EcoBroker International

The Foreclosure Life Raft (And How to Get Your Cast Away Business Back on the Mainland)

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:22:00 +0000

By Ryan Moehring

If you are reading this, congratulations are in order! You have managed to survive one of the worst housing crises in several generations—a crisis, many believe, is beginning to subside. If you are like most of your fellow survivors, you have likely managed to carry on by subsisting on an unwholesome diet of foreclosures, short sales and real estate owned properties (REOs).

I liken the situation to Tom Hanks in the movie Cast Away. In the film, Hanks’ character, a Federal Express employee named Chuck Nolan, is stranded on a deserted island after his plane crashes while flying over the South Pacific. Chuck too, resigns himself to a less than ideal diet of crabs, fish, and coconuts.

Chuck remains on the island for more than four years, eventually becoming remarkably adept at spear fishing and other island survival skills. He even befriends a fellow crash survivor, a volleyball he affectionately names Wilson. Chuck grows accustomed to island life, eventually accepting the fact that he will never be rescued. However, of the few things he was able to salvage from the plane crash, one constantly reminds him of his home and his life—a single, undelivered FedEx package.

The metaphor is not sophisticated, but it is well-timed. Many of us who work in the green real estate industry have been side tracked over the past 2+ years just trying to keep our real estate businesses alive and profitable. Unfortunately, in order to do this, many have not been able to focus on green properties. Now that the market is turning around in many locations, it is time to focus once again on delivering our package—our goal to green the real estate industry.

This refocusing effort need not cause a 180° shift in your business plan. Just as Chuck didn’t transition from a sushi and coconut diet right into a Big Mac his first day back in the states, foreclosures and bank-owned properties will likely continue to be a part of your real estate “diet” for some time to come. The question is can you somehow combine your necessity and your ideology to make money and make a difference?

The port town of St. Lucie, Florida provides a hopeful example. The town, which has the 10th highest foreclosure rate in the country, received more than $13.5 million dollars in federal stimulus money to purchase some of its 10,000+ foreclosed properties. The Mayor of the town has decided to use some of the money to retrofit the homes to make them more energy efficient before putting them back on the market for purchase by low-to-mid income, first-time homebuyers.

The ingenious plan provides economic stimulus in at least three ways: 1) it takes bad notes off banks’ balance sheets, thereby contributing to the “thawing” process of the nearly arctic credit market; 2) it puts affordable housing within reach of thousands of new homebuyers, which ensures long-term economic activity in St. Lucie communities; 3) it creates jobs for the companies that provide insulation, windows, and other energy efficient building services.

All of this green activity embeds itself into the community, making green an integral part of the city’s identity, and laying the groundwork for even more green activity in the future. The last time I checked the city of St. Lucie still needs licensed real estate professionals to help them sell these retrofitted properties. I imagine that holding a green designation like EcoBroker® might make the difference between landing these listings and spear fishing for dinner. Your city is probably working on a similar program, and if not, they would likely entertain the idea if a motivated professional like you pitched it to them. There is a world of possibilities—what is needed is a shift back to our pre-Cast Away, aggressive mentality that we are going to transform the industry, no matter the obstacles.

I understand, really I do. You’ve been stranded on a 100 acre island for a couple of years. You’ve been exposed to the elements. You’ve had to hunt for your own food. You’ve survived in ways you never thought you’d have to. You will be forever changed by what has happened to you, and your industry will certainly never be the same. You’ve had complex discussions with volleyballs about the meaning of life, for goodness sake.

You will undoubtedly have to eat a coconut every once in a while just to keep your belly full, but you are back on the mainland. Houses are selling again. Life is good. And you have a package to deliver.

Sources:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2009/04/26/a18a_swartzcol_0426.html
http://digg.com/business_finance/Greening_Foreclosures_Buy_a_Home_in_Detroit_for_40?FC=PRCS4
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/04/11/real_estate/index.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/

Property By Phone Partners with EcoBroker - Companies Form Ultimate Green Partnership

noreply@blogger.com (Kim Young) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:07:00 +0000

March 30, 2009 (Denver, CO)-AccessU2 Mobile Solutions, LLC, a pioneer in mobile marketing for real estate, and its patent pending product, Property By Phone, today announced it will partner with EcoBroker, the premier green designation for real estate professionals.

Property By Phone customers who sign up for the gold package service plan for 12 months receive EcoBroker® and Ecosociate™ designation enrollment for free-a $395 value. After the 12-month period, the customers receive the EcoBroker Property By Phone corporate rate. EcoBroker's current 5,000 members are eligible to receive the EcoBroker corporate rate for Property By Phone service effective immediately at http://www.ecobroker.com/.

