SOUTH
Newbury Community
By Gina Mazza
M
ike and Natalie Ryan exemplify
an emerging segment of the
home-owning population:
young, socially conscious professionals
who take active steps to reduce their
carbon footprint. A pharmacist and former
chemist, Mike embraces new technologies,
particularly solar energy. As a social worker
at an agency for the homeless, Natalie deals
a lot with housing and utilities.
When the couple decided to build, going
solar was a priority. They’d researched
sustainable options while living in
Sheraden. “Our 1920s house at that time
was the least efficient house you could
have,” recalls Natalie. “Our gas bills were
around $500 a month. It was like watching
money go out the window.”
Mike and Natalie sought out ecocommunities and settled on Newbury in
South Fayette, Bridgeville, the best-selling
new community in the South Hills. “All
of the houses t