Customer Profile: New England Wild Flower Society 

The mission of the New England Wild Flower Society is to conserve and promote the region’s native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes.  Located in Framingham, Massachusetts, the Society’s botanic garden, Garden in the Woods, offers a beautiful setting to take a stroll and admire the region’s largest collection of native plants.  The Society also operates a native plant nursery at Nasami Farm in Whately, Massachusetts.  Individuals interested in more sustainable gardens can purchase plants at Garden in the Woods or Nasami Farm.  Classes, field trips, and family programs are offered over the course of the year throughout New England.

In addition to their vision for a future where native plant populations live in healthy, balanced, and natural ecosystems, the non-profit society has a vision of a cleaner environment.  The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Society’s Native Plant Center at Nasami Farm its LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold Certification.  LEED points are awarded on a 100-point scale, and credits are weighted to reflect their potential environmental impacts.  Daniel Bernstein of Architerra, Inc. stated, "The Native Plant Center achieves a green design on a conventional budget, that lives lightly on the land, and serves as an example of the inspiring mission and principles of New England Wild Flower Society."

As a part of the Native Plant Center at Nasami Farm’s LEED accreditation, New England Wild Flower Society purchases wind energy from Community Energy to match a portion of the electricity used by the Center.  Purchasing wind energy is a way to promote clean air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fits into the principles of the Society.  “It made immense sense as part of our building a LEED certified structure to utilize clean wind energy,” stated Debbi Edelstein, Executive Director.  “In addition, the company we use for the majority of our printing of brochures, magazines, etc., has Green-e Certified Wind Power offsetting 100% of the electricity used.”

If you are interested in learning more about Green Power Points for your LEED project, please contact Community Energy at 866-946-3123 or click here.