SEEKING GREEN

SEEKING GREEN

REALTOR® Associations provide a

helping hand to achieve sustainability.



By Steve Wright









N

Rainwater harvesting ot that long ago, if a buyer asked a

is one of the many REALTOR® to search for a green

environmental house, it could have meant only

practices members two things—the shade of paint, or a

of Seattle’s TREC

promote. glassed in structure perfect for grow-

ing flowers and vegetables.

Now green means environmentally-friendly, energy-ef-

ficient, healthy and sustainable.

And, as more and more buyers are seeking homes with

everything from better air quality and insulation to solar

power and rain catch basins, REALTORS® are recognizing

Consumer demand for sustainability the need to be knowledgeable about going “green,” as a way

has also prompted companies to to grow both their client base and sales commissions.

To separate the junk science from best practices, a num-

create coursework and certification ber of large regional REALTOR® Associations are creat-

programs for REALTORS®. ing green councils, trainings, conferences, certification

procedures and partnerships.

Consumer demand for sustainability has also prompted

companies to create coursework and certification pro-

grams for REALTORS®.

“We have developed a brochure, Green Living: A

Resource Guide for Residents of King County,” said

Russell Hokanson, CEO of the Seattle King County

Association of REALTORS® (SKCAR). The brochure

is available on SKCAR’s Web site, and members are en-

couraged to provide a copy to new homeowners. “The

brochure provides valuable information and resources

relating to energy efficiency inside and outside of homes,

improving vehicle fuel economy, recycling, calculating

carbon footprints and other valuable green tips.”



Members of Seattle’s TREC take a day to plant trees in the SKCAR partners with a local instructor to offer a class-

Hylebos Wetlands. room course—Green Cities & Housing. It also is col-

laborating with the Independent Brokers Association to

offer a new course—Selling Green Homes.







28 ON COMMON GROUND SUMMER 2008

EcoBroker® Inter-

national team in

Evergreen, Colo.

Front row left to

right: Kyndal Lee,

Vicki Rosa, Linda

Besler, Jennifer

Shank, Kim Young.

Back row left to right:

John Beldock, Ryan

Moehring, Mark

Gashler, John Stovall









“Our association lobbies state and local officials for jobs- “The project at the Hylebos (a watershed conserva-

housing balance. Recognizing that one-half of all green- tion area) was the first such project to be undertaken

house gas (GHG) comes from transportation, one of the by TREC…[Hylebos] is one of the outstanding envi-

best approaches to address climate change is to lobby for ronmental assets in the entire Pacific Northwest and

jobs-housing balance. This concept advocates for hous- the Friends of the Hylebos, with whom we partnered

ing opportunities near employment centers.” Hokanson on this project, have a superb reputation for their en-

said of the necessity to combine smart growth with vironmental remediation and enhancement efforts.

green housing: “Jobs-housing balance helps prevent The REALTORS® would not be content to only

sprawl, provides housing opportunities for workers near talk about the environment and raise funds for en-

their jobs and greatly reduces the vehicle miles traveled vironmental projects, as some environmental efforts

and GHG.” have done…As part of our local board’s centennial

SKCAR conceived and created The REALTORS® En- celebration, this fall TREC will work on the ground

vironmental Council (TREC), an organization pending or provide environmental stewardship to improve a

nonprofit status that Hokanson believes is the first of its significant greenbelt or park within King County.”

kind in the nation. In his words, TREC was created to: (3) Enhance REALTOR® understanding of environ-

(1) Improve the congruence between public perceptions mental issues, particularly as they relate to regula-

and the fact that the REALTORS® are sensitive to, tion, conservation, enhancement and remediation

and supportive of, well-grounded and responsible that affect the sustainability, utilization and develop-

environmental stewardship. ment of real property.

“Many folks don’t know that the REALTORS® are “This is being accomplished through state-approved

a founding member of the Washington Wildlife and clock-hour classes REALTORS® must complete in

Recreation Coalition and for many, many years have order to renew their real estate licenses.”

annually contributed thousands of dollars to the (4) Develop and provide to REALTORS® brandable

Coalition’s efforts to secure environmental and rec- point-of-sale brochures that members can download

reation project funding for jurisdictions throughout and use with clients and customers.

Washington State.

“For instance, ‘How To Be An Earth-Friendly Ho-

The TREC is a natural fit with our strong support meowner,’ [which can] be downloaded from the

for schools, infrastructure and housing, which—like SKCAR Web site at http://www.nwrealtor.com/

a quality environment—are all prerequisites for associations/1563/files/TREC.cfm.”

quality of life.”

(5) Undertake the advancement of important environmen-

(2) Accomplish projects that provide on-the-ground tal policies, and/or environmental projects, that other

benefits for the environment. environmental organizations have failed to undertake.





