar panels are designed to generate 60% of the electricity usage. *The Whitman Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, was one of the first certified green schools in Mass. Not only do the school's green building features save on the cost of utilities, they serve to provide a healthy and safe learning atmosphere for students. MSBA considers Whitman Hanson to be one of the "model schools" in Mass. Built in 2005 and renovated at a cost of $42 million, the building features include passive solar design, grid-tied photovoltaics, a sunspace, heat recovery ventilation, efficient daylighting, Energy Star appliances, an alternate greywater system, use of recycled materials, and the school is Energy Star Rated. The Green Buildings Open House demystifies healthy buildings, energy efficiency improvements and clean energy, proving that green buildings are comfortable, affordable and attractive. Get a Sustainable Green Pages directory of experienced service providers who can improve the energy efficiency of your building or home or install a renewable energy system. Clean energy is here, it's real, and it's working today. The Green Buildings Open House is sponsored by Efficiency Maine, a Division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission; GroSolar; National Grid; New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); and NRG Systems, will be held in all six New England states, plus N.Y., N.J., Penn., and Delaware. Media partners include CSRwire, E/The Environmental Magazine, ecological Home Ideas, Environmental Design + Construction, Green Builder Magazine, Green Living Journal, High-Profile Monthly, metrogreenbusiness.org, New Jersey & Co., the New England Real Estate Journal, New York House, and Smart HomeOwner magazine.