Kirei Board is a new “plywood” made from planet material that used to be thrown away. Stalks from the Sorghum plant are heat-pressed with a non-toxic adhesive to form a lightweight, strong, board where each one is unique. “Kirei” means pretty in Japanese.
Sorghum ranks fifth among the most important cereal crops of the world after wheat, rice, corn, and barley in both total area planted and production. Sorghum species are used for food (as grain and in molasses), fodder, and the production of alcoholic beverages. Most species are drought and heat tolerant and especially important in arid regions.
Plyboo is plywood made from 100 percent renewable bamboo. It is stronger than oak, yet lightweight and eco-friendly. Bamboo is a giant grass and one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Some species grow four feet in one day. The grass grows buds for three years, and in one tremendous three-month spurt, bamboo shoots reach full diameter and height. Another three years may pass before poles mature from soft starch into hard bamboo. Bamboo poles are two to three times stronger than comparable wood timber.
Bamboo produces greater biomass, and 30% more oxygen than a hardwood forest of the same size, while improving watersheds, preventing erosion, and removing toxins from contaminated soil. Unlike most forestry, proper harvesting does not kill the bamboo plant, so topsoil is held in place; the root system is unharmed and ready to produce more shoots. Bamboo can be harvested in seven years versus ten to fifty years for softwoods and hardwoods. It yields up to twenty times more material than wood.
The granite in the fireplace and the harbor walk supports was quarried on Cape Ann. Less transportation means less CO2.
Cape Ann became a major source of granite through the Northeast because of the short transportation distance between the quarries and deep water.
Carpet tiles around the sushi bar are recycled and recyclable. These Interface carpet tiles come from a company that takes in old carpet and turned them into new carpets. They are constantly innovating carpet technology towards their goal of zero environmental foot print by 2020. They also use borrow patterns from nature to hide seams and dirt.
The Rescue Boat Hull was rotting in a shipyard. The bar in the pub from the old McT’s bar was refinished and put back in service.
Some of the granite outside has been salvaged from a fountain in Boston and an old boat slip.
The sun shades over the deck do double duty. They are also heat the dishwasher’s hot water. Each individual vacuum tube has a special coating to absorb 93% of the sun’s energy. The vacuum tubes work like a thermos to retain the heat and allow the system to work even at low temperatures. The same system is used to heat water at the South Pole Antarctic Science Base
The concrete floor is stained by a local artist and contains a radiant heating system. Concrete has a long life cycle, low maintenance and eliminates additional flooring materials. Radiant heat saves 30-40% on heating. It is the most comfortable form of heat because is hottest next to your feet where you need it the most. It also reduces dust mites and air borne allergens by 60%-90%. Radiant heat is actually a low frequency radio wave. It only heats what’s cold; not the air.
We use the latest in florescent technology inside. Our florescent lights are dimmable and have a warm tone. Outside we use metal halide vapor lights.
A typical 100 Watt incandescent bulb converts only 2.6% of its power into light. The other 97.4% is wasted as heat.
Operable skylights provide energy free light in the daytime and energy free cooling in the summer.
Motion sensors on bathroom lights turn off the lights when people leave.
Solar LED navigation lights on the deck and piers charge up during the day and shine all night.
Insulation is the “biggest bang for the buck” in energy savings. It’s not sexy but is saves on energy - Winter, Summer, Spring and Fall. We have extra insulation in the walls and roof system to lower heating and cooling requirements. Our windows are extra insulated to minimize heat loss and tinted to minimize solar heat gain.
Waterless urinals save 1.5 - 3 gallons of water per usage or up to 45,000 gallons of water per year per urinal. There are no handles to touch, no sensors, and no moving parts. The urinal bowl surfaces are urine repellent and a special liquid in the system traps urine to keep things clean and smelling fine.
Dual flush water saving valves on toilets – use water as needed.
Press down for a standard flush.
Press up for a light flush.
The light flush saves 30% on water. The green handle has an antimicrobial coating to protect against germs.
Typically, roads and parking lots gather oil between rain storms and then all that oil washed right into the sea when the rain comes. With porous pavement, the oil soaked water seeps into the ground where it is eaten by bacteria. Porous pavement also reduces storm water runoff that causes erosion and flooding. A StormCepter catch basin under the parking lot catches the rest of the debris and chemicals from rainwater runoff prior to leaving site.
The 36 foot TRS MLB has rescued people at sea during 60 foot waves and 70 knot winds. Note the double ended hull that allows the boat to cut through high surf in both directions and the 2000 pound bronze keel that will immediately put the boat upright after any wave. The boat weighs 20,000 pounds. She is planked with cypress over white oak frames and fastened with bronze screws.
This boat hull was purchased from Gloucester wharf rat Mark Sheldon who sold the top half to a museum for the fittings. It was refinished by Joe Misuraca – the happiest man in Gloucester.
The mural, painted by local artists Lena Fransioli and Brooke Sheldon focuses on the ever changing light, air & water. Lena & Brooke were inspired by the luminist seascapes of Gloucester maritime painter Fitz Hugh (Henry) Lane (1804-1865) and the romantic grandeur of Russian romanticist Ivan Aivazovsky (1817-1900). Luminism is an off shoot the Hudson River School style of the 1850s – 1870s, characterized by effects of light in landscapes, through aerial perspective and concealing visible brushstrokes. Luminist landscapes emphasize tranquility, and often depict calm, reflective water and a soft, hazy sky.
To this Lena and Brooke added the romanticism's rush of movement and change. We just liked Neptune and asked for his portrait to be added to the scene.
More about the artists at www.Zoe-design.com.
You can see the largest Fitz Hugh Lane collection in the world down the street at the Cape Ann Historical Museum.
Octopus over Sushi Bar
Fish ticket holder under Rescue Boat
Iron Bonsai tree
Cape Ann iron artist Chris Williams specializes in iron animalia. His studio is open by appointment. Mon-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm. 22 Rocky Hill Road Essex, MA 01929 978.768.7652 More at www.chriswilliamssculpture.com.
Permitting and Licensing Michelle Harrison, Gloucester, MA
Architecture Poore and Company, Gloucester, MA
Initial construction – Demo, Foundation and Framing Geoffrey Richon and Company, Gloucester, MA
General contractor C.E. Floyd Company, Inc., Bedford, MA
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Installation Morris Heating & Air Conditioning, Essex MA
Kitchen Design and Installation Harbor Foods, Chelsea, MA
Muralists Lena Fransioli and Brooke Sheldon, Hamilton, MA
Metal Sculptures Chris Williams, Essex, MA
Audio, Video, WiFi, and Telephone Symdex Systems, Manchester, MA
Marine Salvage Mark Sheldon, Gloucester, MA
Boat Refinishing Joe Misuraca, Gloucester, MA
Rigging Butch Roth, Gloucester, MA