Bosarge Family Education Center, Educational facility in Boothbay, Maine
The Bosarge Family Education Center is an educational facility within the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens covering approximately 8,200 square feet. It includes classrooms, meeting spaces, and outdoor terraces that open toward the surrounding gardens.
The building was completed in 2011 as Maine's first Net-Zero and LEED Platinum institutional structure. This marked a significant shift in how high-efficiency building practices were applied in the state.
The center hosts classes and workshops about plants and environmental care that visitors can experience directly outdoors. The building uses natural materials like wood and stone throughout, reflecting a focus on connection with the surrounding landscape.
The building features large windows and clear navigation, with information panels displaying energy consumption in real time throughout the space. Visitors can view these displays in the lobby to learn how the facility operates.
The facility runs entirely on renewable energy from a 45 kW solar panel system that generates enough power for the whole year without relying on external sources. Thick wall insulation rated R-40 and triple-glazed windows contribute significantly to achieving this energy independence.
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