http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php en chris@evolutiongreen.com Copyright 2008 2008-08-27T01:58:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/4th_annual_green_building_festival/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/4th_annual_green_building_festival/#When:01:58:00Z 4th Annual Green Building Festival Sept 9-10, 2008, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Join us at the 2008 Green Building Festival Green Building Festival 2008 is a two day conference and expo highlighting Innovation in green building. Take an in-depth look at the real world impacts of green building, with comprehensive case studies, product analysis, visionary keynotes, and 100 exhibitors with ready-to-market green building solutions. Sign Up for Green Homebuilding and Green Real-Estate Workshops Sign Up for Green Homebuilding and Green Real-Estate Workshops Green Building Festival 2008 Features: Case Studies: Malmö Bo01, Sweden -Green City of the Future The Greater Toronto Airport Authority - Eco-Industrial Park North Toronto C.I. Factor 9 Home Levitt Goodman House Humber Arboretum Commercialization: Green Building Incentives Carbon Benchmarking Building Commissioning Building Approaches: Building Information Modeling -Beyond CAD: Software for Sustainable Design Innovative Building Materials Biomimicry Technologies: Glazing Green Roofs Bio-Filters Geo-thermal Renewables 2008-08-27T01:58:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/the_end_is_coming_solutions_are_at_hand/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/the_end_is_coming_solutions_are_at_hand/#When:20:49:00Z http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHr8OzaloLM Check it out. 2008-07-30T20:49:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/mayor_announces_live_green_toronto_a_five_year_program_to_inspire_and_suppo/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/mayor_announces_live_green_toronto_a_five_year_program_to_inspire_and_suppo/#When:14:57:00Z Mayor announces Live Green Toronto - a five-year program to inspire and support neighbourhood actions for a greener Toronto Mayor David Miller joined thousands of Torontonians at the Green Toronto Festival today to announce the launch of Live Green Toronto - a major five-year, $20-million dollar program to promote and support neighbourhood and community-based actions to reduce emissions, clean our air and protect our climate. Live Green Toronto will take action on climate change to a whole new level in Toronto once again making us a world-leading city on climate change, said Mayor Miller. The program provides the support, funding and expertise needed for grassroots community-based actions to cut greenhouse gases and clean our air. It is unique in that it will provide Torontonians with the opportunity to turn their great green ideas into action, resulting in the greening of our neighbourhoods and communities making Toronto the most liveable city it can be. Mayor announces Live Green Toronto - a five-year program to inspire and support neighbourhood actions for a greener Toronto Mayor David Miller joined thousands of Torontonians at the Green Toronto Festival today to announce the launch of Live Green Toronto - a major five-year, $20-million dollar program to promote and support neighbourhood and community-based actions to reduce emissions, clean our air and protect our climate. Live Green Toronto will take action on climate change to a whole new level in Toronto once again making us a world-leading city on climate change, said Mayor Miller. The program provides the support, funding and expertise needed for grassroots community-based actions to cut greenhouse gases and clean our air. It is unique in that it will provide Torontonians with the opportunity to turn their great green ideas into action, resulting in the greening of our neighbourhoods and communities making Toronto the most liveable city it can be. A key component of Torontos Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan, which targets an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Live Green Toronto will significantly enhance residents ability to undertake community based projects that make a real difference, and help create a more liveable and sustainable Toronto. Live Green Toronto will support community-initiated and based projects such as those that increase water conservation, tree planting, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, local food production and green roofs, through three key elements: 1) Funding and incentives: - The Live Green Toronto Community Investment Fund ($200,000 each year for the next five years), will provide seed money of up to $25,000 per project to help communities develop and implement green initiatives. - The Live Green Capital Projects Fund ($2 million each year) will provide partial funding for community-based capital projects, to a maximum of $250,000 per project. - Applications will be available at http://www.livegreentoronto.ca as of June 2. 2) Community animators will provide advice and guidance to help community groups take their green ideas from concept to implementation. The process of selecting the community animators has started and they will be in place by the end of July 2008. 