What is Green Building??  And how do EcoBrokers® enter into the equation??  

Simply put, green building is a more mindful approach to building and remodeling through the use of environmentally-friendly materials and methods. Compared with traditional building materials and methods, green building materials and methods generally:

• require less overall maintenance
• use less energy
• are more organic
• save money over the life of a home
• produce less pollution
• are healthier for people, pets, and the environment

The real estate industry, and society as a whole is currently paying more attention than ever to energy efficiency and green building opportunities. Green building is here-and it's here to stay!!!

EcoBrokers® help you evaluate the numerous things you can do to make a property more energy efficient, they can point you in the right direction with appropriate referrals, educate you on the different types of green building practices to employ, amongst many other suggestions or ideas.

Implementing green building approaches means a longer life for the home, a healthier home environment, and ultimately, a savings of both time and money for the homeowner. The benefits of a "greener" home can include better health, more leisure time, more expendable income, and an overall higher quality of life.

Realtors® who are EcoBroker Certified® have gone through an extensive training program on energy and environmental issues that impact real estate and the consumer. EcoBroker Certified® Realtors have been educated to help our clients navigate the green real estate market, and/or guide our clients through the preparation and building of an environmentally sound home.

Typically, EcoBrokers® are "green-minded" individuals who have a desire to minimize their own impact on the environment and reduce the overall consumption of non-renewable resources. As EcoBrokers®, we help our clients make good decisions regarding a home's energy efficiency, and help with other green home issues such as how to orient a home or landscape a property for the maximum energy efficiency and minimal impact on the environment. An EcoBroker® might consult with a client on:

• How to better insulate their home
• How and where they might shop for energy efficient mortgages
• Getting tax rebates for installing solar panels

And these are just a few examples of the many issues EcoBrokers® work with clients on implementing.

 Check out EcoBroker.com at:  http://www.ecobroker.com/

In 2008, the National Association of REALTORS® created NAR's Green Designation to serve the growing demand for green expertise in real estate. This designation is the only one recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®. The Green Resource Council awards the industry-recognized NAR Green Designation to REALTORS® who have met the educational and practical requirements.

Yet, again as a Tucson Ecobroker®, Nicole's commitment and dedication to all matters related to Green is front and center. Call her at 520.465.5770. She leading the charge! Find out, by calling her directly, how this is of value to YOU.

Each and every home falls somewhere in the spectrum of energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, and you can't always assume that a newer home is a greener home. For example, an older home built with quality, time-tested materials can be considered much "greener" than a brand new but poorly built home. And an existing home that at first glance may seem anything but green, can often be updated, modified, or renovated to make it energy efficient and environmentally sound.

As EcoBrokers®, we see all the shades of green-helping a seller recognize and market the green features they didn't even know their home had, or advising a buyer on possible approaches to improving the environmental and energy issues of a "not-so-green" existing house they have their heart set on. This could mean something as simple as pointing out to a seller the great insulating benefit provided by their adobe brick home, or suggesting that a buyer plant trees to shade a home and thereby reduce excessive sun exposure or create a windbreak. Small details perhaps, but little-by-little, these small details add up. As EcoBrokers®, we see to it that these details add up to positive home-buying and selling experiences for our clients (as well as for the planet).

While EcoBroker®s are well-educated about-and committed to-green home features, we are NOT experts in "all things green," and we must always be sure that our clients know this. However, a well-trained and certified EcoBroker® is far better equipped to advise clients on the energy efficiency and environmental aspects of home-buying and -selling than are our non-EcoBroker® certified colleagues.

Ultimately, being an EcoBroker® is about creating value for our clients, and positive change for our planet. In advocating for wise and responsible home-building, choices on where we buy, whether we stay and remodel or relocate, and maintenance choices for our clients, we can make great strides in a very positive direction for the whole world.

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