Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (Plum Island, Newburyport, MA)

Department of the Interior

Environmentally benign construction practices make the Parker River Visitor Center and Administrative Headquarters an exemplary model of sustainable design. Special care is being taken at the site to restore disturbed land to natural habitats of wetland, field, woods, and coastal areas. Recycled and low-VOC building materials were used throughout, and non-hazardous preservative was applied to exterior wood surfaces. Water conservation technologies include low-flow fixtures and directing roof runoff to groundwater recharge. Passive solar techniques such as southeastern building orientation and daylighting, along with super insulation of the building envelope, high-efficiency lighting, and a geothermal heat exchange system, reduce energy use by 41 percent over a traditional office building.