Green Can Mean Gold for Realtors® and The Home Buyers and Sellers They Serve

ORLANDO, November 08, 2008 From www.nar.com

Green buildings and business practices help conserve significant amounts of natural resources and can mean added business opportunities for Realtors®. As environmental concerns continue to grow among consumers, Realtors® attending today’s “Making Green Building Work for You and Your Clients” session at the 2008 REALTORS® Conference & Expo learned more about how to help buyers and sellers bring green into their homes.
Homes and buildings have a major impact on the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, residential and commercial buildings account for more than one-third of the nation’s total energy use, 12 percent of water use, 68 percent of electricity consumption and 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions.
“Realtors® build communities and are taking leading roles in promoting and encouraging green building practices,” said National Association of Realtors® President Richard Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif. “Green homes and commercial buildings are our future; Realtors® realize that environmentally sensitive building practices and home features are a good investment for both their clients and the planet.”
Realtors® who can educate consumers about green developments in real estate could find a rewarding niche, especially as energy-efficiency standards become more stringent. “Realtors® with green knowledge are valuable resources for environmentally conscious home buyers and sellers,” said Gaylord.
During the session, Realtor® Michael Kiefer with Green DC Realty in Washington, D.C., shared his insights on the growing green consumer base. “The green consumer is a market we as Realtors® cannot ignore,” said Kiefer. “It’s a targeted niche opportunity, and Realtors® must find ways to make green language a part of their business.”
U.S. Department of Energy representative Lani MacRea explained the benefits of retrofitting existing homes with energy efficient features. “Existing residential buildings represent the single largest source of potential energy savings,” she said.
Panelist Victoria Schomer, from Green Built Environments in Asheville, N.C, acknowledged the influence that the real estate industry can have on environmental issues. “We know that the building industry impacts the environment in a very major way,” she said. “The goal is to support clients and their families to live more sustainable, environmentally friendly lives.”
To help Realtors® provide green expertise and service to meet growing consumer demand, NAR launched a Green Designation course in early September, and Realtor® response has been overwhelming. The first Green Designation core course was completed just days ago here in Orlando – over 230 Realtors® have earned the designation.