3) A dedicated Live Green Toronto website (http://www.livegreentoronto.ca ) will offer residents one-window access to rebates, tools and programs at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. The Citys annual Green Toronto Festival has grown in just three years from a one-day event at Nathan Phillips Square, to a two-day celebration at Yonge-Dundas Square. More information about Live Green Toronto is available at http://www.livegreentoronto.ca . Toronto is Canadas largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. In the past three years, Toronto has won more than 70 awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Torontos government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. - 30 - Media contact: Lawson Oates, Director, Toronto Environment Office, 416-392-9744, 647-400-6951 (cell), loates@toronto.ca conserve, evolve 2008-05-24T14:57:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/strawberries_and_asparagus_2008/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/strawberries_and_asparagus_2008/#When:04:42:00Z June 14th, 2008 “Strawberries & Asparagus” is a community celebration of all things green. This day-long festival in Toronto’s Cedarvale Park promotes public space, local and organic food, local sustainable business, nature appreciation, music, and fitness & health. Come along and enjoy healthy snacks and solar ice cream free activities for children and adults live music on our solar stage a marketplace for green businesses and environmental organizations This not-for-profit event is organized each year by EvolutionGreen.Com and human capital partner Green Neighbours 21, a grass-roots environmental group in Toronto’s Ward 21. There is also an Inorganic Market™ taking place – you can drop off used or broken electronic items for free recycling. Laptops, desktops, iPods, mp3 players, cell phones and more will be collected. Come out, meet the community, and enjoy the fun! “Strawberries & Asparagus” is a community celebration of all things green. This day-long festival in Toronto’s Cedarvale Park promotes public space, local and organic food, local sustainable business, nature appreciation, music, and fitness & health. Come along and enjoy healthy snacks and solar ice cream free activities for children and adults live music on our solar stage a marketplace for green businesses and environmental organizations This not-for-profit event is organized each year by EvolutionGreen.Com and human capital partner Green Neighbours 21, a grass-roots environmental group in Toronto’s Ward 21. There is also an Inorganic Market™ taking place – you can drop off used or broken electronic items for free recycling. Laptops, desktops, iPods, mp3 players, cell phones and more will be collected. Come out, meet the community, and enjoy the fun! CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES Gardening Activities for Children: “Strawberries and Asparagus” takes place in the grounds around the Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden, established by Claire Rodger and “the gardening angels” a group of devoted adult volunteers. Learn more about this wonderful group by participating in their activities at “Strawberries and Asparagus” including: June 14th, 2008 11.00am - 12.45pm - Children will be planting heirloom tomatoes, Swiss chard, basil and other vegetables (Children should dress appropriately) 1.00pm - 2.00pm - Children’s concert on solar stage (see below) 2.00pm - 3.00pm - Storytelling for children. Dressing up a “gardening angel” sculpture made up from recycled objects. 3.00pm-4.30 pm - Demo and tasting of locally grown rhubarb, strawberries and honey stewed on site on a Coleman stove Throughout the day the children will be selling their produce including: rhubarb chives, oregano and flowers. Heirloom tomato plants will also be available for sale. Children’s Concert: Juno Award Winning Children’s Singer Jen Gould performs. Her album “Music Soup” was given a Juno for best children’s album of the year. Her performance is followed by songs performed by Evolution Green’s Chris Chopik together with the kids from the Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden 1.00pm - 2.00pm at the solar stage Make your own cob birdhouse: Learn about environmentally friendly building by making your own cob birdhouse. Cob is a building material made out of earth and straw. Children and adults will learn more about the process by the members of the Fourth Pig Worker Co-op who are experts in sustainable building, alternative materials and energy retrofits. This activity is great for children and adults. Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting muddy! Sessions begin at 11.30am, 12.30pm and on a drop in basis throughout the day Eco Trivia Game: Earth Day Canada will be running their Eco Trivia game where children play a ball game while answering questions about the environment. Children can win prizes. In the Earth Day Canada booth they will also be handing out promotional material to help teachers and other educators bring environmental issues into the curriculum. New games begin at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 1.00pm, 2.00pm, 3.00pm and 4.00pm (Guideline ages: 6-12) ADULT AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES: LEAF and Garden Green: Learn stories relating to our local trees. Arborist Todd Irvine from LEAF leads a tour that investigates the stories of local street trees and new plantings in the ravine. There will be a number of guest speakers on the tour. The walk lasts 90 minutes and is appropriate for walkers of all ages. Co-sponsored by Garden Green. Our local M.P. Carolyn Bennett will be in attendance. Wear comfortable shoes. 