Green Homes Pittsburgh

As I build my business servicing clients that are looking for green and energy-efficient homes I keep bumping into the same problem…I have the interested client, they want a green home and I just don’t have much to show them.

This is especially true for those that are looking for truly green homes, not just energy-efficient homes. I’m talking about homes that use sustainable and low-VOC materials, homes that consider indoor air quality, homes that include ecologically sound features like rain barrels, native landscaping even attention to details like composting areas and recycling space. And of course energy-efficiency, water efficiency and daylighting to reduce energy consumption.

Of course many of these features are available in a custom build home and there are some great green custom builders in the area. But the affordable options are limited. A house here… a development there… but nothing on a wider scale.

When a clients says they are looking for a green home in a specific area most of the time all I can do is explain that the green homes that are available are in specific places in the city, but not in the one they are looking for.

The clients are there, everyday I have requests and no way to fill them. It’s frustrating and that’s why I am writing this post.

If you are a builder, developer and renovator in this city consider making your projects green. Specifically, I am looking for:

• Older green renovated homes with character in walkable communities
• Newer green homes that are priced from $150K to $300K
• Affordable green homes with a more modern style
• And I need them in locations all around the city and out into the suburbs.

If you are building these kind of homes let me know and if you are thinking about creating these kind of homes, I’d love to talk.

Home Green Home Newsletter Christa Ross, RE/MAX Select Realty

I am excited to announce the launch of my newsletter, Home Green Home, News for buying, selling and living green in Pittsburgh. Check it out and if you like it be sure to subscribe by going to my website and filling out the contact form.

November 21, 2009 10 AM to 3 PM at Schwartz Market, 1317 East Carson Street.

For those that have an interest in building their own green home, check out http://www.greenbeginningsconsulting.com/. Green Beginnings is authors’ Avrim and Vicki Topel’s outreach initiative and reference site that provides information and education about green homes through our book GREEN BEGINNINGS THE STORY OF HOW WE BUILT OUR GREEN & SUSTAINABLE HOME, and our video THE GREEN BEGINNINGS VIDEO.

Join me from 1-3pm on Sunday, November 1st at E lane @ Carnegie to take a look at these unique, green, ENERGY STAR homes. E lane @ Carnegie incorporates today’s most advanced building techniques and technologies. The result is a home that costs only $319 a year to heat (est). Eco-friendly materials like bamboo and cork flooring, spa-like bathrooms, open floorplan, native landscaping and single floor living are just a few highlights.

E lane @ Carnegie, Green Home For Sale

Visit the future of sustainable living.

826 Washington Avenue, Carnegie, PA 15106

2 Bedroom
2 Bathroom
2 Car Garage
No Maintenance Living
Healthy Green Home
Single Floor Living
Starting at $194,900

For more information visit www.elane.biz

Christa Ross, REALTOR®
Ecosociate™ and RE/MAX Green Specialist

RE/MAX Select Realty
1667 Route 228, Cranberry Twp, PA
724-933-6300 x214 office
724-779-1437 direct

On October 16th Mayor Luke Ravenstal hosted Green Drinks and announced to everyone that Pittsburgh was chosen by the U.N. to host the 2010 World Environment Day next June 5, 2010. He invited the audience to submit ideas on how we should celebrate our coming showcase on the world environmental stage. My idea, let’s make our older housing stock more eco-friendly and efficient. Want to put in your two cents? Go to http://www.pittsburghwed.com/

Interested, you should be, because this is one of the first homes in the Pittsburgh, PA area that is green, energy-efficient, affordable and pretty darn stylish as well. The property is called E lane @ Carnegie and it sits right off Washington Avenue in Carnegie, PA.

E lane @ Carnegie

Because of its orientation to the road it can be easy to miss, but swing up the driveway and you will see an amazing modern prairie-style home that incorporates creative ideas, sustainable materials and elegant, simple living that is good for your pocketbook, health and the environment.

The two homes at E lane (there are plans for nine total) are ENERGY STAR® qualified homes, meaning they have been tested by an independent energy auditor who has assigned a HERS Index to the home. It takes into account things like insulation, air sealing, heating, cooling and other energy usage aspects of a home. In order for a home to be called an ENERGY STAR home if must beat an 85 on the HERS Index, which relates to a saving of at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

Part of any Energy Rating is the report that not only shows the HERS Index score, but also specific details of the construction methods, mechanical systems, lighting, heating, cooling and appliances. A Certified Energy Auditor will test the home with high-tech tools like a blower door and duct blaster. These tools can tell how and where hot and cool air leaks in and out of a home. All this information, and existing utility bills (if any), are fed into a computer program that returns estimates of energy costs and how they can be affected by changes to a home. It also spits out the HERS Index.

Using this report it is possible to compare how one home stacks up against another. I decided to take a look at how E lane @ Carnegie would compare to a typical, older Pittsburgh home. By working with a local Energy Auditor, I was able to secure a rating on a comparable Pittsburgh home.