29

Members of TREC learn ways to preserve and restore

the North Fork open space of the Hylebos Wetlands.









We wanted to help our members

understand that this is where the

market is going.



Hokanson also strongly believes that association • High-efficiency 90 AFUE furnaces.

boards should work to add green information to • Energy Star appliances.

their area Multiple Listing Service. Agents can high-

light green features for homes that meet third-party • Source of electrical power, including specific utility

certifications for Built Green®, Energy Star® and service and solar features.

LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental • Additional home modifications, including sustainable

Design) standards. materials, water filters, rain collectors and solar tubes.

There are checkboxes for identifying energy-efficient When the RMLS rolled out green features for its list-

heating and cooling systems including solar and for ings in Oregon and Southwest Washington, it empha-

renewable floor coverings such as bamboo or cork. sized the industry-wide benefits:

In a listing’s details about the house lot, a REAL- • Homebuyers, 78 percent of whom say they would

TOR® can note sustainable features such as drought- choose one home over another based on its energy

resistant landscaping. efficiency, will be able to search for homes with lower

Recently, The Northwest Multiple Listing Service, energy costs and environmental impact. Four out of

the largest full-service MLS in the Pacific Northwest, five of the same homebuyers recognize the value of the

added information on sustainability to its database. Energy Star label and 67 percent of them recognize the

In Portland, Ore., the Regional Multiple Listing Earth Advantage brand.

Service (RMLS) introduced green listings to much • Home builders, nine of 10 saying they incorporate

fanfare in 2007. energy-saving products or features into new homes,

“Green and energy-efficient features have emerged will be able to differentiate themselves from the com-

as some of the most important and sought-after by petition at a time when the market is cooling. Accord-

buyers in our RMLS service area,” said RMLS CEO ing to a recent survey by the National Association of

Beth Murphy. “With the help of their REALTORS®, Home Builders (NAHB), 64 percent of home builders

homebuyers now will be able to pinpoint homes will either be heavily or moderately involved nation-

with those features.” ally in green building projects.

The RMLS forms include details such as: • Home sellers, who have invested money into energy-

• Home performance and green home certifications saving and sustainability features, can better promote

such as Energy Star®, Earth Advantage®, LEED for their home’s higher resale value.

Homes and others.







30 ON COMMON GROUND

• Real estate agents have new ways to better meet their • Energy efficiency technologies, sustainable energy op-

clients’ needs whether representing the buyer or seller. tions and mortgage options that award up to $15,000

Seventy-five percent of those consumers that have used worth of energy efficiency improvements for a home at

a REALTOR® in the past confirmed that they would the closing. Green home certification programs, such

turn to a “green” REALTOR® if there was a mecha- as Built Green® and Energy Star® Qualified Homes.

nism for searching and tracking homes built to energy • Energy and environmental training that can add value

efficient and green building measures. to transactions with consumers both green-minded

• Appraisers will grow in their ability to incorporate and not green-aware. Identifying new markets where

energy efficient and green home features into a home’s the EcoBroker® Designation will have appeal and im-

appraised value. pact, generating more business.

SKCAR is also an advocate of the EcoBroker® cer- EcoBroker® Vice President John K. Stovall was a fea-

tification program, developed by Dr. John Beldock, tured presenter at the Vermont Association of REAL-

former director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s TORS® (VAR) 2007 statewide convention, which

Environmental Analysis Program. focused on going green.

Beldock, currently president and CEO of EcoBro- Robert D. Hill, executive vice president of the VAR,

ker®, calls it “the first and only international provider said that, “when the Legislature spent the entire session

of green designation training that provides a unique last year on global warming and attempted to institute

energy and environmental curriculum to licensed real mandatory energy efficiency standards on all housing, it

estate professionals, leading to the EcoBroker® desig- was a natural opportunity to make sure our members are

nation.” conversant with the concepts and adequately prepared

There are certified EcoBrokers® in 42 states, four Ca- to respond to customers who are looking for green real

nadian Provinces and the Caribbean. Based in Ever- estate. We wanted to help our members understand that

green, Colo., outside Denver, EcoBroker®’s accredited this is where the market is going and not just a ‘nerdy

coursework consists of three six-hour on-line classes. idea,’ so they should be professionally primed to provide

Topics include: assistance when their clients ask.”



• Constructively addressing environmental issues such VAR has also worked with Smart Growth Vermont on

as radon, asbestos, lead, water, mold and indoor air a project to demonstrate that well-planned communi-

quality. Reducing liabilities and saving deals by learn- ties can fit the Vermont landscape. However, Hill said,

ing to work through environmental issues. acceptance of the concept is moving slowly due to strin-





REALTORS® can also be instrumental in showing clients how green

improvements can increase the value of their investment.