1.00pm - 3.00pm LEAF Cedarvale Tree Walk (departs from Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden) Daily Apple Daily Apple wellness services will be running their signature green fitness class called “Trailmix”. This low-impact class integrates cardio, weights, pilates and yoga and has participants enjoying the park setting while getting their workout. Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes. 2.00pm - 2.45pm (Departs from the Daily Apple booth) Inorganic Market™: Bring your unwanted electronics to the Inorganic Market™. They accept laptops, desktops, monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, ipods, mp3 players, power bars, any type of wires and cables, speakers, keyboards, mice, video game consoles, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS’s), cell phones and routers. Working components will be reused. Non-working items will be 100% recycled. Collections will take place in the parking lot of Arlington Middle School from 11 am to 5 pm GREEN MARKETPLACE: Here are just a few of the many vendors and organizations that will be attending Strawberries and Asparagus 2008: Arise Technologies - Arise Technologies whose solar energy systems are increasingly appearing on the roofs of Ward 21 in Toronto and beyond will be bringing a solar powered ice cream cooler to the event and handing out free ice cream. They will also be sharing a booth with WISE (below) Chocosol: This fair-trade chocolate company will have biopower grinders and blenders, chocolate drinks, chocolate foods, and a whole artistic display. They will also be hosting special guest Gustavo Esteva, an author, storyteller and food activist from Mexico. Gustavo’s writings will be available. Earth Day Canada Eco Action Team - The Eco Action Team will have a booth where individuals or groups can commit to conservation and use an online calculator to see how much emissions they’ve saved. Fashion Takes Action: Receive an invitation to Fashion Takes Action…the green fashion event of the year. Whole Self Fitness: Whole Self Fitness provides on-site personal training and lifestyle coaching. Whole Self Fitness also provides nutrition consulting, on-site group fitness classes and cooking workshops at Whole Foods Market. For more information contact Leehe Lev at 416-924-3145. West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE) - WISE will have a booth illustrating what solar energy can do for you, your home and our environment. Solid Waste Management Services: Hot on the heels of the introduction of our new recycling bins in Toronto, there’s another new thing Torontonians are going to have to get used to: new garbage bins. Soon you’ll be receiving a Garbage Bin order package in the mail asking you to select a new Garbage Bin for your household. Need help deciding which bin is right for you? Visit the City of Toronto tent to see the different sizes of Garbage Bins available and to talk to City of Toronto staff. EVENT LOCATION: “Strawberries and Asparagus” takes place in the grounds around the Cedarvale Community Children’s Garden at the north end of Cedarvale Park. The nearest subway is Eglinton West. Then walk south on Everden Road to the park’s entrance on Ava. Enter the park and you’ll see the children’s garden up on a small hill on your right hand side. learn, event list 2008-05-20T04:42:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/low_water_gardening_workshop/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/low_water_gardening_workshop/#When:20:16:00Z MAY LOW-WATER-GARDENING WORKSHOP Sunday May 18, 2008 @ 7.00 pm Location: 107 Everden Road Cost: Free or small charge if we rent a larger space Jeff McCormick of Toronto Water will come to speak to us about low water gardening. We may also have an expert come to speak to us about a sensitive issue to those of us who love mulch….is wood or bark mulch actually killing our soil? I may invite experts to discuss this problem…and the solutions…that night as well. This may be a larger event and we may hold it at the Wychwood Public Library. If so, there may be a small cost for this event to cover the room rental. MAY LOW-WATER-GARDENING WORKSHOP Sunday May 18, 2008 @ 7.00 pm Location: 107 Everden Road Cost: Free or small charge if we rent a larger space Jeff McCormick of Toronto Water will come to speak to us about low water gardening. We may also have an expert come to speak to us about a sensitive issue to those of us who love mulch….is wood or bark mulch actually killing our soil? I may invite experts to discuss this problem…and the solutions…that night as well. This may be a larger event and we may hold it at the Wychwood Public Library. If so, there may be a small cost for this event to cover the room rental. water, landscaping/garden 2008-05-09T20:16:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/leslie_roberts_on_cfrb_1010_with_chris_chopik_green_realtor/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/leslie_roberts_on_cfrb_1010_with_chris_chopik_green_realtor/#When:04:08:00Z