Green Homes Pittsburgh

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.

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.

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.

For this project, I wanted to select neighborhoods that were both urban and suburban and neighborhoods that ranged from affordable to expensive.

Today, I am profiling Oakmont, PA, a small suburban town located 15 miles north east of downtown Pittsburgh. Oakmont is probably best known for its world class golf course that has played host to the U.S. Open eight times. This riverside community makes the cut primarily because of its high walk score (85, according to walkscore.com). Oakmont is made up mostly of older homes which sell in a range of prices, but plans are underway for a new LEED-certified neighborhood development. The town is served by the Riverview School District.

Walk-ability: Just about everything you need is located on the brick main street of Oakmont. Grocery and hardware stores, fast food and elegant dining, a bakery, clothing boutiques and gift shops, a library and even an independent movie house are all here. Residents will find just about anything they would need in the thriving, and for the most part locally-owned, downtown business district, all surrounded by a compact, tree-lined neighborhood of lovely older homes.

Commute: Like many suburban neighborhoods, Oakmont’s commute to the city is its downfall. Its location 15 miles from town means most residents who work in the city will commit at least 30 minutes or more to their daily commute. Of course, not everyone works in the city. About 21% of the population works in the town and its location near two major RIDC parks and the PA Turnpike Interchange make it convenient for those that work east of the city. Oakmont is served by two PAT Transit bus routes, 77A and the 78A Express route that provide service to and from Downtown. Riding a bike from Oakmont to the city is easy (except for some heavy traffic on the roads) due to the flat route down Allegheny River Boulevard and then Butler Street. Once you reach the 31st Street Bridge you can cross the river and stay on a bike trail the rest of the way into town. Plans call for bike and walking trails along both sides of the river, so eventually you may be able to take a bike path the entire way from Oakmont to the city, but for the time being you’ll still have to spend some of your ride on the main roads.

Outdoor Space: While Oakmont’s tree-lined streets make it a lush and green setting to live in, a large portion of its open outdoor space is dedicated to golf courses. Oakmont does have two parks for non-golfing residents. Dark Hollow Woods Park is located at the top of the neighborhood and backs up against the Penn Hills Community Park. Riverside Park sits near the river and behind Riverview High School. New development plans for the riverfront include a park and walking trails and should benefit the neighborhood in this category.

Environmental Activism: Oakmont has several businesses and organizations that help residents live healthier lives. Today’s Market, located on Allegheny River Boulevard is a full service health food store that sells organic, healthy and gluten-free products. During the summer months, the Chamber of Commerce hosts an open-air farmer’s market on Thursdays and Saturdays. Oakmont in Bloom is an organization that seeks to amplify the cleanliness and beauty of the curb to business areas of the town through plantings of trees and flowers.

Housing: It would be impossible to talk about Oakmont without talking about it’s not so green past and how it will tie to its greener future. Oakmont was the site of the former Edgewater Steel Company. The plant occupied a large tract of land along the waterfront in Oakmont. The brownfield that was left behind is now slated to be redeveloped as one of the first LEED for Neighborhood Development projects in the country. 34 acres of serene, waterfront living in a traditional neighborhood environment will include sidewalks, tree-lined streets, pocket parks, access to the river and diverse housing opportunities. The plan will connect the new riverfront housing with the existing Oakmont neighborhoods. The homes being built will be highly energy-efficient and incorporate green features throughout.

In addition to these proposed new homes, Oakmont has many beautiful older homes that have been well maintained and are filled with character. Massive oaks, solid construction and a tight-knit neighborhood lend Oakmont much of its charm. Since the homes are older, it is important to consider energy-efficiency, lead paint and radon testing as part of any purchase.

Want to find a home in Oakmont that is good for your family, wallet, health and planet?

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.

e lane @ Carnegie

I had the opportunity yesterday to meet with Ben and Amy Bonham of e lane @ Carnegie. They have built two highly energy efficient condominium homes at 826 Washington Road in Carnegie. I used to live in Carnegie and it is a sweet little town just 5 miles from downtown. Nice Main Street and one of the best restaurants in the city – Papa Js. No offense to the downtown location but the Carnegie Papa Js is so much better and I hear they are expanding. One of the reasons that they choose to build in Carnegie was the walkability of the town and the quick commute to downtown and the airport, plus the good public transportation options in that area.

While the location is good, the homes they have built are amazing and one-of-a-kind for the city. They estimate utility bills to be only $400 a year and they have a sophisticated system that monitors energy usage. When I was there the system estimated the current monthly bill to be only $9.10. Buy on of these homes and you can pretty much eliminate your utility bills, which will give you a lot more money to have fun.

They accomplished this feat by using state-of-the-art SIP panels that sandwich foam between plywood for the frame of the house and the roof. This also makes the homes very quiet and serene. The property keeps water sources near the programmable water heater which learns your habits and has hot water ready when you need it, and saves energy.

The interior is wide open, airy and comfortable with a layout that is perfect for a single person or a couple. A second bedroom or office is attached to the great room and has translucent sliding doors that let light in without sacrificing privacy. Speaking of light, Solatubes are used in the kitchen and baths to provide light during the daytime without needing to flip a switch.

A private courtyard is attached to both bedrooms and opens up to look out on the community garden and orchard which is part of an overall no-maintenance landscaping plan that gives the property a sort of wild, country look in the city. Plus everything is edible.

I think the thing that makes e lane @ Carnegie most special though is the fact that it’s not expensive. We seem to getting used to the fact that Energy Star homes are all high end, $500K+ homes, but e lane @ Carnegie proves that efficiency and green can be affordable. Right now they have two units, both 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, 2 Car garage homes, single floor homes for under $200,000.

If you are looking for a green, energy-efficient home in Pittsburgh you must take a look at e lane @ Carnegie.  Contact me if you want to learn more.

Hi! My name is Christa Ross and I am a RE/MAX Select Real Estate agent living here in the great city of Pittsburgh, PA. While I have been working as an agent for awhile I recently decided to focus my efforts specifically on what I see as the growing green and energy-efficient real estate market. I came to this decision because it allows me to combine my profession, in real estate, with something I am truly passionate about, living greener and more sustainable.

As a lifelong skier and mountain biker I draw my inspiration from the world around us and while 15 years in the advertising business has taught me a lot about marketing (something I can put to work for you) it never quite felt like I was doing something that would improve the world we live in. But with this, I believe can…Housing generates a vast amount of greenhouse gases and the way we live and build generates tons of waste. For perhaps the first time in history there are thoughtful, committed citizens that are willing to look hard at the purchases they make and their impact on the environment. I can help them make the choices that are best for their health, family, wallet and earth.

While I may be interested in helping the earth, I am also a pragmatist who understands that economics frequently have to override other concerns. That is why I also want to help get out the message that being green and living efficiently has economic benefits as well. The true cost of living in a home includes not just your mortgage but your utilities as well, when you add it up living green can also put more green in your wallet.

I am not quite ready to get started yet but if you come back in a few weeks you can read about what is going on in the Pittsburgh Green Real Estate market and how I can help you buy or sell your home.