Villages at Brookside Green Condominiums

     Massachusetts has been the cradle of many events that forever changed history; from the American Revolution to the home state of many personalities. The state continues to uphold this reputation in some of its green community innovations. The Villages at Brookside has green condos that are a prime example of this. The community is in the Cape Cod area which adds a unique charm in addition to the sustainability of the community.

     Located just over the Bourne Bridge, the character of this community is very much that of a traditional New England town. The Cape Cod style clapboard and shingle exteriors are seen from the streets. When you walk into the homes, you see modern, interesting interiors. Many townhomes have views spanning out across a golf course. Brookside is optimally situated near shopping, beaches, and fine dining, and allows for easy access on and off the Cape.

     The homes are LEED-certified. The builders, Northland Residential Corporation, have planned it so energy use is efficient, a healthy indoor environment exists, and maintenance is minimal.

     According to their brochure, the community contains the following green features:

     • High-efficiency sealed combustion furnace and air conditioning condenser (meets or exceeds Energy Star requirements)

     • Programmable thermostats

     • Duct system has been designed and installed to limit air leakage to the outdoors

     • Soft-coat, low-emittance coated glass with argon gas windows that keep heat inside in winter and outside in summer

     • Energy Star approved kitchen appliances, heating, cooling and hot water equipment

     • Kohler dual-flush water closets to save approximately 6,000 gallons of water annually

     • Oxygenics Five-Star Resort Spa Showers

     • Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs

     The builders wanted to create a healthier indoor environment because they were aware of the adverse health effects of city air. They added the following features:

     • HVAC system equipped with a MERV-11 air filtration system

     • Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) carpets, carpet pads, floor tiles and adhesives, and finish paints

     • State-of-the-art gas-log fireplaces with sealed combustion chambers to directly vent to the outdoors and minimize leakage of unhealthy gases

     • Energy Star-rated bath fans equipped with electronic countdown timers reduce indoor moisture levels, reducing mold growth, and increasing long-term durability of the home

     The company wanted minimal maintenance on their homes so that anyone could live in for life. Having homes with less maintenance makes it easier for people of different ages and abilities to live there. It also means that there is less of a chance that the homes will have some unsustainable materials introduced. The builder provides the following maintenance reducing features:

     • 30-year algae-resistant roof shingles

     • Covered porches at entry doors help prevent water intrusion

     • Composite trim, deck and rail materials provide superior durability

     • Moisture-resistant materials such as non-paper faced wallboard and ceramic tile reduce potential mold growth

     The community brings a sense of place as well as community to Massachusetts. It is the ideal place to live green and have the New England ambiance.