EcoBroker Green Outlook Spring 2007:
Industry Forecast
In this
sound bite society with bumper sticker philosophy, we often adopt a
simple word such as “green” to abbreviate a complex concept. The danger
is that we then begin to believe that the concept itself is simple, and
in many ways the core elements are elegantly simple. “Green” is usually
used as a proxy for environmental consciousness, but there are many
shades of green and at times the term gets mixed up with the more
extreme elements of the environmental movement. As real estate
professionals attempt to deal with environmental consciousness, it is
important to have a clear grasp on both the facts and the perceptions of
green in the real estate market and in society as a whole. Buyers are
increasingly aware that they can help “make a difference” and improve
the planet we share. They just never thought of asking a real estate
professional about how to do it. But in today’s market, that is changing.
The October 2005 Realtor® Magazine described green homes and features as “…a business opportunity that you can take mainstream”. Author Christina Hoffmann Spira also commented, “… green homes aren’t just for the Birkenstock cohort.” A number of real professional real estate organizations are now beating the green drum. The press has been reporting energy shortages and increasing prices for years, but the prices have really caught the attention of the public this winter. Who can doubt that the green market is here and relevant? The green market is clearly a market trend and represents a great opportunity for those real estate professionals who are properly educated in “green.” Properly educated professionals have the opportunity to build business while also benefiting their buyers and sellers, and the planet.
EcoBroker® Designation training will give you the complete set of tools you need to generate and close more business, earn even greater customer satisfaction and referrals, and benefit the planet all at the same time!
Discover more about the growing interest in 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.
In the [Green] N
Bank of America Launches $20 Billion Environmental Initiative
Bank of America, the nation’s largest retail
bank, is showing its commitment to “green” through a variety of policies and
programs which benefit bank employees, consumers, and the planet. Currently,
bank employees who buy hybrid vehicles are rewarded with $3,000 rebates.
During 2007 and beyond, Bank of America customers will have multiple
opportunities to make “greener” choices. For example, purchasers of
“greener” homes might apply for a mortgage with a reduced interest rate or
be eligible for a $1,000 rebate from Bank America.
Bank of America recently announced that over the course of the next decade, it will spend $18 billion on commercial lending and investment banking for “green” projects. An additional $2 billion will be spent on consumer programs and efforts to reduce the bank’s own impact on the environment. Bank of America also recently announced plans to donate $50 million to nonprofit organizations that promote forest preservation, innovative energy conservation, and green housing.
Read the complete article at: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070306/bank_of_america_environment.html?.v=2
Building Industry Sees Gold in Green
The International Builders Show is one of the nation’s largest trade shows. This year’s mid-February gathering drew more than 100,000 people to Orlando, many of them talking about weird winter weather back home -- too wet, too dry, too warm, too cold, just too different from the norm to ignore. As a result, many seemed to express a particular interest in and receptiveness to the prospect of going green.
“I don't think it is any one thing that put green in the forefront,” said Ward Hubbell, executive director of the Green Building Initiative. Fuel prices, the impact of studies and the Al Gore movie, “An Inconvenient Truth,” uneasiness about reliance on foreign sources of oil, the war in the Middle East, all contribute to awareness, he said.
Read the complete article at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/
The Green Power Partnership – Top 25 Partners
“Green-minded” buyers and sellers may be curious as to which names appear on the list of the Top 25 Partners in the Green Power Partnership. The Top 25 Partners’ annual green power purchase is the largest nationwide, and they are setting an example for other companies, consumers, and communities. By purchasing green power, organizations such as Wells Fargo & Company, Whole Foods Market, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. EPA are leading the way by actively encouraging the development of new renewable energy sources for electricity generation. Others in the Top 25 include Johnson & Johnson, Starbucks, U.S. Department of Energy, Vail Resorts, HSBC North America, Sprint Nextel, Safeway Inc., Pennsylvania State University, and Kohl’s Department Stores.
Read the complete article at: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/pdf/top_25_jan_07.pdf
IRS Awards AEEREP Official 501c3 Status
The Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals (AEEREP) is the premier provider of green training for real estate industry professionals. Certified EcoBrokers® enjoy complimentary AEEREP membership. Members of AEEREP currently reside and practice in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and three Canadian provinces.
A non-governmental nonprofit trade association, AEEREP was recently awarded 501c3 tax exempt status by the IRS. The Association’s mission is to improve the quality of education available to real estate professionals, and in turn to real estate buyers and sellers. AEEREP’s membership is primarily comprised of licensed real estate professionals, but also extends to product and service providers who provide energy and environmentally-related services. AEEREP is dedicated to serving its members, consumers, and the environment.
Do you have a favorite organization/sponsor in mind who might like to contribute to AEEREP’s mission of promoting energy and environmental education for the real estate industry and the public? If so, please share your ideas or suggestions by calling 800-706-4321 or sending an email to memberservices@aeerep.org.
Learn more about AEEREP at: http://www.aeerep.org
National Trails Day -
June 2, 2007 marks the 15th Anniversary of National Trails Day (NTD). This year’s celebration will embody the values, principles, and strength of this important outdoor program. The NTD celebration represents years of hard work, dedication, and countless volunteer hours contributed by corporate sponsors, government agencies, non-profit groups, and community organizations across America.
NTD participants typically learn about and celebrate trails while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects. NTD events take place in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. For more information and to find events for your area, please visit: http://www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd/ or click here
Green
Find more Rustle the Leaf environmental comics at http://www.rustletheleaf.com/.
Thank you again for subscribing to the EcoBroker Green Outlook. From all of us at the Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals (www.AEEREP.org), we hope you find the preceding material to be useful to you 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 training 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 40 states, 3 Canadian provinces, and the Caribbean), and see how you can offer your green products or services in a partnership with your local EcoBroker(s)®. They are great real estate professionals, and they make great partners.
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