EcoBroker Green Outlook Fall 2007:
Industry Forecast
Green real estate is on the move! As we move into the winter heating
season for the northern states, the mainstream media beats the drum for
energy efficiency. Magazines, newspapers, broadcast media and online
resources are all talking about green homes and energy efficiency. With
all of the great technical improvements in furnaces and boilers plus
improved and less costly solar heat systems, they have lots to talk
about. Federal, state and utility company incentives are helping people
across the country to improve the performance of their heating (and
cooling) systems with upgraded equipment. Consumer education is helping
homeowners make their own minor improvements that can also result in
noticeable energy bill savings.
The real estate market has obviously slowed down in recent months and likely will remain slow into 2008. Some people are putting off plans to move for fear that they will not be able to sell their current home. Instead, they are putting some money into improvements they can enjoy now. Energy efficiency improvements are high on the list along with projects that can improve indoor air quality and comfort. These green improvements will help sell their home when they are ready to move – as long as the listing agent makes sure potential buyers know about the superior performance of the home.
In the homebuilding arena, builders are looking hard for ways to differentiate their product in the market. Green certifications are a great positive way with great consumer appeal. In November of 2007, two major organizations introduced up-to-date home performance certification programs. The National Association of Homebuilders announced their new green certification based on Energy Star® minimums plus additional high performance measures and environmentally responsible use of resources. The U.S. Green Building Council released the new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for homes (LEED for Homes). This program has been very successful in pilot projects in many areas of the country. All of these programs require a builder to exceed the minimum requirements of building codes to make a home more energy efficient and environmentally responsible. These major national organizations will be promoting their worthwhile green certifications and raising consumer awareness. There really is a way to know if you are getting a “green” home.
Discover more about the growing interest in all things "green" in this issue of the EcoBroker Green Outlook.
Want to know more about green issues in real estate? If you would like to receive information from us more often, just send us an email with your name, company name, address, and phone number, and we will keep you up-to-date on timely green industry news and opportunities.
Join EcoBroker today to gain the tools to stay on top and address the needs of this changing market. With EcoBroker® Designation training you can help clients save money, live comfortably, and reduce their carbon footprint!
In the [Green] N
Market for
Green Homes Rising
"According to the
latest Green Homeowner SmartMarket Report, the market for green homes is
about to boom. The market for green homes is expected to rise from the
current $2 billion to $20 billion over the next five years."
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/news/sbnews.cfm?id=14514
Energy Efficiency Ranks #1 in Consumer Green Building Priorities
"
Corporations Are Embracing Green Real Estate, Survey Finds
Nearly 80 percent of industry leaders say sustainability is a major
issue for today's businesses, and are willing to pay a premium to achieve
it, according to a survey from CoreNet Global and Jones Lang LaSalle.
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36175
GE Develops ‘Eco-Dashboard’ for
Homeowners
“General
Electric Co. will introduce control panels to the market in December to
help homeowners control water and power usage.”
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=36183
Energy Star Home Advisor
There is a new tool available for
homeowners that will help them reduce their home energy bills! “The new
tool from EPA, the Energy Star Home Advisor, provides consumers with
customized recommendations for improving energy efficiency and comfort
at home. Using energy more efficiently is also another way to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.”
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_advisor.showGetInput
Eco Happenings...
Boston Going Green Expo
February 2 -3, 2008 –
Boston, Massachusetts
The Going Green Expos are
intended to provide a forum for citizens to learn more about how they
can begin to make the transition to a sustainable future. The expo
provides an opportunity for vendors to address attendees, provide
information, demonstrations and resources.
http://www.goinggreenexpos.com/
7th Annual New Partners for
Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy, and Livable Communities
February 7 - 9, 2008 –
Washington, D.C.
This conference will feature cutting-edge smart growth issues, the latest
research, implementation tools and strategies, successful case studies,
interactive learning experiences, new projects and new policies.
http://www.NewPartners.org
Seattle Green Festival
April 12 – 13, 2008 –
Seattle, Washington
Enjoy more than 200 visionary
speakers and 400 green businesses, great how-to workshops, green films,
yoga and movement classes, green careers sessions, organic beer and
wine, delicious organic cuisine and live music.
http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/767/390/
Snapshot & Benefits:
Insulated Concrete Forms
(ICFs) are an energy-efficient and affordable option for new home/building
construction. ICFs are interconnected units that are assembled and filled
with concrete to form the frame of a building. There are numerous benefits
to ICFs.
Green
Find more Rustle the Leaf environmental comics at http://www.rustletheleaf.com/.
Some area Realtors are setting the pace for EcoBroker certification, a national program that trains real estate professionals to spotlight the environmental features of their listings and help buyers find homes with clean indoor air, efficient energy and water use and access to transportation alternatives.
The New York Times article "Builder's Return to Class for Lessons in
'Green'", November 11, 2007
By taking EcoBrokers' courses, real estate agents learn about removing
mold safely from a home, the redevelopment of brownfields and Superfund
sites, among other subjects. They also become familiarized with
so-called energy-efficient mortgages, or special loans designed for
buyers of energy-efficient property.
Thank you again for subscribing to the EcoBroker Green Outlook. We hope you find the preceding material to be useful in the development of your green market activities. If you're a real estate professional and have not found the time to enroll in the EcoBroker® Designation curriculum, you can be confident this is a great next move for your career, your clients, and the planet. You can enroll today at https://www.ecobroker.com/eb/getstarted.aspx. EcoBroker comes with a 100% performance guarantee. If you're not a real estate professional, we encourage you to seek out an EcoBroker® in your area (now in over 42 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and the Caribbean), and see how you can offer your green products or services in a partnership with your local EcoBrokers®. They are great real estate professionals, and they make great partners.
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