One of Massachusetts' Greenest Homes

Rescued Nantucket Cottage Has New Life as One of Massachusetts' Greenest Homes

October 23, 2010 - Woodmeister Master Builders (internationally-renowned provider of fine residential construction, custom cabinetry and interiors, and lifestyle management services) today announced it has achieved Massachusetts' first National Green Building Standard (NAHB) gold certification for the restoration of a 106-year old beach cottage. The gold certification verifies that the building is 50% more energy efficient than the Energy Star? rating requirement.

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Keeping the building's footprint small and low-impact was one of the most important green criteria in the project, according to Daniel Paquette, Woodmeister's chief sustainability officer. "We wanted to show how small can not only be much more sustainable, but also no less beautiful and functional, than a larger home. While every square inch in this cottage is maximized for efficiency, the details are nonetheless extraordinary," Paquette said.

The cottage's nearness to the dunes and ocean underscored the importance of minimizing its effect on Nantucket's fragile ecosystem - as well as its carbon footprint, according to Paquette. "Moving Westwind presented a unique opportunity to completely rethink how to go about remodeling the cottage. We decided to utilize all available rational green technologies on the property, while still maintaining its classic Nantucket character." {read rest}