The partnership is a natural fit; EcoBroker's membership is comprised of thousands of tech-savvy real estate agents who are seeking environmentally sensitive options for their clients and for their own businesses. Property By Phone's paperless listing presentations cost less than brochures, are easier to maintain, and captures leads. Property By Phone provides a solution that is smart for both business and the environment-a custom fit for EcoBrokers® and Ecosociates™.

"Property By Phone brings cutting edge technological advancements affordably within reach of our members from coast to coast and internationally," commented EcoBroker CEO John Beldock, Ph.D. "Today's real estate professional derives tremendous benefit from the Property By Phone technology and platform. Our EcoBroker membership is really making a difference with consumers, communities, and the environment. EcoBrokers® and Ecosociates™ are redefining the quality of service the consumer has come to expect from any kind of real estate industry professional. Through our work with AccessU2, our membership is able to make even more of a difference. This economy and the environment need all the difference we can provide."

Property By Phone instructs the prospective buyer to call a toll-free number, and the property information, video, and photos are delivered by text message. The company's platform delivers the same type of experience to a buyer's cell phone that virtual tours have delivered to websites. The Realtor also receives an instant call capture text message and email as soon as the consumer receives the information. Using the Your Front Office service, consumers can also set an appointment directly on the listing agent's calendar. Realtors will never miss a lead or the opportunity to set a showing directly with that consumer.

Setting up service is simple; a Realtor subscribes to Property By Phone and receives a sign rider with a toll free number and a property code. When subscribing, the Realtor creates their property description and uploads their photos and can create virtual tour videos online. Realtors can also review and share the activity report with home sellers. Realtors are also connecting with buyers and increasing their listings with the use of Property By Phone. For more information, visit http://www.propertybyphone.com/.

"This is the ultimate green partnership, as we eliminate expensive, messy, time-consuming, and environmentally unfriendly brochure boxes forever," said Kenneth O'Hanlon President and CEO of AccessU2 Mobile Solutions, LLC. "EcoBroker has built a foundation of environmental education and outreach helping consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in real estate properties."

About Property By Phone
In 2003, AccessU2 CEO Kenneth O'Hanlon began development of the code and process patents for Property By Phone. Along the way he quite literally pioneered the industry, working with cell phone aggregators and wireless providers in the U.S. and Canada and filing the patent pending process he created. Property By Phone is the only instant property information service that can communicate with the consumer in English, Spanish, or French; deliver photos and videos; and backed by 24-hour live operator assistance. The toll free number and property codes can be used in other marketing vehicles simply by adding them to advertisements, banners, billboards, or signage. For more information, visit http://www.propertybyphone.com/.

About EcoBroker
EcoBroker is the premier provider of green designation training for real estate professionals. Through its unique and award-winning energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge to become EcoBroker Certified and assist clients in their pursuit of greener homes. Certified members are known to consumers simply as EcoBrokers® and Ecosociates™. Since 2002, EcoBroker has grown to more than 5,000 members worldwide. For more information on EcoBroker International, visit http://www.ecobroker.com/ or call 1-800-706-4321.

Daniel Island Mortgage Becomes the Nation's First myEnergyLoan Local Provider

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:41:00 +0000

Submitted by Michelle Salater • March 18, 2009

Responding to the growing demand for a sustainable, local economy in Charleston and all of South Carolina, Daniel Island Mortgage has become the nation's first myEnergyLoan local provider.

CHARLESTON, SC - March 17, 2009-Committed to providing a new green mortgage product that builds value in homes, saves clients money, and facilitates a healthier environment and sustainable economy, Daniel Island Mortgage announces it is the nation's first myEnergyLoan local provider.

Daniel Island Mortgage is leading the way for Charleston and all of South Carolina to shift from a carbon-based economy to a sustainable economy. Teaming up with myEnergyLoan, the nation's top green mortgage program, Daniel Island Mortgage is well positioned to be the market leader in green financing throughout South Carolina and the nation.

myEnergyLoan provides a simple and reliable way to get closing-cost discounts and lower interest rates for energy-efficient homes and buildings. Unlike traditional loans, which are limited in size and scope, myEnergyLoan works with all property types and all loan types, allowing it to serve a much larger segment of the real estate market. The greener the project, the larger the energy-credit rebate back to the consumer.

All property owners, who are increasingly interested in building or renovating using energy-efficient features, now have a mortgage product that recognizes and rewards them for going green. Homeowners who choose green typically capture tremendous savings through lower energy bills while adding value to their homes and lowering their environmental impact.

