Star is Green! From the mundane—tearing up old sheets to make dust cloths—to the sophisticated reverse osmosis drinking water system, Star Island is a leader in conservation of natural resources. This commitment is reflected in every-day practices and major systems design and maintenance. Staff, volunteers, and guests take part in Star Island’s sustainable practices the minute they step onto the island.

Water is a precious commodity on Star Island. We strive to conserve water and everyone who visits the island joins in this effort. There are no natural springs or deep wells or long pipelines from Rye to supply water. Drinking water comes from the ocean that surrounds the island after processing in the reverse osmosis system. This water is free of chemical purifiers. Water for showers, cleaning and laundry primarily comes from the sky via a 70,000-gallon cistern that collects rain water. To minimize the need to transport water from the mainland guest showers are available every other day.

Waste management is a matter of ecologically sound practices and refined technology on an island that has to depend on boats to bring everything that’s needed and haul away everything that’s discarded. Meals served family style (a Star Island tradition) reduces food waste and the organic discards are composted on the island and used for gardening. The staff is serious about recycling: old linens become new rags for the housekeeping staff and everyone is asked to recycle cans, glass, plastic and paper. The island’s sewage system uses salt water and the wastewater is treated on the island via micro-biological secondary treatment process.

Efficient use of energy is built into island electrical systems. There are three generators of different sizes that allow us to produce the least amount of power when the demands are low. For example, in the off season a small 13 kW generator is used and a larger generator is used at the height of the summer season. We have reduced demand for energy by use of compact fluorescent light bulbs throughout the island (with a few historic exceptions) and few hotel rooms have electrical outlets. We were advocates for the UNH/Shoals Marine Lab pilot windmill program and will continue to investigate our own installation.

Compendium of conservation practices on Star Island:

• During the winter months we use solar panels on the Elliott Memorial Building to charge a battery bank that provides electricity to the caretakers from November to March.
• During the cold months, a significant source of heat is generated from large translucent panels that heat the rock wall on the south side of the EMB cottage.
• During the off-season we use a cistern below the EMB cottage for showers, sewage, etc.
• We bring all of our metal waste from Island projects to a scrap yard.
• The main shower room is equipped with showerheads that shut off automatically (you have to hold down a handle in order for water to flow).
• Our washing machines are high-efficiency, so we are able to use less detergent, minimal bleach (for sanitizing) and water.
• We use a high-efficiency industrial dishwasher in the kitchen.
• We do efficient planning of ocean transportation to maximize boat occupancy, and minimize the required numbers of trips to the mainland, thus saving on fuel.
• Because we process all laundry on the island (we sent it off island to a laundry company before 2004), we are able to save on the fuel of transporting it by boat.
• Much of the island equipment (linens, furniture, tools etc.) has been donated (rather than bought new).
• We grow all our own flowers for the bouquets for the Oceanic Hotel.
• We use only biodegradable laundry detergent (Our brand).
• Our wood and floor cleaner is biodegradable (Murphy’s Oil Soap)
• The SIC letterhead was re-designed to be printed on recycled paper. We use Hammermill stock with 30% recycled content instead of virgin stock. Our newsletter is printed on 10% recycled stock.
• No toxic chemicals are used anywhere on the island to treat the landscape (even the poison ivy spray is biodegradable).
• We are progressively moving to more e-communications with the Board of Directors, Members of the Corporation and other constituent groups to reduce the paper flow.
• Smoking is restricted on the entire island to limited exterior areas, thus improving the indoor air quality, reducing damage to floors and furnishings, and minimizing fire risk.