E lane @ Carnegie is a 1,100 square feet, single floor, 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, and 2 Car Garage Home. It is built using SIP construction; foam air sealed and sits on an insulated crawl space. It is heated with a high-efficiency electric heat pump. Matter of fact, the home is all electric and qualifies for a reduced rate with Duquesne Light. E lane @ Carnegie has a HERS Index of 69.

The comparable home is a typical ranch you see in many local neighborhoods. It is 1,085 sq feet, single floor, 2 Bedroom, 1.5 Bathroom, and 1 Car Garage. It’s an older, brick home that sits on a full basement with the garage integrated. It is heated with a gas, forced air furnace that was new enough that replacement is not recommended. It achieved a HERS Index of 159.

So how did they stack up? Take a look:

E lane is the obvious winner with total energy costs of only $1,141 a year. If you look at just heating, you will see that at $319 a year, your average bill would only be $26.58 a month! The comparable homeowner will spend $4,309 a year on their energy bills, the majority to cover the $2,856 heating bill. Based on the Energy Reports, you could expect to save almost $264 a month on your utilities if you were to live here, rather than buying an older home somewhere else. It’s even more amazing when you think about how that plays out over time. In one year, you’ll save $3,168. In 10 years, you’ll save $31,680, just by making a smart home buying decision.

The story doesn’t end there, because all that energy you don’t use adds up to savings for the environment too. According to the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program an ENERGY STAR home eliminates the emissions from 0.5 vehicles, saves 3,000 lbs of coal, is equal to planting almost an acres of trees and saves the environment 5,800 pounds of CO2 per year. Those are some pretty big numbers.

Of course, there are many other benefits to buying one of these green, energy-efficient homes like comfort, a great walk-able neighborhood, creative, no-maintenance landscaping, an ADA-friendly floor plan and a layout for modern living.

You can find out more going to www.elane.biz or contact me.

Want to see E lane @ Carnegie for yourself? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, your certified green agent and RE/MAX green specialist at 724-309-1758 or visit my website at

E lane @ Carnegie

I recently listed what I think may be the greenest properties available in the Pittsburgh area. One of the things I like best about E lane @ Carnegie is that it proves that green and affordable are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the two condo units which are listed at $204,900 and 194,900, give buyers more for their money than other home choices.

Green is beautiful. The homes have a wonderful, zen-like quality. Materials used throughout the homes like cork, bamboo, rain glass and beech countertops are both attractive in their own right while being better choices for the environment. Simple, minimal style makes the home a peaceful retreat from the world. The open floor plan makes the space bright and airy. These 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom units are filled with light from windows, full view doors, solar tubes, and smoked glass interior doors that give privacy, but still let the light shine through.

E lane @ Carnegie

These homes save you money on heating and cooling. E lane @ Carnegie are Energy Star™ certified homes. With a HERS rating of 69 they perform at least 31% better than a traditionally built home. Each unit is approximately 1,100 sq ft and built with SIP construction. SIP, which stands for Structural Insulated Panels, are oriented strand board (OSB) on each side with a thick layer of foam insulation between. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective. The SIP construction provides insulation on the roof of R-50 and R-27 in the walls. The home was then sealed with expanding foam and Energy Star™ windows and doors were added. All this adds up to a home that is tight and well built. Want proof? It costs just $319 a year to heat the house, as estimated by a professional energy auditor. That’s less than $26 a month! Cooling is even less at just $31 a year. When you consider that an older Pittsburgh home of the same size could easily cost over $3,000 a year to power and you start to realize how quickly your cost savings will add up.

Rain Barrel and Natural Landscaping

Save time for something better than maintenance and yard work. The homes are built with sustainable, durable and energy-efficient materials like a metal roof and Hardiboard™ siding, both of which will last 50 years or more before they need attention. The roof can even be recycled after it has run its course. The native landscaping is both edible and beautiful, and grows without the need for continuous care or water. The natural landscaping has attracted the attention of songbirds to the property, in addition to producing a small harvest from the fruit trees this year.

Open Floor Plan is Bright and Airy

Better, Healthier Living. The EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be 5-7 times more polluted than the outside. This is usually due to fumes from building materials and poor ventilation. These problems are addressed at E lane @ Carnegie by using no-VOC paints to reduce off-gassing of fumes into the home and regular mechanical ventilation, which brings the right amount of fresh air into the home without wasting energy. Clerestory windows can be left open during the day and rain sensors will close them automatically if needed. The homes can even help you eat healthier. The community orchard and planned vegetable patch will give those that want to eat fresh from the garden, but also want to live close to the city, find a home that does both.

Watch the Virtual Tour

Learn more at www.elane.biz

Want to see E lane @ Carnegie? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, your certified green agent and RE/MAX green specialist at 724-309-1758 or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com.

I attended the Sustainable Monroeville meeting earlier this week. This is a nice group of people who are looking to make Monroeville more sustainable and live a more environmentally friendly life themselves. Great goals! The local website covered the meeting and I even got a few quotes.
http://www.yourmonroeville.com/timesexpress/article/sustainability-going-green-can-mean-saving-green