"One of the most important aspects that led me to partner with myEnergyLoan is that, at its core, it is truly committed to supporting sustainable financing and green real estate," says Gary Harwyn, president of Daniel Island Mortgage. "It has long-standing ties to some of the top green building programs in the country, such as the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED, EcoBroker, Energy Star, and EarthCraft. Not many financial institutions or builders can offer these types of green credentials, and this is what makes myEnergyLoan more genuine and authentic in the eyes of builders and consumers."

"Continuing with our sustainable mission, we also want to try to circulate dollars back through our local providers and businesses. Local dollars are said to circulate about six times more through the economy than if you did business with a large bank or store, where much of that money essentially gets exported," says Harwyn.

Daniel Island Mortgage has already received tremendous support from notable green builders and developers in the Charleston metro area. Hunley Waters, Battery Island Row, and Mixson, to name a few, have all added Daniel Island Mortgage as the preferred lender for their respective sustainable developments here in Charleston. Those developments alone represent over $400 million in projected sustainable developments in the Charleston market.

Daniel Island Mortgage is also fielding calls every day from green developers and homeowners all across the state interested in finding out more about green financing options. "We are very proud to help serve this green market while providing real value and green financial leadership in the South Carolina economy," adds Harwyn.

About Daniel Island Mortgage:
Daniel Island Mortgage is a SC licensed mortgage broker serving the Charleston market and all of South Carolina. Recognized for exceptional service and superior mortgage rates since 2004, Daniel Island Mortgage specializes in a full range of residential and commercial mortgage products and is proud to promote a triple bottom line focusing on profitability, the environment, and the community. Their experienced, licensed mortgage brokers stay up-to-date with the latest market conditions, trends, and available programs, bringing clients closer than ever before to experience the ultimate personal mortgage service at the local level.

ECOBROKER NAMED NAHB NATIONAL GREEN BUILDING AWARD FINALIST

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:00:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Evergreen, CO)—March 9, 2009 The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced today that EcoBroker International is a finalist for the 2009 NAHB National Green Building Awards.

The prestigious annual awards honor home builders, remodelers, home builders’ associations and other organizations for advancing green building through innovative design and construction techniques, excellent educational programs, and successful advocacy efforts.

EcoBroker was nominated in the Advocate of the Year category for education.

EcoBroker International is the premier provider of green designation training for real estate professionals. Founded in 2002, the company has built a solid foundation of environmental education and outreach, helping consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in real estate properties.

Through EcoBroker's unique energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge and resources to become Certified EcoBrokers®. These real estate professionals assist clients in their pursuit of green properties that provide affordability, comfort and a healthier environment.

The awards are part of the NAHB National Green Building Program, NAHBGreen, which includes education, advocacy, marketing and certification services for green homes. Since NAHBGreen debuted in February 2008, it has certified homes across the country.

“Between 2006 and 2008, the number of award applications quadrupled. The tremendous growth of this program reflects the growth of green building practices all over the country,” said NAHB Green Building Subcommittee Chair Eric Borsting, a California home builder.

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner during the NAHB National Green Building Conference. The 11th annual conference is set for May 8-10 in Dallas.

About EcoBroker
EcoBroker is the premier provider of green designation training for real estate professionals. Through its unique and award-winning energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge to become EcoBroker Certified® and assist clients in their pursuit of greener homes. Certified members are known to consumers simply as EcoBrokers® and Ecosociates™. Since 2002, EcoBroker has grown to more than 5,000 members worldwide.

Contact Us
You can reach EcoBroker International at 1-800-706-4321, online at www.ecobroker.com and by email at kyoung@ecobroker.com.

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Home of your green dreams

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:40:00 +0000

Real estate agents get eco-friendly training, help buyers and sellers find ways to live sustainably
By Christian Toto
Special to The Denver Post

Highland resident Lindsey Kruger knows a thing or two about living green.

The 29-year-old works in sustainable interior design, but she still is grateful she turned to a real estate professional who specialized in environmental concerns before buying her home.

Today's real estate agents are boning up on how they can merge their real estate savvy with the latest green innovations. "EcoBrokers" or Realtors with a "Green Designation" can help homeowners tweak properties to attract environmentally focused buyers or even connect homebuyers with resources to make their new homes more environmentally friendly.

The EcoBroker Kruger chose, Brad Sandler of Green Door Living in Denver, "steered me to people who would do work on my house in a sustainable way," she said.

Kruger installed bamboo floors, the material is known for its rapid growth, and added enough insulation to shrink her energy bills dramatically.

Evergreen-based EcoBroker International started instructing real estate professionals in the latest environmental stewardship techniques in 2002.

