Christa Ross

Here is a great tip for gardeners: Municipalities are now taking all the leaves they clean from the roads and parks and composting it into mulch that is perfect for adding nutrients to your garden and helping keep moisture in the soil for your plants. You can read more about some of the local efforts in this story in the Trib... http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_652672.html.

Looking for a home with a garden in Pittsburgh? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, your certified green real estate agent and RE/MAX green specialist at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com.

Good green choices have an impact on your home and the community. This is a series about green resources right here in Pittsburgh that you can use.

Consider the Commute

If you can afford it, make your next car a hybrid or clean diesel car. Tax credits for some popular models have been phased out but many others are still available. If you already own a diesel car you could consider getting it retrofitted by a local company, Fossil Free Fuels, who converts vehicles to run on vegetable oil (while still keeping the car able to run off traditional diesel fuel, if necessary).

Try another form of transport occasionally. Walking and riding are good for the environment and your health. BikePgh, Street Smarts and other partners sponsor Car Free Fridays during the summer. If you are new to bike commuting visit the BikePgh website and download their Bike To Work Guide.

People with longer commute times report lower well-being and stress, so find the best place for you by giving the Green Relocation tool a try. Pittsburgh is blessed with several neighborhoods that offer great walkability and convenience, which cuts down on trips in the car.

Looking to find a walkable community in Pittsburgh? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, your certified green real estate agent and RE/MAX green specialist at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com.

Good green choices have an impact on your home and the community. This is a series about green resources right here in Pittsburgh that you can use.

Unplug the Vampire

Stop the vampire from sucking energy from your home. TVs, DVD players, computers and chargers all keep using power even when they are "off". According to a 2002 study, standby power can makeup 5-26% of a homes annual electricity use.

Unplug anything that isn't being used or plug them into a power strip and flip the switch to shut down. You can also try a "smart" power strip, that senses sleep mode and cuts the power.

Looking for a home that saves energy in Pittsburgh? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, your certified green real estate agent and RE/MAX green specialist at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com.

Good green choices have an impact on your home and the community. This is a series about green resources right here in Pittsburgh that you can use.

Greening Our Buildings

Green buildings, homes and schools are an important part of the quality of life in our community and the most exciting news is that Pittsburgh is leading the way! You can get involved too. The first place to start is the Green Building Alliance. This non-profit organization is focused on driving the market for green buildings and green building products.

They also advocate for the construction of green schools. Did you know that over 25% of students attend schools that are considered substandard or dangerous to occupant health? By building green schools districts can save money and provide better environments for their students and teachers.

Commercial construction of green buildings is going strong in the city and the good news is that residential building is starting to pick-up as well. Take a look at my website to find more information on the residential projects around the city. By choosing a newly-built green home you are making a responsible choice and helping to encourage those builders who are doing the right thing.

One of the best ways to identify a new environmentally friendly home is to look for either ENERGY STAR qualified homes or LEED certified homes. ENERGY STAR homes are designed and tested to meet certain requirements for energy-efficiency. You can find ENERGY STAR builders in Pittsburgh on the ES website. LEED homes take efficiency into account, but also consider building practices, material choices, indoor air quality, emissions, water use, waste management and environmental sensitivity in their certification process. LEED recently created a new category called LEED-ND for entire neighborhoods that integrate smart growth aspects into their development. Pittsburgh boasts two upcoming LEED-ND residential projects, one in Oakmont and one in East Liberty.

Of course, you don’t need to buy a new home to make it a green home. You can improve any existing home at the time of purchase or after your purchase. You’ll want to start with a Whole-Home Energy Performance Audit that can pinpoint energy wasters and give you a roadmap to save up to 50% on your utility bills. There are financial incentives for Allegheny Power customers, from $200 to $1000, to improve the efficiency of your current home. And low interest loans from Keystone Help or Energy Improvement Mortgages at the time of sale can help you pay for those energy upgrades without taking money out of your pocket.

Looking to buy an ENERGY STAR or LEED Home in Pittsburgh? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, your certified green real estate agent and RE/MAX green specialist at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com.

Good green choices have an impact on your home and the community. This is a series about green resources right here in Pittsburgh that you can use.

Sustainable Gardening

Do you really want to eat food that has been coated with products that have warning labels on them? Phipps Conservatory has a host of sustainable gardening tips on their website from mulching, composting, healthy ways to prevent pests and retaining rainwater.

Speaking of rainwater, if you live in the Nine Mile Run Watershed area, located in Pittsburgh’s East End, you can get a rain barrel for a reduced cost or even free if you live in one of their study neighborhoods.

If you are ready to take your gardening skills to the street then you might want to get involved with the urban gardening initiatives of Grow Pittsburgh. Their goal is to use sustainable urban gardening as a tool for broader community development and health through school and community based programs.

Finally, for those that don’t want to spend time and money tending their yards, consider earth-friendly landscaping with native plants that don’t require watering, pesticides and tending. Botanic, LLC and other local landscapers who promote sustainable landscaping practices can help you put a beautiful, low maintenance yard into place.

Looking to put down roots in a new home? Call Christa Ross from RE/MAX Select Realty, your certified green agent and RE/MAX green specialist at 724-933-6300 x214 (office) or 724-779-1437 (direct) or visit my website at www.greenhomespgh.com.