SUMMER 2008 31

Green and energy

-efficient features have

emerged as some of

the most important and

sought-after by buyers.









gent permitting processes. But even if some government • 78 percent of Americans who have bought property

codes are slow to adapt, he said, the bottom line is that say nobody talked to them about energy efficiency.

green is here to stay. He feels REALTORS® should em- • 62 percent of people want energy efficient dwellings.

brace the change.

• 63 percent say energy prices have increased enough to

“Just as REALTORS® have been at the forefront of edu- make them consider changing their consumption habits.

cating homebuyers and sellers on the hazards and miti-

gations of lead paint, they can also be instrumental in “Actually, 95 percent of the consumers have no clue

showing clients how green improvements can increase what is available for them,” Mitchell said of green

the value of their investment,” Hill said. building materials, energy efficient appliances and other

means toward sustainability. “It is their REALTOR®

The green turning point for Tampa Florida-based Kerry who needs to educate them. REALTORS® can effect

Mitchell was when she was diagnosed with emphysema [green] change faster than any other profession. They

in 2003. She came to Florida in 2005 to manage two represent the built structure!”

real estate offices and started to read about poor indoor

air quality and related topics. Mitchell has conducted trainings for the Sarasota As-

sociation of REALTORS® (SAR). In 2007, SAR formed

She took a year off and founded Green Real Estate Educa- the Green REALTORS® Alliance of Sarasota (GRAS),

tion in 2006. In a little more than a year her firm has “green which operates as a steering committee.

certified” more than 3,000 professionals in nine states.

“The mission of the Green REALTORS® Alliance of Sara-

“We train our students to learn of local initiatives from sota is to be a resource for the preservation of our environ-

utilities and to get involved in promoting MLS addi- ment and natural resources as it pertains to real estate. The

tions for energy efficiency and fast track permitting (for premise of the group is that being a good steward of the

green building),” said Mitchell, whose students earn a environment and the community is good for real estate and

Green Certified Real Estate Professional certification. future development,” said Catherine L. McCaskill, director

The program utilizes local utility and green-standard of professional development for SAR.

experts, keeping its training relevant to REALTORS®’

home states. “Sarasota County has a long and proud history of pro-

gressive governance in protecting our natural resources

Mitchell said green branding can help revitalize slug- and leads the state in green building initiatives. This

gish real estate markets. Underscoring the need for county gave birth to the Florida Green Building Coali-

REALTORS® to become knowledgeable about sustain- tion and has the largest ‘green’ development in the U.S.,

ability, Mitchell cited a Consumer Energy Study by Lakewood Ranch,” she continued.

www.energypulse.org that found:

• 86 percent of Americans would choose one home over Lakewood Ranch, a 7,000-acre master-planned con-

another based on energy efficiency. servation community, has won Florida Association of









32 ON COMMON GROUND

REALTORS® “ENVY” awards for both its residential area and historic waterfront Lido Key, making the con-

and commercial components. ENVYs honor developers nection between urban redevelopment, preservation of

who make a significant contribution toward building in the environment, and future real estate opportunities.” ●

harmony with Florida’s sensitive environment.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

“Every new [Lakewood Ranch] home is certified by the

www.nwrealtor.com

Florida Green Building Coalition Green Home Stan- www.ecobroker.com

dard,” McCaskill noted, adding that new residents are www.greenrealestateeducation.com

often attracted to Sarasota because of the county’s anti- www.sarasotarealtors.com

sprawl and anti-waste initiatives. www.lakewoodranch.com

www.vtrealtor.com

McCaskill praised Sarasota County for passing legislation www.rmls.com

that limits lawn watering to once per week and requires

sod to be less than half of any landscaped area. In addi- Wright frequently writes about smart growth and

tion, the county has a strict water conservation ordinance sustainable communities. He and his wife live in a re-

for golf courses and conservation water rate structures. stored historic home in the heart of Miami’s Little Ha-

vana. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com

These measures have resulted in a per-capita water usage

that is 40 percent lower than the rest of the state.

To bolster these efforts, SAR held a Smart Growth Con-

ference in conjunction with the Florida Association of

REALTORS® and Florida Atlantic University in 2006.

“Augmenting the information presented by speakers,

commissioners from the city of Sarasota took conference

participants on a guided tour by trolley of the downtown



REALTORS® can effect

[green] change faster than

any other profession.



From left to right: REALTORS®

Kristen Greenlaw, David

Crowell and Jim Luckey en-

joyed their experience restor-

ing the Hylebos Wetlands.









SUMMER 2008 33