Green mission
John Beldock, EcoBroker president and chief executive, said his group has since grown to more than 5,000 members worldwide.

Members must take three days of classes to complete their certification and then four additional hours each year to retain their status.

Part of the EcoBroker's mission is to make sure clients can afford to go green. Members advise buyers and sellers toward the latest rebates, grants and other monetary incentives, Beldock said.

Lara Williams, a Fort Collins-based EcoBroker, said EcoBrokers must get to know the different grants and program available in their own backyards, such as a Fort Collins program encouraging homeowners to trade in their old porcelain toilets for water-saving models. The toilets are recycled by a local nonprofit for no charge and crushed and combined into an aggregate used as road base.

Williams said local buyers and sellers often look to her to help reduce their carbon footprint. "Now, that's taking a back seat to the energy-efficiency side of it," she said.

Real estate agents can opt to study with the EcoBroker program or take classes with the National Association of Realtors. That group began offering its own Green Designation program last year, according to Kristen Short, managing director of business specialties for the trade group.

Realtors must complete 18 hours of training to gain the certification. The Green Resource Council confers the designation, Short said.

The designation helps Realtors understand what makes a property green, and they can inform clients of both the costs and benefits of green building features. Realtors with the green designation can also tap a network of peers, from contractors to homebuilders, who work with sustainable techniques.

"What does sustainability mean in real estate? Smart growth, new urbanism, a more focused look at green consumers," she said.

Steven Caplan, an EcoBroker and green builder based in Boulder, said the environmental real estate field experiences daily technological advances. That means even EcoBrokers must diligently follow industry trends and stay connected to green builders to be of the most service to their clients.

"The EcoBroker designation, it's just letters. It's about going ahead and taking it to the next level," Caplan said.

Retrofitting advice
Ken Deshaies, an EcoBroker and owner of SnowHome Properties in Silverthorne, said EcoBrokers don't necessarily point homebuyers to the homes of their green dreams. To do so would reduce the number of available homes by a drastic number, Deshaies said.

Instead, they meet the homebuyer halfway, showing them homes that have potential to be upgraded in an environmentally friendly fashion. The same holds true for the sellers.

"I advise sellers how they can green their houses a little bit and showcase the green amenities already in the home," he said.

Sandler said he tries to tell his clients about not just the major renovations needed to go green but the subtle changes to defray energy costs.

He advises installing programmable thermostats, swapping out shower heads for low-flow models and being aware of phantom loads — the energy lost by having electronics and other appliances plugged in around the clock.

His best tip often involves taking an existing home and retrofitting it for maximum green impact. Older homes, with their thick walls and secure structures, offer a pretty good start for would-be retrofitters, he said.

Kruger has a few tips of her own for those seeking out an EcoBroker or green designated Realtor.
"Come up with a few questions to test how knowledgeable they are . . . and make sure they're really good real estate agents," she said.

All the green knowledge in the world won't matter, she said, if they don't intimately know the neighborhoods in question.

EcoBroker Announces Alliance with Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to Benefit Consumers

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:24:00 +0000

The Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals (AEEREP.org) and EcoBroker International (http://www.EcoBroker.com), proudly announce a partnership with the Residential Energy Service Network (RESNET). The partnership links AEEREP’s and EcoBroker’s real estate professional members to the industry’s most trusted source of energy raters, further helping consumers evaluate and make energy improvements to their homes in the face of mounting energy costs.

“With renewed interest in residential energy efficiency driven by consumer demand for economy, comfort, environmental sensitivity and performance, now is a perfect time to create this consumer-focused partnership,” said EcoBroker CEO Dr. John Beldock. “EcoBroker and RESNET share a mission to improve energy efficiency and the environment, and both organizations offer consumers the experts they need to assist them in achieving these goals.”

This partnership enriches the competitive offerings of both memberships, introducing even more of EcoBroker’s real estate members to the innovative energy rating programs used to help consumers evaluate and make energy-efficiency improvements to their homes and qualify for the financing to pay for the upgrades. RESNET members gain access to new business opportunities and a strong referral network. EcoBroker educates its membership on the key benefits of RESNET through its core curriculum, web site and newsletters.

“As an industry leader in energy efficiency, we are proud to partner with EcoBroker who has done so much work to educate real estate professionals on this important topic,” said RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden. “We believe our memberships and the consumer will benefit greatly from this alliance.”

EcoBroker is the first and largest provider of green real estate training for real estate professionals. Through their unique and award-winning energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge to become a Certified EcoBroker® then assist clients in their pursuit of greener homes. Since 2002, EcoBroker has grown to 5,000 members across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and New Zealand.

