Sustainability
The Old Shipyard is designed to be both beautiful and sustainable. The development is expected to achieve LEED certification, the widely recognized standard established and maintained by the US Green Building Council. Here are some of the choices that make The Old Shipyard an excellent choice for environmentally conscious, energy-smart buyers.
The buildings will be tightly sealed. The insulation will be comprised of dense-packed cellulose (made mostly from treated recycled newsprint), open celled spray foam, and the occasional use of acoustic cotton batt insulation (made mostly for denim scraps from the clothing industry).
Both buildings will use a geothermal system for heating and cooling. This system takes an already efficient technology (electric heat pumps) and makes it even more efficient by using the constant temperature of the earth to temper the heat-pump cycle. The condo units feature radiant floor heating, an efficient and comfortable system that works well with the geo-exchange technology.
Quality products that stand the test of time are far more sustainable than those requiring more frequent maintenance or replacement. Throughout the design process, products and materials have been chosen that embody a higher durability. Some examples include fiber cement shingles (also with a high recycled content), 50-year roof shingles, solid straw-core doors with quality hardware, and resilient interior finishes.
Energy-efficient appliances, typically carrying the federal government’s Energy Star certification, generally have a payback period of 3-5 years. That means lower operating/recurring costs for you as a homeowner.
Our built-in lighting fixtures are outfitted with either compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs, ensuring substantial savings over incandescent bulbs.
All the fixtures within the condos are carefully chosen to provide excellent performance while limiting the flow of water, saving both energy and potable water, an increasingly valuable resource.
Bamboo flooring is often a more environmentally responsible choice than traditional wood flooring because bamboo is a more renewable resource than pine and other tree sources conventionally used for flooring.
Paperstone uses 100% post-consumer recycled paper and is environmentally friendly, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, approved by SmartWood and the Rainforest Alliance.
Straw-core doors are more environmentally friendly than the other types of doors because they’re made from renewable, recycled waste agricultural straw.
In the construction industry, many products outgas small amounts of toxic chemicals (such as urea-formaldehyde) long after they have been installed. All the products used in this project (panel products, sealants, adhesives, coatings, and cabinetry) have been selected to meet LEED standards for emissions.