Real estate agents are involved with most transactions that transfer ownership of homes, buildings and land in the United States and abroad. The point of sale is a perfect place to provide buyers and sellers with information about how to increase a structure’s energy efficiency, water quality and conservation, improve indoor air quality and use environmentally friendly material when upgrading and remodeling.
Since childhood, love of nature has always been an active part of my life. I began integrating aspects of environmental information into my personal real estate practices in early 2005, but I soon found I needed more education. My 28 years of experience in residential construction, real estate investment and sales, and my 15 years of developing and facilitating many educational programs for the Birth and Bonding Family Center (in Albany, Calif.), including environmentally friendly, non-toxic home education for families and their newborns, gave me skills that transferred easily into development of the EcoGreen Real Estate Agent Certification Program (EGREACP) in 2006.
As I began to explore the idea of a “green” class series for those in the real estate trade, I found some amazing resources. When I approached people with the idea—beginning with an initial conversation with my real estate broker Pat Provost and continuing through to the experts in the environmental building and business fields I ultimately secured as facilitators—I received encouragement to go forward with developing the program. I also received a wealth of logistical and practical support (including from Redwood Credit Union, which, when the first training sessions outgrew the space we’d originally planned to use, provided its community space with only a few weeks’ notice).
What can an EcoGreen certified agent offer?
The first program came together in 2007 with more than 45 agents from 25 offices. As we explored taking our real estate practices green, a group of these founding members developed the following mission statements:
• The EcoGreen Real Estate Agent Certification Program promotes ecologically sustainable and healthy homes and businesses through the education of real estate agents and the public in green building and remodeling, energy and water conservation, and other sustainable options.
• The EcoGreen Real Estate Agent shares information about ecologically sustainable and healthy environments with clients for their homes or businesses, including energy and water conservation and green building options.
Since our initial program, 110 more participants have attended. They’ve come from more than 30 real estate agencies and various careers, including agents, appraisers, escrow officers, mortgage brokers, contractors and interested individuals.
I see this program as a perfect example of how ecological green practices can be integrated within a profession as well as our everyday personal lives. A green certified real estate agent can provide information about green options and an extensive list of professional green inspectors, service and material providers, and informational websites to explore available options.
The perfect time to make green remodeling decisions is when upgrading your property, preparing it for sale or when purchasing a home or business property. Why? We’re facing serious challenges from resource constraints, CO2 emissions and climate change. We all need to do our part, and the ability to amortize property upgrades that yield long-term savings into the mortgage is crucial. Financing has been a key barrier to the adoption of many cost-saving—and planet-saving—investments.
Professional support team
The following experts in real estate, green building and related fields provided their expertise and practical support to help create the series curriculum. They continue to serve as facilitators and provide their advisory support as needed.
Pat Provost is a real estate broker and owner of 12 Century 21 Alliance offices serving Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino and Lake counties.
Armando Navarro has more than 25 years of professional experience in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy and green building. Formerly assistant director of the Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University and co-chair of the Redwood Empire Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, he’s currently the customer and community relations manager in Santa Rosa’s PG&E office.
Carol Venolia is a California licensed architect who’s been a certified NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) Green Remodeling Professional since 2004. She’s been involved with ecological building for more than 30 years and is author (with Kelly Lerner) of Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House and Healing Environments: Your Guide to Indoor Well-Being. Carol writes the “Design for Life” column for Natural Home magazine and teaches EcoDwelling in the Sustainable Community Studies program at Dominican University in San Rafael.
Brock Dolman has a bachelors degree in biology and environmental studies from UC Santa Cruz. He’s been working in the field of residential landscape/water conservation since 1984, as a professional biologist since 1988, and as a sustainable systems/permaculture designer/educator since 1994. He cofounded and co-owns the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center and developed its WATER (Watershed Advocacy, Training, Education and Research) Institute in 1999.
The Solar Living Institute, established in 1998, provides its staff expertise. The Institute provides practical education by example and hands-on workshops on renewable energy, green building, sustainable living, permaculture, organic gardening and alternative construction methods.
Matt Golden is president and founder of Sustainable Spaces, a San Francisco-based company that offers property owners an overview to green solutions by providing a single, full-service resource homeowners can trust to help them improve the comfort, health and efficiency of their home.
Jane Lorand, J.D., M.A., who founded a business consulting firm in 1989, is a former broker and continues to practice business and tax law. Her firm, GreenYourManagement, focuses on sustainability across various industries, in the United States, Australia and Thailand. Jane is a co-founder of the Green MBA program, a two-year accredited program with Dominican University focused on sustainability transformation for businesses. She teaches that program’s anchor course, Critical Thinking for Business Redesign.
Room for all
The EcoGreen Real Estate Agent Certification program is open to real estate agents from all offices, all related real estate professionals and individuals interested in a green home environment. Real Estate Agents who’ve completed the series have been thoroughly inspired by the material and have given the program rave reviews. To find an EcoGreen Certified Agent, visit www.ecogreenagents.com. For further information about the program, visit www.ecogreenrec.com. To see testimonials from people who’ve taken the courses, visit www.northbaybiz.com and click on this month’s Green Scene.
The Marin series is currently in process, and we’re preparing the spring schedule for 2009 to meet the growing demand. Visit our website for more schedule information.
Author bio:
Sharon Ledbetter, initiator of the EcoGreen Real Estate Agent Certification is a realtor with 28 years of residential and commercial construction, real estate sales and investment experience; she’s currently working with Century 21 Alliance in Santa Rosa. She’s EcoGreen Certified and recently became a Green Building Professional certified through Build It Green. For more information about the program or real estate sales and purchases you can contact her at (707) 217-8484. www.globalfriendlyrealestate.com
