*Consider shade cover for air-conditioning units but do not block the airflow.  A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.

GREEN BUILD – KEY TOPICS WITH HOME BUILDERS

It was my pleasure this week to address members of SUHBA, Southern Utah Home Builders Association, on the topic of Green Building.  The presentation included information to help understand the definition of “Green” and the challenges Builders and REALTORS® face in working with consumers.  The following are some of the fundamental points given.

At the outset, there are a couple of fundamental questions:  “What is Green?” and “Who cares?”  A definition of Green has to do with Energy efficiency and environment-friendly practices - earth friendly - to lessen environmental impact from society.  There are established standards and regulations for certification of that which is Green relative to Green Building.  To immediately follow is one of the first challenges that needs to be addressed and that is, what is “Greenwashing”?  Most people relate to whitewashing.  Greenwashing has similar characteristics:  “Making green claims without a verifiable positive effect to the environment; falsely promoting or exaggerating the greenness of a product or service.”

Green Building has to do with environmental design, big and small features, and identification of what they are.  Green Building has a triple bottom line effect:  Economic profit, social benefit, and decreased environmental impact.  A green building is an environmentally sustainable building, designed, constructed and operated to minimize the total environmental impacts.

Green is the new Gold.  Green Building dictates harmonizing interactions between the built and natural environment; it incorporates regard for fresh air, natural light and vegetation; it considers energy efficiency-not just the building systems but the materials used; it works with the objective of smarter, cleaner, healthier buildings.

THE CHALLENGES

Specific challenges that have to be addressed in the immediate future by consumers and professionals alike include the following:  1. Identifying level of acceptance of the concept of Green–an assessment by both consumer and professional of whether or not one thinks it is a fad that will soon fade, or is it here to stay.  2.  Assessing the delicate balance of new-build product and buyers and sellers of existing homes, and 3.  Evaluating and adapting service systems to be useful tools for the various trades within the related building and sales professions that make sense to the practitioners and the consumers.   This includes adjusting and fine-tuning the search fields and various platforms where property data and features are stored and presented for private and public review and consumption.  Reporting capabilities are important along with the research and search options.

In the final analysis, quick judgment says that the degree and the speed of the promotion and development of this whole new world will be influenced, in fact dictated, by the consumer.  And the consumer will move based on personal motives and abilities as permitted by economic factors.

CONTACT

Jim Coleman is Associate Broker and Partner/Owner of ERA Brokers Consolidated.  He Specializes in Residential, Investment and Commercial Real Estate, holding National Designations of Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Resort and Second Home Property Specialist (RSPS) and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), and has been awarded NAR’s new Green designation.

You can contact him by e-mail at Jim@JimColeman4Homes.com.  Call: (435) 674-0600; or write:  Jim Coleman, 201 East St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah 84770.  This and other columns are available at www.RealtorJimC.com/articles.

Jim Coleman, ABR/M, ASR, CRS, GRI, DREI, e-PRO, Green, GRI, RECS, RSPS, SRES
“YOUR REAL ESTATE IS MY BUSINESS”
Partner/Owner and Associate Broker
ERA Brokers Consolidated
201 East St. George Blvd.