Gala Green Building Trail Opening

Monday morning members of the green building project team joined sanctuary supporters and the Fishbein family to declare the Green Building Trail officially open. Peter and Bette Fishbein, whose children honored them by donating funds for the trail, along with Laura Johnson, Mass Audubon president, and Bob Prescott, sanctuary director, cut the ribbon to mark the opening. Thanks to Dr. Kenneth McKusick for this great picture of the group!

Last week’s post contains a link to the Green Building Trail Guide, one part of the project. You can read it online or print it out and bring it with you when you come--or both!  Laura Johnson pointed out that the green building at the Wellfleet sanctuary is only one of many sustainability initiatives throughout Mass Audubon. Wherever possible the association is trying to minimize its use of resources in existing properties. Conversion to energy-saving lights and the use of energy-star appliances are two examples that have organization-wide impact. Bob Prescott added that the message of the trail will reach beyond the building and the sanctuary through the web and other efforts in the coming months. Watch this space for developments!

The Fishbein family has long summered in Orleans, although their home is New York City. Bette is well known in environmental circles from her tenure at Inform. This organization has an interesting website with a lot of good resources on subjects like green cleaning and disposal of waste. I’d encourage you to investigate it.

Would you like to meet Bette Fishbein? Take a look at this delightful and informative video based on her research into cell phone recycling.

The sanctuary is grateful to the Fishbein family for thinking of  this innovative way to support the green building initiative and to transmit its message about sustainable living. It will help us inform the people who visit this wonderful building and encourage our outreach efforts.