National Tour of Solar Homes

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve 614 Dorseyville Road

Contact Name: Patricia Harger - Education Director Phone #: 412-963-6100

Directions: From Pittsburgh: Take Rt 28 North from downtown Pittsburgh, & exit onto Rt 8 N toward Butler. At the first traffic light turn R onto Kittanning Rd. Kittanning Rd is a very narrow street that winds up Sharps Hill. Continue on Kittanning Rd for 4.5 miles. Kittanning Rd becomes Dorseyville Rd, Beechwood will be on your left. From N & W:Take PA turnpike Exit 4 to Rt 8 S to Pittsburgh. Go 3 miles to traffic light just past Hampton Inn. Turn L on Harts Run Road (follow the Green Belt sign) and go 3 more miles until you come to a T in the rd. Turn R on Dorseyville Rd and proceed a short distance to Beechwood on your right. From East: Take PA Turnpike Exit 5 and go south on Freeport Rd. At forth stop light (Eat “n”Park is on your right) turn right onto Guys Run Rd. Go 4.1 miles to the stop sign at Dorseyville Rd. Turn left and proceed 0.7 miles to Beechwood on the right.

Home Information: Architect: The Design Alliance Architects
Builder: Bridges Inc
Size:8500 s.f.
Construction Cost: $450,000
Year Built: 1989
Building Style:Rural Vernacular
Location:Suburban

A new education building and additions and alterations to the existing facility. The new additions enable the Audubon Society to expand its service to both members and the public. Programs range from elementary school level to senior citizen outings.
It features acres of walking trails & wildflowers in addition to a remarkable building. The learning center has no air-conditioning, as summertime comfort is achieved through natural ventilation. In addition wintertime heating and lighting loads are minimized due to thoughtful building orientation and clerestory lighting. Open for tours from 10 am-4 pm
www.aswp.org

Solar Features: Passive solar heating, thermal mass heat storage, natural convection cooling, daylighting and composting toilets were used as demonstrations of environmentally sensitive design. Demonstrations applications of wind generated and photvoltaic power use were also incorporated in the education building.

Pittsburgh CCI Center 64 South 14th St

Contact Name: Mary Whitney Phone #: 412-431-4449 x208

Directions: Coming from Downtown:
· Cross either the Smithfield Street Bridge or the 10th Street Bridge
· Turn left onto E. Carson Street after crossing the bridge
· Proceed to 13th Street
· Turn right onto 13th Street - see parking instructions.

Coming from the East on the Parkway (I-376):
· Take the Glenwood Exit and turn right off the exit onto Bates Street
· At the traffic light turn right onto 2nd Avenue
· Proceed west on 2nd Avenue in left hand lane
· Turn left onto the 10th Street Bridge (which will take you directly to the South Side)
· Once across the bridge you should turn left at the third traffic light to get onto E. Carson Street - proceed to 13th Street
· Turn right onto 13th Street - see parking instructions.

Coming from the North of Downtown via I-279:
· Travel Veterans Bridge (I-579) into Downtown & take the 6th Avenue Exit off I-579
· This will put you on Bigelow Blvd. heading into Downtown - continue straight and this will put you on Ross Street
· Continue on Ross Street (past intersections with Forbes, 4th, and 3rd Avenues) and then turn left onto 2nd Avenue
· Travel east on 2nd Avenue for several blocks, then turn right onto the 10th Street Bridge (which will take you directly to the South Side)
· Once across the bridge you should turn left at the third traffic light to get onto E. Carson Street - proceed to 13th Street
· Turn right onto 13th Street - see parking instructions.

Coming from Oakland:
· Travel on Fifth Avenue past Pitt campus towards Downtown
· Turn left onto Birmingham Bridge which will take you to the South Side
· Turn right onto E. Carson Street and proceed to 13th Street
· Turn left on 13th Street - see parking instructions.

Parking Instructions:

· From 13th Street , go about one half block and turn left into the parking lot (at the Prince of Peace Parish Center, across from the small ballfield and playground area) - Park on the right side of the lot, in pre-reserved slots CCI spots only. Enter the building at the corner doors by 14th St. or the doors in the middle of the building on 14th Street.

Home Information: Architect: Tai+Lee, Pittsburgh, PA
Builder: Clearview Project Svcs., Pittsburgh, PA
Style: Two renovated commercial buildings (1910) plus new construction (1998)
Location: Urban fill-in

Solar Features: The building is modeled on sustainable design principles, focusing on non-toxicity, energy efficiency, recycling and cost effectiveness. The CCI Center is the recipient of many green design awards as well as historic preservation awards.

A combination of renovation and new construction, the center utilizes gas-fired heating and cooling, recycled steel studs, straw-filled floors, energy-efficient operable windows, a radiant-heat floor, water-saving fixtures, a photovoltaic array and more. The CCI Center was built by Conservation Consultants Inc. as a center for environmental partnerships in Western Pennsylvania. Home to six area non-profit organizations, the center houses classrooms, a green store, demonstration spaces and a library all open to the public.

Slippery Rock Slippery Rock University Harmony House 247 Harmony Road

Contact Name: Thomas Reynolds Phone #: 724-738-2956

Directions: From PA I-79, take the Slippery Rock exit. Travel east on route 108 to the first light in Slippery Rock. Turn right at the light onto Route 173 south (Main Street). Travel to the second light and turn left onto Keister Road (SRU campus at your left). Turn left at the next intersection onto Harmony Rd. The Harmony House is approximately 1/4 mile on the right, across from the football stadium.

Home Information: Property name: Robert A. Macoskey Ctr. for Sustainable Systems & Research Architect: Robert J. Kobet AIA - Original adaptive reuse. Ongoing developments by students & staff of SRU. The Macoskey Center is an education and research facility affiliated with the Sustainable Systems Program at Slippery Rock University. the Multipurpose building serves as secondary classroom space and as a gathering area for program activities. The building also contains a library, student workspace, and residences for two graduate assistants. A major renovation of an old farmhouse, the building was designed to be both energy-efficient and non-toxic.

Solar Features: Energy efficiency is addressed with high insulation levels (R-19 walls, R-30 Ceilings), high-performance low-E windows, tight construction techniques, and large south windows for both sun-tempering and day-lighting. Heating is provided by a masonry stove, supplemented by an electric baseboard system. A 1.5 kW Solorex photovoltaic array on a tilt adjustable ground mount contributes to the electric needs. Cooling is provided through natural ventilation. Indoor air quality was addressed by using only hardwood floors and cabinetry, and by using low-voc water-based paints and sealers. Additional features include a Clivus composting toilet and a greywater treatment system..

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