In 1995, representatives of the national mortgage industry, the National Association of State Energy Officials and Energy Rated Homes of America founded RESNET to develop national standards for home energy rating systems and energy-efficient mortgages. In 2002, RESNET became a nonprofit and is guided by a board of directors.

You can reach EcoBroker International at 1-800-706-4321, online at http://www.ecobroker.com/.

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EcoBroker is the premier provider of green designation training for real estate professionals. Founded in 2002, the company has built a solid foundation of environmental education and outreach helping consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in real estate properties. Through EcoBroker’s unique energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge and resources to become Certified EcoBrokers®. These real estate professionals assist clients in their pursuit of properties that provide affordability, comfort and a healthier environment, all the while reducing carbon footprints. EcoBroker has thousands of members in all 50 states and internationally.

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EcoBrokersTout Green Building Principles

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:40:00 +0000

When real estate agent Gina Vermilyea shows houses to potential buyers, she can point out what could be done to save energy and improve air quality in a home.

Her knowledge comes from being a certified EcoBroker, a "green" designation awarded to real estate professionals who receive continuing education provided by EcoBroker International. The Colorado-based company was founded in 2002 and already has members throughout the world as the demand grows for buildings that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
The National Association of Realtors also offers its "Green Designation" to Realtors who complete the association's courses on green building principles.

Vermilyea, who has been in the real estate business for seven years, became the first certified EcoBroker in Minnesota three years ago and is currently among 16 EcoBrokers in the state. An agent for Coldwell Banker Burnet, Vermilyea's office is in White Bear Lake, although her work brings her into southeast Minnesota where her market stretches from Northfield to Lanesboro.
"I really feel like I serve people above and beyond the regular real estate duties because I can help them save money and help the environment," Vermilyea said.

It's becoming more common for potential buyers to ask about the energy efficiency of a home, and some of are quite knowledgeable on the topic. "And other ones know that they want energy efficiency or a green home or healthier indoor air quality but they're not really sure what they're looking for," she said.

One glance at a home isn't enough to know if it's energy efficient.

"It's pretty hard to see energy efficiency by looking at a house, but you can see things that are not" energy efficient, Vermilyea said. Buyers should ask whether a home has a high-efficiency furnace, newer windows and is well insulated, since utility bills alone don't provide an accurate assessment of a home's energy efficiency.

If a home lacks those things, Vermilyea educates potential buyers about programs through the Federal Housing Administration and other agencies that make financing available for energy-efficient improvements.

These days, Vermilyea works mostly with buyers but she's previously helped sellers whose homes incorporated green building concepts.

It wasn't that long ago that a seller with solar panels on his home might have been told by his listing agent to take the panels off because they would reduce the home's value, Vermilyea said. In the past, she said, real estate agents didn't know how to market homes with green building features, but they realize today that there is a segment of the population excited about such homes.

Homes with green features can sell faster and for more money than other homes, Vermilyea said, adding, "All other things being equal, why wouldn't you pick the home that has that stuff?"

Article by Dawn Schuett: http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=51&a=379841

NAHB applauds ANSI approval of national green building standard

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:18:00 +0000

The National Green Building Standard[tm] for all residential construction work including single-family homes, apartments and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation was approved Jan. 29, 2009 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

The approval signals a new era for the nation's builders, remodelers and developers and also provides an extra measure of reassurance for home buyers, said Joe Robson, a home builder in Tulsa, Okla., and Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

"The National Green Building Standard is now the first and only green building rating system approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes," said Ron Jones, who chaired the consensus committee charged with developing the standard."

"The standard provides home builders and remodelers with a much more expansive third-party rating system that they can use to achieve green certification under NAHB Green and the National Green Building Certification Program," said Mike Luzier, CEO of the NAHB Research Center.

The Research Center provides certification for NAHBGreen projects, which until now have only included single-family homes. "Consumers are looking for authentic, verifiable green building practices, and now they'll find them with a true industry consensus standard for residential green building," Luzier said.

The standard defines what green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction and how home owners can operate and maintain their green homes. But the National Green Building Standard also provides for flexibility - allowing home builders and home buyers to make green choices based on climate and geography as well as style preferences and budget.

As part of the stringent process required by ANSI, NAHB and the International Code Council gathered a fully inclusive and representative consensus committee composed of a broad spectrum of builders, architects, product manufacturers, regulators and environmental experts. The work of the consensus committee was administered by the NAHB Research Center, an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer. The consensus committee deliberated the content of the standard for more than a year, held four public hearings and evaluated over 3,000 public comments in the development of the standard.

The Use of UV Ozone for Environmental Restoration

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:06:00 +0000

By Dr. Halden Shane, (The Ozone Man, Inc.)

