WHAT ARE REALTOR ASSOCIATIONS DOING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY? --4

WHAT ARE REALTOR ASSOCIATIONS DOING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY?

By Steve Wright

The Seattle King County Association of Realtors (SKCAR) created The Realtors Environmental Council (TREC) to a promote Green practices such as:

(5) Undertake the advancement of important environmental policies, and/or environmental projects, that other environmental organizations have failed to undertake.

Hokason urged other Realtor associations to create something similar to SKCAR’s The Realtors Environmental Council. He also strongly believes that association boards should work to add Green information to their area Multiple Listing Service.
The Northwest Multiple Listing Service, the largest full-service MLS in the Pacific Northwest that serves more than 2,000 companies with more than 26,000 sales associates, has added information on sustainability to its database.

Agents can highlight Green features for homes that meet third-party certifications for Built Green®, Energy Star® and LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.

There are checkboxes for identifying energy-efficient heating and cooling systems including solar and for renewable floor coverings such as bamboo or cork. In a listing’s details about the house lot, a Realtor can check a box denoting sustainable features such as drought-resistant landscaping.

SKCAR also is a big advocate of the EcoBroker certification that can be obtained through a highly-regarded on-line course created by the former director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Environmental Analysis Program.

TOMORROW: the Vermont Association of Realtors

Wright frequently writes about smart growth and sustainable communities. He and his wife live in a restored historic home in the heart of Miami’s Little Havana. Contact him at: stevewright64@yahoo.com