Newlyweds Brian Allen and Sarah Nieves hired an energy auditor for their home in the Dundee neighborhood.
Suggested improvements included a heating and cooling system that has generated savings. The couple, employed in the building industry, also liked the idea of committing to a greener lifestyle.
Their home at 4909 Davenport Street will be on Omaha's third annual Green Home Tour on Saturday.
The Green Omaha Coalition and co-host University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction will lead the tour.
Other featured homes are: UNL's Zero Net Energy Test House (ZNETH) at 6454 Woolworth Ave.; Paul Vonderfecht's energy-smart house at 1315 S. 92nd Circle; Sharon Blackburn's contemporary, green home at 801 S. 80th St.; and Joel Holm's house at 846 S. 52nd St.
This year's tour also marks a Green Homecoming on the UNL and University of Nebraska at Omaha campuses. A Green Homecoming includes a free vendor fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at UNO's new LEED-registered building — Mammel Hall at 6708 Pine St.
Bill Moore, internationally known leader of eco-website EVWorld.com, will speak at 9:15 a.m., followed by a welcome from Louis Pol, dean of UNO's College of Business.
Green Home Tour shuttles will leave from Mammel Hall at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $5 per person for entry to the five homes, all with features to help people start at home with green living.
For more information, contact Brittany Dabestani at 402-980-2818 or Brittany@greenomahacoalition.org.
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