Over the past decade, literally all service restoration companies have utilized traditional destructive methods to deal with indoor contaminated properties. Such methods include the use of potentially toxic biocides that are applied by fogging, spraying, or hand wiping on floors, walls, counters, furniture and HVAC systems. The theory is that the biocides will kill a wide range of microbial organisms that include fungi, bacteria and viruses. Few if any claims are made regarding the efficacy of biocides against biofilms a polysaccharide adhesive matrix that protects most bacteria and many fungi from outside influences. In addition to biocides, most traditional restoration companies employ portable HEPA units to scrub the air of fugitive spores and other fragments. Both biocides and portable HEPA have limitations that even after their deployment may still render the property uninhabitable.

The use of biocides is akin to chemotherapy for a property. That is, the use of a toxic material to destroy another organism, where, in fact, the cure may be worse than the microbe or cell that it is trying to kill. For many individuals, entering a property after the application of a biocide results in irritation and respiratory distress. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, produced by many biocides linger for days, and few restoration companies ventilate properties after biocide application. Portable HEPA, while somewhat effective for elevated airborne spores, often miss organisms and fragments that have settled to the floor or furniture, and as such, are no longer airborne.

A novel use of ultraviolet-generated Ozone properly sized and placed within an indoor environment in the absence of humans, pets, and plants (with elevated levels of bacteria, fungi, allergens, viruses and VOCs) provides an effective method to kill a significant percentage (79-97%) of these organisms within four to twelve hours of application. Additionally, UV-generated Ozone at levels of 10-12 PPM will penetrate biofilms and destroy bacterial and fungal-protected colonies. UV-generated Ozone also has the added advantage of reducing or eliminating offensive odors created by a wide variety of indoor conditions.

Proper use of UV-generated Ozone includes proper placement of the units to ensure total saturation of O3 throughout the property (including the furnace air intakes). During the application of UV-Ozone, measurements are required to ensure that sufficient levels have been reached. Following the application, the property is ventilated and air testing is conducted to ensure that the Ozone levels are below the TLV. In properties that have microbial contamination, spores, fragments and particles will drop to the floor or furniture due to gravity, attachment to dust and through the application of Ozone. It is necessary to HEPA vacuum the entire property after an Ozone application to remove all dead or damaged particles.

Environmental laboratory samples should be taken to establish the baseline (pre-Ozone application) and post-application to measure the effectiveness of the treatment.

For more information about the use of UV-generated Ozone to improve indoor air quality, visit http://www.theozoneman.com/.

Sources:
“Treatment of Mold and VOC-contaminated Residential Homes with UV-Generated Ozone”, with Donald J. Schmidt and Marshall L. Lowen, in Proc. IOA/PAG Annual Technical Meeting, Lake Lanier Islands, GA (Oct. 2005).

“Fungicidal Efficiency of UV-Generated Ozone Against Stachybotrys Chartarum and Aspergillus Versicolor Molds”, Ozone News 33(3):17-22 (2004).

Environmental Science and Technology, May 25, 2005

Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: Pediatrics 2001; 107;505-51

GenGreen and EcoBroker International Announce Partnership

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:33:00 +0000

Today, two Colorado-based companies, GenGreenLife.com and EcoBroker International, announced an innovative partnership that will provide home buyers and sellers with easy access to energy and environmentally-trained real estate professionals across the country. As a result of the partnership, these EcoBroker Certified® real estate professionals will be connected with a national audience of conscious consumers interested in buying and selling green homes.

“Green building is one of the fastest growing industries in the country right now,” said Charisse McAuliffe, founder and CEO of GenGreen LLC. “We feel this partnership will support this trend by increasing our users’ awareness that there are qualified REALTORS® out there who can help them find an environmentally sensitive home.”

GenGreen chose to partner with EcoBroker International because their certification program has been the industry standard of green designation training for real estate professionals since 2002. “The company has built a solid foundation of environmental education and outreach,” said McAuliffe. This helps consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and sustainable design in real estate properties.

As part of the relationship, the Certified EcoBrokers® listed on GenGreenLife.com will be able to display their designation logo on their listing, improving visibility in the search results and allowing users to compare them to competitors who haven’t undergone certification. Likewise, EcoBroker will host the GenGreen API on their Web site, meaning that visitors to EcoBroker.com will be able to find and support tens of thousands of local eco-friendly businesses directly from www.EcoBroker.com

“We’re pleased to offer our members this tremendous opportunity to connect with the GenGreen community,” said EcoBroker founder and CEO, John Beldock. “The EcoBroker program was founded on the belief that licensed real estate professionals are the ideal candidates to connect homeowners with high-quality green products and services, as well as high-performance homes. Our relationship with GenGreen strengthens our ability to further these activities, which is fantastic.”

