By Marilyn Urso
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As the trend toward “green” continues to grow, we REALTORS® have some green options of our own. In November, the National Association of REALTORS® debuted the GREEN designation program at the conference in Orlando, FL. With more than 200 students and 100 instructors in attendance, REALTORS® were taught how to apply and use green principles in their businesses.
The course was developed to meet the growing consumer demand for green homes and building practices, and REALTORS® who can help them meet these green real estate goals. To do this, real estate professionals must understand the basic terms, concepts and principles of green and develop a team of green experts to back them up with technical information, inspections and hands-on know-how.
The GREEN program is made up of a core module that covers the background information of the new Green Paradigm; information on green communities including Smart Growth; new urbanism and urban sprawl; what constitutes a green home or building; determining green motivation for buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants; and tips on how to green your real estate practice.
There are also three elective courses designed for residential, commercial and property management specialists. To complete the designation, the student must complete the core module and one of the three electives.
Being green is a real challenge because there is just so much information out there on the subject, and so much of it relates to real estate. The green concept is marketed in almost every category of consumer product or service. The topic is interesting, and getting into the different aspects can become all-consuming for a real estate professional. We want to know details and facts and sometimes lose sight of the fact that our basic job is to sell real estate.
On a consumer level, we do need to know as much as we can on the subject. As REALTORS®, we need to know enough to identify green enhancements or issues in a property, but we need to have the good judgment to call in a true expert when that level of expertise is required to answer technical questions or resolve problems and issues that might arise.
There are many other green education options out there. The Certified Ecobroker program offers great information on the environmental and energy aspects of green as they relate to real estate, as well as tips on how to grow your green business.
There are also continuing education modules available through local REALTOR® associations and real estate schools. If you don’t have time to take the classes, you can simply go to REALTOR.org and search for “green,” where there are literally thousands of articles available on every aspect of green.
Other Web sites to investigate are:
EPA.gov - the Environmental Protection Agency
EnergyStar.gov – the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy
USGBC.org – the United States Green Building Council
Learning to be green will be an ongoing project for all of us from now on, and we can each make a difference. In 2007, 2.2 million people took part in the world's first Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia. Just one year later, 50 million people in 370 cities and towns, in more than 35 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour. Visit EarthHour.org to learn how you can participate in the future and get more information about being green.
Marilyn Urso, CRB, CRS, GRI, PMN, GREEN, of Long Island Village Realty, Inc., in Syosset, NY, can be reached at 516-921-0220 or wcrli@aol.com. She also holds the EcoBroker certification.