Renewable Energy to Power New Lofts on Old Industrial Site

Posted on September 8, 2008
Tag(s): Energy, Green Building
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Chelsea, Massachusetts will soon be home to a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use community that promises the latest in green building technologies. The riverfront development, Forbes Park, will bring new life to a former industrial site where black smoke used to spew from the smokestacks of an old, abandoned printing factory.

Several existing buildings will be hollowed out to create a home for the 350-unit community where residential lofts will be housed.

A 240-foot wind turbine will provide clean, renewable energy and generate electricity for 200 of the lofts. Another exterior feature is the salt marsh which will provide wildlife habitat and help clean the air. The marsh and a canal system will also store and filter rainwater which will be then be used for irrigation.

Interior green features include the use of natural daylighting, cross ventilation, local and sustainably-harvested building materials, and concrete floors that will be warmed by radiant heating systems.

Developers of this sustainable project are working on connecting to the mass transit rail system. A water taxi service is also in the works.

Lofts will range from 650 to 1,233 square feet and be priced starting at $228,000. Not bad for enviromentally-conscious construction in the Boston vicinity, especially with the added waterfront locale. The first phase will be complete this fall and the entire project is expected to be completed in 2011.

Source: The Boston Globe
photo by Erin Ailworth

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