Riverside Mews Becomes First Net-Zero Energy Home in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, April 14 — Pittsburgh can now claim the region's first net-zero energy home, 1820 Merriman Way, a for-sale townhouse in Riverside Mews, a 48-unit green townhome community in the city's South Side neighborhood. To achieve net-zero energy, the townhome generates as much power as it uses on an annual basis through a variety of green building technologies, including an 8,000 watt photovoltaic array mounted on its roof. Pittsburgh has long been a leader in green buildings, but this newest addition to the city's green building portfolio is a testament that both public and private interests continue to challenge the boundaries of what's possible and achievable locally in terms of energy and resource efficiency, as well as in healthy homes and buildings.

"Green Building Alliance (GBA) is proud to be part of the celebration for a remarkable Pittsburgh achievement -- the first net-zero energy home in the city," commented Holly Childs, GBA's executive director. "This is a major accomplishment and we congratulate Sota Construction Services and the entire project team on pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency and renewable energy to have a net-zero energy impact. Their efforts demonstrate not only a commitment to saving money for future homeowners in utility costs, but also reducing negative impacts on the environment through smart green building."

The 1,850-square-foot townhome's energy use is minimized through a geothermal heat pump, LED lighting, Energy Star-labeled products and super-insulation methods. The net-zero energy home adds to the overall sustainability of the Riverside Mews development, which is located on a former brownfield site. Each townhome showcases environmentally friendly materials, energy-efficient systems and unique architectural designs that create sustainable and healthy living environments. The location contributes to sustainable lifestyles as shopping and entertainment options are within close proximity, and Downtown Pittsburgh is within walking distance.

In order to make net-zero energy living possible in Pittsburgh, Riverside Development Group, the developers of Riverside Mews, leveraged recent improvements in energy-efficient geothermal water source heat pump systems, reduced photovoltaic system costs and federal tax incentives.

The Riverside Mews development was designed by Perkins Eastman Architects and STRADA LLC. It is being built by Sota Construction Services, Inc., which has a long history of green projects in the Pittsburgh area. The net-zero energy performance of this one described townhome was achieved and certified in collaboration with the expert energy consultants and engineers of MaGrann Associates.

For more information, visit riversidemews.com.

About GBA
Green Building Alliance is a non-profit organization that advances economic prosperity and human wellbeing in Western Pennsylvania by driving market demand for green buildings and green building products across every aspect of the built environment.