Leslie Roberts speaks with Green Realtor Chris Chopik In honour of Earth Day, find out how to green out your home. Leslie Roberts speaks with Chris-Chopik, Green Realtor. build_eco 2008-05-08T04:08:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/breakfast_television_with_chris_chopik_green_bicycle_realtor/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/breakfast_television_with_chris_chopik_green_bicycle_realtor/#When:04:17:00Z 2008-05-05T04:17:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/royla_lepage_small_steps_for_big_changes_in_green_real_estate/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/royla_lepage_small_steps_for_big_changes_in_green_real_estate/#When:18:15:01Z Small Steps for Big Change When it comes to describing how green their current lifestyle is, 72 per cent of Canadians say they engage in traditional recycling practices. Making a difference can be as simple as implementing small environmentally friendly practices. The most popular green modifications that poll respondents already implement in their homes include switching from regular light bulbs to CFL light bulbs (74%), adding window and door sealers to prevent heat loss (61%) and switching to high efficiency washers and dryers and using low flow water fixtures (54%). Ecologically Friendly, Economically Smart – Green is the New Gold Standard for Outfitting a Home TORONTO, October 30, 2007 – Green friendly home improvements will likely yield a solid return on investment come selling time as almost three quarters of Canadians (72%) say they will look for a green-improved property in their next home purchase, and 63 per cent will be willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly home, according to the Royal LePage Eco Home Survey released today. The Royal LePage Eco Home Survey, which examines the attitudes and opinions of Canadians with respect to green living, found that Canadians are willing to pony up cash for greener home features. In fact, of the majority of Canadians who are willing to pay more for an eco home, 62 per cent are willing to pay between $5,000 and under $20,000, for green features, while eight per cent (8%) of respondents are willing to spend $20,000 or more on a home deemed green. “The mood of Canadian homebuyers and sellers is changing with the times - environmental concerns are impacting the decisions people are making about their dwellings. From simple energy conservation efforts to the more elaborate use of organic building materials, the environmentally conscious mindset that our agents are seeing in clients is not a passing trend,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage Real Estate Services. “To service this growing segment of the real estate market, we are pleased to launch our partnership with the National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB) as well as the green accreditation program. This program will educate and empower our REALTORS® and brokers, as well as consumers on how to make eco-friendly decisions when it comes to the home.” Through various education courses funded in part by the Ministry of Energy, Royal LePage real estate agents will be trained by the National Association of Green Agents and Brokers to assess environmental elements within a home and identify properties that adhere to green standards. Royal LePage members who take the National Association of Green Agents and Brokers training will be easily identifiable though a special designation logo. “Few people realize that residential, commercial and institutional buildings represent more than 33 per cent of our total greenhouse gas emissions,” said Elden Freeman, National Association of Green Agents and Brokers founder and executive director. “While it is unreasonable to completely reduce carbon dioxide created by homes, there are various practices homeowners can implement, such as installing high-energy efficient windows, doors and insulation, high efficiency furnaces and appliances, and water-conserving fixtures such as showerheads and toilets that will significantly reduce negative effects on the environment.” While positive changes are occurring in the general population there is much work to be done. More than half (51%) of all survey respondents say they are very concerned about the environment and think we are in dire need of change some are not as quick to implement changes. When asked, “What is preventing you from making your home more green?” over half (54%) of respondents said it was too expensive to do, while 15 per cent said they have no idea where to start. Added Soper: “Canadians need to know that going green can certainly be within their means and within their reach. There are many simple and affordable measures that can lead to big gains for the environment, and many of the practices can actually save homeowners money.” Small Steps for Big Change When it comes to describing how green their current lifestyle is, 72 per cent of Canadians say they engage in traditional recycling practices. Making a difference can be as simple as implementing small environmentally friendly practices. The most popular green modifications that poll respondents already implement in their homes include switching from regular light bulbs to CFL light bulbs (74%), adding window and door sealers to prevent heat loss (61%) and switching to high efficiency washers and dryers and using low flow water fixtures (54%). Some homeowners are taking bigger leaps. Caryn Thompson, a Toronto-based health promoter and owner of an eco-friendly home, is among those Canadians that took on green modifications when she and her husband decided to renovate their home. To create their eco enclave they opted for highly energy efficient windows made with low-e glass that decreases heat gain in the summer and keeps the house warm in the winter, installed central air that uses puron, and have painted with low or no VOC (Volatile organic compounds) products. “When we decided to renovate our home, we wanted to make choices that would have the least impact on the environment and create a healthy indoor space for us,” said Caryn Thompson. Motivating Forces of Nature When asked, “What is the most influential factor for making your home more or completely green?” 35 per cent of respondents cited they are doing it for their children so they inherit a healthy planet; 32 per cent are doing it for the cost savings; and one quarter (25%) are doing it for their health and to have peace of mind they are living the best they can. Mature Canadians edge out the younger set when it comes to recycling. Respondents aged 55+ (77%) are more likely than those aged 18 to 34 years (67%) to engage in traditional recycling practices. More women (31%) than men (18%) are going green for their health. Conversely, more men (41%) than women (23%) cite cost savings as the most influential factor for making a change. Additional Poll Highlights Atlantic (72%) residents are the most likely to pay more, whereas Ontario residents (60%) are the least likely to pay more for an eco-friendly dwelling. Fourteen per cent (14%) of homeowners are already living in an eco-friendly abode. The survey found that 16 per cent of respondents say they exercise their green side from time to time, when it is convenient, and only nine per cent (9%) claim to be at one with Mother Earth, and live a very green lifestyle. Seventy-eight (78%) believe there is a direct link between the unseasonably warm temperatures and decades of the world’s lack of awareness about the environment. Albertans are the most reticent about such a link, with 68 per cent of respondents from Alberta claiming to see a link, whereas 82 per cent of people in Quebec believe the two elements are related. Poll Methodology Angus Reid Strategies conducted poll portion of the Royal LePage Eco Home Survey, with fieldwork completed on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. The poll was conducted on-line with a national representative sample of 1,266 Canadians survey respondents aged 18 year and older. The results have a maximum margin of error +/- 2.75% 19 times out of 20. Source: Royal LePage Real Estate Services build_eco, impact on environment 2008-04-27T18:15:01-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/greener_for_less/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/greener_for_less/#When:15:28:00Z Being Green doesn’t always cost more...savy homeowners and investors love to save money and help the environment.  See how easy it is to do by reading a recent story featured in the Toronto Sun on Recycled paint. By HEATHER M. O’CONNOR, Special to Sun Media Environmentally conscious consumers expect to pay a little more for “green” products. Organic produce, clean Bullfrog Power, an EnergyStar-qualified home – they all cost us a little more. But there’s at least one green choice that doesn’t have to hit you in the pocketbook. The Earth-friendly line of paints, stains and primers from Quebec-based Boomerang doesn’t cost more, it costs less. You pay just $16 for a gallon – about 60% of what you’d fork over for a comparable mid-range product. Why? Because Boomerang is recycled. Recycled paint is new to Ontario, but it’s been sold for over a decade in Quebec. Though Ontario consumers initially wrinkled their noses at the notion of recycled paint when Boomerang was introduced two years ago, sales consultant Steve Blasiak says the times, they are a-changing. The brand is making slow but steady inroads, thanks to rising consumer interest in sustainable alternatives. And why shouldn’t Boomerang measure up to its competition? asks Blasiak. It is, after all, composed of the very paints it competes with. And it’s not just cheaper than those brands, it’s also healthier. Boomerang is low-VOC, meaning that it contains less than 250 grams/litre of volatile organic compounds – noxious chemicals like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, xylene and other toxins that dissolve into the air we breathe for up to three months before dissipating. VOCs – suspected carcinogens – can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches and irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract when released indoors. They also contribute to poor outdoor air quality and smog. Blasiak says Boomerang doesn’t make a zero-VOC paint, like some paint companies, but notes those paints don’t remain VOC-free for long anyway. “The funny thing about zero-VOC paint is that as soon as you colour it, the minute you put tint in it, it has VOCs. Because the colourants are full of VOCs. So you find just as much VOC in a can of zero-VOC paint that’s been coloured as you do