Those interested in learning more about the partnership and how to contact EcoBroker International for their real estate and designation needs are encouraged to visit the EcoBroker endorsement page on GenGreenLife.com (http://gengreenlife.com/endorsements.php).

About GenGreen LLC
The mission of GenGreen is to help people learn how to live more sustainable lives by making them aware of the environmentally conscious businesses, organizations and people in their local communities. We accomplish this through our Web site, GenGreenLife.com, which is the most comprehensive and diverse resource available for people looking to live a locally focused, environmentally conscious lifestyle. Currently, we offer a directory of over 35,000 business and organizational listings, and hundreds of green events, green-collar job listings and volunteer opportunities across the U.S.

About EcoBroker International
EcoBroker International is the premier provider of green designation training for real estate professionals. Founded in 2002, the company has built a solid foundation of environmental education and outreach helping consumers and communities take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in real estate properties. Through EcoBroker’s unique energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge and resources to become Certified EcoBrokers®. These real estate professionals assist clients in their pursuit of properties that provide affordability, comfort and a healthier environment. EcoBroker has thousands of members in all 50 states and internationally.

EcoBroker®, Patrick Canavan previews a built green home under construction. Vol 2.: Insulation

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:14:00 +0000

EcoBroker®, Patrick Canavan shows us interior and exterior insulation techniques in home construction.

Order Your EcoBroker® Shirts, Totes, Mugs, Stickers and More at EcoBroker's New CafePress Store

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:22:00 +0000

Order Your EcoBroker® Shirts, Totes, Mugs and Stickers at EcoBroker's New CafePress Store Just in time for the holidays, EcoBroker has opened its CafePress store. At the EcoBroker Store, you can get all of your custom EcoBroker gear. From shirts and caps to bumper stickers and more, we've got the gear you can proudly display wherever you go!

Please visit the store at http://www.cafepress.com/ecobroker. These items make great closing gifts, tradeshow and event giveaways, and are just a great way to spread the word about EcoBroker and making green choices in real estate.

Not finding what you're looking for? Send us an email at customerservice@ecobroker.com

and chances are we'll be able to find it or add it!

Brooke Rundle becomes Central America's first EcoBroker®

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:40:00 +0000

Brooke Rundle, sales representative with Coldwell Banker Nicaragua, recently became the first accredited EcoBroker® in Central America under the program “Ecobroker International.”

Scoring another first for the region, she's also been working hand-in-hand with developer Tim Kelly on building an Earthship - an innovative green home built almost entirely out of recycled materials.

A green real estate momentum is rapidly building here in Nicaragua. Just last month, the Association of Nicaraguan Investors and Developers (ANID) hosted its first green real estate seminar in Managua. The turnout was huge and the excitement contagious.

Reporter Blake Schmidt was at the event and wrote an article for the Nica Times on what he heard. It was there that he met Brooke Rundle and learned about our green real estate tours showcasing the very best in green investment opportunities in the country.

Original Posting: http://www.cbnicaragua.com/blog/brooke-rundle-becomes-central-americas-first-eco-broker/

NASHVILLE GREEN HOME: IT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND GREEN HOMES

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:23:00 +0000

By Tom Hall, EcoBroker®

In an exciting development for Realtors and home buyers in Middle Tennessee, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the tool where Realtors list homes for sale, has now added a "Green Features" section. The new Green Features section of the MLS makes it easier for Realtors to search for homes with, of course, green features. The new feature helps Realtors search specifically for green features such as dual flush toilets, and spray foam insulation for example. The list of features in the new MLS section is quite extensive making it remarkably easier to search for specific items. This is definitely a great step in the right direction for the Nashville real estate community.

Original Post:
NASHVILLE GREEN HOME: IT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND GREEN HOMES

EcoBroker®, Patrick Canavan, previews a built green home in Huntington Beach, CA

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:59:00 +0000

Take a look at the work of Certified EcoBroker®, Patrick Canavan, who is previewing one of the first homes in Huntington Beach, California to be built "green from the ground up." Watch the video to learn about a few of the exciting green features of this home. Check back each week for new video on the progress of construction and the next green features to be incorporated into this cutting-edge home.

GREEN: A Recession-Proof Industry?

