Greening Your Nest

By:  Stephanie Benney

Now that you have landed the most wonderful man you could have ever imagined, planned and executed an amazing green wedding, shared some of the most intimate and memorable experiences on your green honeymoon, what’s the next step in living a green lifestyle together?  GREENING YOUR NEST!

Whether you are looking to improve your current home by making changes to comply with green standards, or you are looking to build a brand new home via green technology, there are many options and factors for you to consider.

One aspect to consider while purchasing a home is resale value.  No one wants to pay a high ticket price on an investment, only to lose money when it is time to sell.  One of the benefits of building or purchasing a house built in compliance with green standards is value.  The demand for green homes is continuously on the rise, which increases the home’s value.  There are various reasons the demand for these homes is on the rise.  For one, we have all seen and have felt the hurt from obscenely rising utility bill costs.  Green homes help alleviate and cut down on utility expenses by utilizing more efficient HVAC systems and appliances.  Low-flow plumbing solutions also cut down on water usage.

Furthermore, these homes were constructed using materials designed to be less detrimental to the environment, also recycling scraps, etc, lessening the carbon footprint.  The materials used are purchased locally when possible, which stimulates local economy.

Another benefit to living in a green home is the health benefits.  If you are prone to allergies or have other health concerns or diseases, you will notice an improvement in your overall health and quality of life.  A few months back, I read an article in the North Hills Magazine regarding a family’s journey through building a green home in Pine Township.  Both the son and father were suffering from health issues.  They said within 2 months of moving in, they both saw amazing improvement in their symptoms and look forward to seeing even more.

For those of you, who work in the city and do not want to put unnecessary money in your gas tanks, only to watch the vapors blow out of your exhaust pipe, should consider taking advantage of Riverside Mews located in the South Side of Pittsburgh, or Windom Hill Place on Mt. Washington.  These are 2 examples of green housing developments in Pittsburgh.  They are the only 2 at this time certified by the Energy Star system as a standard feature.  This means that they have achieved 50% energy reduction.  They are also proof that you can have both – great design and sustainability – form vs. function.

To further educate yourself on the phenomenal advantages and protocol of green housing, there are some wonderful sites to explore.  Artemis Environmental is a green building material company, located in Lawrenceville on Butler Street.  Check them out at www.artemisenvironmental.com.

Visit www.energystar.gov to learn ways to save money and energy.  Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  You can also go to www.healthybuilding.net to learn about the latest materials, guidelines and standards for healthy building of green structures.

Happy house hunting you lovebirds!

Stephanie Benney is a “Sustainable Visionary” and also the new Pittsburgh Representative for Fuzed Marketing, where she helps companies increase their brand presence. stephaniebenney@yahoo.com