with Boomerang recycled paint.” The company commissioned a “footprint” study of their manufacturing process. “We considered our collection procedure, how we collect raw materials, our mixing procedure, how much energy we use – everything,” says Blasiak. “Then we needed a benchmark.” They looked at the most environmentally friendly paint the other companies are making – zero-VOC paint – and measured factors like where they got their raw materials, shipping across the ocean, hauling it with diesel trucks back and forth to the factory and the energy that consumes. “Compared to a can of brand-new zero-VOC paint, we emit 88% less carbon dioxide,” Blasiak says. “I’m now talking to a huge property manager who uses 100,000 gallons of paint a year. He claims to be one of the greenest property managers around. I did the mathematics. He would save a million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere if he simply switched over to Boomerang.” Using Boomerang doesn’t mean settling for less. Boomerang conducts tests to ensure product quality and colour accuracy. It comes in a range of sixteen latex shades, four alkyds and six stains. Find a local retailer by visiting http://www.boomerangpaint.ca. reuse, recycle/reuse/compost 2008-04-24T15:28:00-05:00 http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/how_green_is_my_realtor_eco_real_estate_toronto/ http://www.evolutiongreen.com/index.php/site/how_green_is_my_realtor_eco_real_estate_toronto/#When:02:10:00Z How Green Is My Realtor By SARA SCHAEFER MUÑOZ February 19, 2008; Page D1 The Wall Street Journal Still, there are ways to check a real-estate agent’s earth-friendly credentials. And for consumers who don’t know much about green building or the recent proliferation of green construction labels, these brokers can be helpful, Mr. Hall says. Many Realtors hope so. Green Key Real Estate in San Francisco asks on its site: “Wouldn’t you rather work with a Realtor who shares your values in environmental and social responsibility?” and sends its agents to environmentally friendly building courses. Last fall, Harry Norman Realtors in Atlanta had 48 Realtors certified by EcoBroker International, which educates Realtors on eco-friendly homes and marketing. Meanwhile, individual Realtors are carving “green” niches for themselves: Celeste Karan, of Keller Williams Realty in Chicago, started http://www.greenhomechicago.com, a site where she lists properties and promises “to help home buyers understand what truly constitutes a ‘green building.’” How Green Is My Realtor By SARA SCHAEFER MUÑOZ February 19, 2008; Page D1 In a bid to stand out in a sagging housing market, an increasing number of real-estate agents are marketing themselves as eco-friendly—connecting environmentally conscious buyers to “green” homes and helping sellers make their homes more eco-sensitive. These agents are promoting their knowledge of eco-friendly and energy-efficient properties on their Web sites and blogs. Some are taking courses to learn about things like geo-thermal heat pumps and how to help home buyers qualify for grants and tax credits for energy-saving improvements. Yet some housing experts question whether some agents are using a cursory knowledge of green building as a marketing ploy in a tough market. “A Realtor may support [a purchase] regardless of how green the home is,” says Jay Hall, acting director of the eco-friendly homebuilding program at the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington. Still, there are ways to check a real-estate agent’s earth-friendly credentials. And for consumers who don’t know much about green building or the recent proliferation of green construction labels, these brokers can be helpful, Mr. Hall says. Many Realtors hope so. Green Key Real Estate in San Francisco asks on its site: “Wouldn’t you rather work with a Realtor who shares your values in environmental and social responsibility?” and sends its agents to environmentally friendly building courses. Last fall, Harry Norman Realtors in Atlanta had 48 Realtors certified by EcoBroker International, which educates Realtors on eco-friendly homes and marketing. Meanwhile, individual Realtors are carving “green” niches for themselves: Celeste Karan, of Keller Williams Realty in Chicago, started http://www.greenhomechicago.com, a site where she lists properties and promises “to help home buyers understand what truly constitutes a ‘green building.’” ECO-PARADOX While more consumers say that they want green features in their homes; they also want those homes to be in far-away suburbs. Read more on Developments, the Wall Street Journal’s real estate blog.Such agents say their knowledge of environmentally friendly designs and materials can help clients in several ways. First, the brokers will link interested buyers to homes that are built with eco-friendly features, like solar power and energy-efficient appliances. Even if the property is old and lacks such features, agents can walk buyers through possible retro-fits that will lower their energy bills or improve indoor air quality. When it comes to sellers, agents can advise them on simple projects that can make the home eco-friendly, such as improving insulation or touching up the interior with nontoxic paint in a bid to attract buyers. EcoBroker International, which offers courses