GOING GREEN - 6

GOING GREEN
What are REALTORS Doing about Sustainability?

By Steve Wright

“Even though utility bills are a reflection of lifestyle use, I think it would ultimately be useful for consumers/home buyers to be able to review utility bills before placing an offer on a home," Realtor Michael Keifer said. It is very important for consumers, when working with a Realtor, to ask about such matters and request copies. As you can imagine, when that first month rolls around and the gas/electric /water bills start rolling in -- you begin to realize that owning a home is so much more than PITI.”

To reduce automobile dependency, Green DC Realty gives its clients a Zipcar membership and mileage voucher. Zipcar members can rent automobiles by the day or hour from several urban locations. Zipcar supplements public transit with individual automobiles available for a fraction of the cost of car payment, maintenance, insurance and fuel.

“I look at efficiency as being more than just the home. It’s about evaluating the consumer’s current life and seeing where cost effective, efficient improvements can be made,” he said. In the Metro area, we have ride sharing firms that take the hassle out of owning a car. I continually look at ways of providing home ownership through the removal of inefficient expenditures and proving incentives to the consumer through drive time vouchers as part of the purchase.”

TOMORROW: Realtor Chris Bartle, president and broker of Green Key Real Estate

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