GOING GREEN - 3

GOING GREEN
What are REALTORS Doing about Sustainability?

By Steve Wright

Alexandria Virginia Realtor Candace Lightner, a world-renown leader who responded to a family tragedy by founding Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), is now at the forefront of helping buyers become more energy efficient.

The sales associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage gives each buyer a $350 home energy audit.

“I was trying to think of ways that would set me apart from other Realtors,
she said. “I discussed the concept of energy audit and told my buyers if they waited till the close of escrow, it would be my gift to them.”

The energy audit takes about two and a half hours and focuses on identifying major energy leaks in a house. Technicians measure everything from leaky doors and windows to whether insulation has been properly installed in attics, basements and crawl spaces.

The homeowner receives a report that identifies problems and tells them how to fix them.

“Most people here are doing remodeling,” said Lightner, who worked on an efficiency project with the U.S. Department of Energy and started addressing problems in her own 60-plus-year-old house in old Alexandria. “If you plan on being in the home a number of years and if you’re already remodeling, you can do a retrofit to boost energy efficiency.”

TOMORROW: More Green Insights from the Founder of MADD

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