About Us

This Natale Builders development — in Clarence, N.Y. — includes 34 single-family homes built in the second decade of this (21st) century to an energy efficiency standard previously unparalleled in the Buffalo/Niagara region.

Rivera Greens was the first certified National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Standards Eco-Friendly Development in New York State. All home designs in the development are ENERGY STAR® rated and were intended to save homeowners a substantial proportion on their utility bills, both by emphasizing ‘tight’ building and insulation and by using ground-source heat pumps (often referred to as ‘geothermal’ systems) for heating and cooling. Because of the ‘tight’ design, they are also equipped with Heat Recovery Ventilators.

The houses’ original specifications included the optional installation of PV solar systems — an option which was taken up by the majority of their initial purchasers. Most of the

originally installed solar systems produce enough power to offset 40-70% of the usage of the houses on which they are installed, but the current Webmaster installed an additional array on his house here in 2021, and achieved just over 1 GWh (1,000 kWh) in net production for the 2022/23 billing year and a little short of 2 GWh in net production for the 2023/24 year.

Rivera Greens offers a number of other environmentally friendly features. The homes are less than a half mile from shopping centers, recreation facilities and religious centers. A freshwater well and pond are home to natural vegetation and protected wildlife. Walking paths, composting areas and protected lands lie within 100 feet of homes. Ten acres, or 50 percent of the development, are dedicated to green space. Streetlights, the pond pump and the Rivera Greens sign are partially powered by a windmill. A public gazebo was constructed using 150-year-old wood taken from a barn that once stood on the property.

Board of Directors

President

  • William Baier

Secretary

  • Peter Fletcher

Treasurer

  • Susan Mumma

Vice President

  • Joe Maxwell

Director

  • Anna Cieri

Webmaster

  • Peter Fletcher

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