Green Crusade
As I’ve written before, I have spent the past year and a half learning the Green Building scene and I’m sadden to say that I still feel as if I’ve only scratched the surface. There is simply a ton of information out there and frankly not all of it agrees, and some of it is just a bit too political or cult-like for me. Having said that, I do think that social responsibility and healthier living is always a positive thing. Currently there are at least three programs that real estate professionals can take; Earthcraft, NAR’s GREEN designation and Eco-Broker. I’ve subscribed to several Green blogs, SmartGrowth.org is my favorite site thus far. It’s a very practical site and has tons of resources.
Isn’t building “Green” more expensive?
One of the largest barriers to building “green” seems to be the cost. The training programs I’ve attended have estimated that increased costs are maybe 3%-5% over traditional construction. Our local Green builders say that they can build the home for the same price, and with the savings in utilities, it could actually be less. I’m not necessarily convinced, but I suppose it depends on what the consumer really wants and how these things are defined.
The real issue that I have, is that it’s hard to find an appraiser who can or will give additioanl value to a green system home. Therefore, the ROI of these improvements are questionable. It seems that Real Estate Agents and Interior Decorators are taking steps to become better educated, but those who actually determine value are not quite as progressive.
“I don’t buy into that Green Stuff”
So you don’t agree with the politics of the Green movement and you’ve not decided if “Climate Change” or “Global Warning” are just semantics…. That’s ok. The reality is, that thanks to the media and HGTV, your clients are making that distinction for you. Not all, but a growing number of consumers are looking for these healthy and utility reducing options. It’s important for the practitioner to understand what the consumer’s needs are and how to best serve them. You can think of them as Eco-Chic or Eco-Conscious, but either extreme can still benefit from your knowledge. Energy efficiency is good on many levels. Therefore I challenge everyone to put aside politics and take the time to educate yourself on what your client’s needs are.
ASID and USGBC REGreen Handbook
The American Society of Interior Designers’ Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council have hooked up and created an outstanding free resource. This is a good tool to have linked to your web page and have provide to your clients when they are thinking of remodeling or making upgrades in preparation to reselling.
REGREEN Guidelines – Free Legal Forms
Leed For Existing Bulidings
LEED is a certification program for GREEN Buildings. In September of 2008, LEED released a manual for certifying existing Buildings as LEED.
Leed for Existing – Free Legal Forms
