PNC Bank plans to hold the grand opening of its Mount Nebo Pointe branch April 22 -- on Earth Day.

The date seems appropriate because the new bank is a "green building," constructed with recycled materials and designed to use energy-saving technologies that trim operating and maintenance costs, said branch manager Gerald Marshall.

PNC has built four green branches in the Pittsburgh area in the past year and a total of 21 since 2002. Its newest office is near the intersection of Mount Nebo and Lowries Run roads in Ohio Township.

"Building green is an environmentally and socially responsible thing to do," said Gary Saulson, PNC's real estate director.

It also makes good business sense, he said.

Use of recycled materials and modular construction techniques -- brick wall units are assembled in factories and trucked to the building site --saves the bank about $100,000 in construction costs on each branch. Construction costs are about $1.4 million.

The double-pane windows of a two-story glass atrium at the Mount Nebo branch let in plenty of daylight, while an insulating film between the sheets of glass keeps out extreme temperatures. The result is lower heating and air-conditioning bills.

"Plus, people seem to like it. They thrive where they have plenty of natural light," Mr. Saulson said.

Some of the unusual construction materials in the building include counter tops produced with recycled paper and floor tiles made with sawdust and linseed oil. Cabinets are made not of plywood but from wheatboard, a byproduct of grain processing. Carpeting is made of durable hog's hair.

"They are very versatile animals," Mr. Marshall said of pigs.

Rain water is collected from the bank's roof and used to flush toilets.

"Our objective was to build an environment that both customers and employees would find pleasant and they would want to spend time there," Mr. Saulson said.

To that end, plasma screen televisions have been mounted over the teller windows and in a lounge area furnished with padded easy chairs. "We usually have business-related programs on," Mr. Marshall said.

Adjacent to the lounge is the PNC Internet cafe, where customers can brew cups of coffee while they learn the basics of online banking.

The branch opened March 3 and employs a dozen full- and part-time workers. Landscaping and paving of the parking lot remain to be completed.

Initial customer reaction has been positive, Mr. Marshall said.

"When we give them a tour around the office, they seem fascinated," he said.

"I think it is wonderful that they've used a lot of recycled materials," agreed Gloria Sutter, who lives in West View. "It's a nice looking building."