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:37:00 +0000

GREEN: A Recession-Proof Industry?
By Ryan Moehring

If you flip through any of the broadcast news channels or publications these days, you undoubtedly will be greeted with a barrage of headlines surrounding the current state of the U.S. economy. (For those of you who haven't been paying attention, it's not good.) Terms like "financial bailout," "recession," "inflation," and "the worst financial crisis since the great depression," do anything but conjure pleasant images in the minds of Americans and, unfortunately, they now dominate our daily news.

Yes, times are tough, and the constant media coverage seems to amplify the uncertainty we all feel, but are things really that bad for us as green real estate professionals? I'm going to propose that there is a silver lining to this dark cloud. Fortunately for EcoBrokers®, the bright spot in this dark time is the enduring stability of green building.

A study released this summer by McGraw-Hill Construction and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) found that over the past three years more than 330,000 "market rate" homes with green features were built, making green building a $36 billion per year industry. Of that number of homes, an estimated 60,000 earned third-party property certifications through LEED or another certification program.

The study also surveyed existing owners of green-certified properties in an effort to gauge their attitudes about their homes. An overwhelming 83 percent of respondents stated that their new green home will lower operating costs. Seventy percent of those surveyed said that they would be "more" or "much more" inclined to buy a green home over a conventional home in a down market like the one we face today. The study also found that 78 percent of lower-income consumers (those who are most affected by a market downturn) would be more inclined to purchase a green home.

While these numbers paint an optimistic picture for green buildings, a cynic might point out that the findings were released before today's economic meltdown had completely matured. Now that we more fully understand the gravity of our economic woes, is green building really as strong as this summer's study reported? Are LEED and other property ratings going to go the way of the Starbucks® Venti Triple Mocha Latte—a luxury consumers might have to have to do without until things improve?

Michelle Moore, senior vice president for policy and public affairs at USGBC, doesn't think so. "So far, we haven't seen any slow down," Moore said. "Our green buildings numbers are really strong, our membership numbers remain strong. In fact, we're at record levels across the board, from registrations and certifications of projects to the number of people taking the LEED AP test. They're all way up."

At the Greenbuild conference in Boston this month, Nancy Floyd, founder of the clean tech venture capital firm Nth Power, echoed Moore's sentiments. "The economic downturn will actually be good for this sector," Floyd said, "because the market meltdown is accelerating innovation. There are opportunities now because builders and decision-makers have more time to consider new ideas. There also is more competition among builders; so some will differentiate by adopting green building products and practices."

So, if more and more green buildings are being built, and consumers are increasingly satisfied with green buildings, the logical conclusion is that green real estate professionals should have more opportunities to help facilitate these transactions. While your EcoBroker® training ideally positions you as the most qualified real estate professional to handle these kinds of deals, you can't possibly expect deals to just fall into your lap. So how can you capitalize on the continued vitality of green building?

Maybe the time has come to revisit some of the concepts you studied in the EcoBroker Green Market Advantage™ course. Perhaps you should take another look at the online marketing materials that became available to you once you earned your designation. If you haven't completed your training, the rapidly approaching holiday season may be the gift of time you need to finish, setting you up to hit the ground running in 2009. Maybe you could get more closely involved with your local USGBC chapter and its builder members. Regardless of which path you take, a variety of opportunities are out there for you to build business and make a difference in your community.

Another piece of the green housing pie that the USGBC believes will be full of opportunities during this recession is green home retrofits. "This is an incredible opportunity for the industry to turn its focus to existing buildings," Moore said. "In any given year, new construction makes up only 10 percent of the overall building stock. But now, there will be fewer people building but just as many people wanting sustainable living or working environments." While helping a client retrofit their home may not result in a commission check, it is yet another way to provide real value to your clients, which will always create loyalty and referrals.

The fact of the matter remains that more green properties are being built every year, and the occupants of those buildings are increasingly satisfied with their purchase. Green building and remodeling is truly hitting critical mass, even in one of the most challenging economic times of our generation. Someone is getting hired to sell these properties and it might as well be you. Certainly no one is more qualified and more deserving than an EcoBroker®.

Sources:

http://www.fypower.org/res/news/green-homes.html
http://energypriorities.com/entries/2008/11/nancy_floyd_greenbuild.php
http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/News/Green%20Homes%20Affordable%20and%20In%20Demand%20-%20Press%20Release%20for%207-24%20am.pdf
http://greensource.construction.com/news/080725GreenHousing.asp

http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=2950

Entering the Great Blogg O Sphere

noreply@blogger.com (EcoBroker) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:30:00 +0000

While up to this point we have let our members lead the way in the blogging world, we have now decided that the time has come to start our own blog. This blog will eventually be housed on our website (http://www.ecobroker.com/), but for now, we'll call blogger.com our home away from home.

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned: lots of great things are going to happen here.

The EcoBroker Team