for Realtors, says its program has certified more than 2,600 agents total, doubling the amount since last year. Based in Evergreen, Colo., its classes include things like how to make improvements in indoor air quality, what types of eco-friendly retro-fits will be the most cost-effective, and how to piece together the state and local tax credits or grants for “green” projects. Realtors then earn an EcoBroker designation, something concrete that agents can use as a marketing tool, says EcoBroker chief executive John Beldock. Kermit Baker, a senior research fellow at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, says it’s a potentially good strategy at a time when there’s a glut of homes for sale. “Anything that would make you stand out in this market would help,” he says. So-called green real-estate agents represent properties such as this planned solar-powered home in Geos, a community in Colorado (above) and eco-friendly apartments in the Green Armitage building in Chicago (below). Existing-home sales fell 2.2% in December from November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors, a national trade group. The median home price was $208,400 in December, down 6% from a year earlier. Hugh Morris, the community outreach representative for the National Association of Realtors, the national trade group, says pitching environmental certifications isn’t the only way Realtors are trying to distinguish themselves these days. A few are marketing themselves as experts in historic properties, while one even says his specialty is homes near nature trails. Yet Mr. Morris says interest in “green” properties has surged; he now answers about five calls a week from Realtors asking how they can get eco-friendly credentials, compared with none a year ago, he says. When Tonia Lee wanted to sell her one-bedroom live/work townhouse outside Atlanta, she turned to local EcoBroker Carson Matthews after coming across his blog online. The home, which she listed at $325,000 a few weeks ago, is part of a sustainable-development community and has many eco-friendly features, including a highly efficient heating and cooling system, energy-efficient appliances and a permeable driveway surface (which absorbs the water instead of adding to run-off). With his blog and knowledge of the benefits of “green” building, she figured Mr. Matthews was well-positioned to sell the property. With a regular agent, “I don’t think I would get the niche buyer I am looking for,” she says. The growing number of such real-estate agents come as the building community is in the midst of defining what “green” is. In December, the U.S. Green Building Council—a nonprofit that rates commercial buildings on things like energy use and indoor-air quality—introduced similar rating systems for people’s homes. The National Association of Homebuilders, meanwhile, is working with the International Code Council to develop a green building standard. Yet another certification is available through the federal government’s Energy Star program, which requires homes to be at least 15% more energy-efficient than those built to the 2004 residential code. States and local building associations, too, may have their own green building programs or guidelines. Real-estate agents say they will sort through the confusion. Celeste Karan, of Keller Williams Realty in Chicago, asks to see prior utility bills or whether the home is Energy Star rated so she can promote how much actual savings a buyer can expect. She also points out that some homes with quick-fix improvements—so-called greenwashing—may not be as eco-friendly as they sound: Bamboo floors, for example, are often touted as “green” because bamboo is a rapidly renewable material. But most bamboo comes from China, and lots of energy is used in shipping the products halfway around the world. Another perk EcoBrokers can offer is helping to find buyers energy efficient or eco-friendly mortgages. These are mortgages that offer bigger loans or discounts if buyers make energy-efficient improvements or if their new home meets certain efficiency standards. Last year, Bank of America Corp. launched an Energy Credit mortgage, which offers a $1,000 credit toward closing fees for mortgages on new homes that meet efficiency requirements set by the government’s Energy Star program, and Indigo Financial Group, based in Lansing, Mich., started selling such mortgages in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Florida in 2005, and recently expanded to Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama. Yet some consumers say that when it comes to environmentally friendly homes, it’s easy enough to do research on their own. Bruce Ray, a Chicago pastor, is seriously considering a $400,000 three-bedroom apartment in Green Armitage, a new building made with features like recycled and locally sourced materials, nontoxic paint, and insulation so tight it promises buyers no more than $600 a year in energy bills for the first two years. He says his belief in stewardship of the environment led him to research the various eco-friendly properties and understand the features they offer. As for the “green” agent who showed him the place, he said she was knowledgeable, but her pitch wasn’t what sold him on the property. “There’s so much green information for people now,” he says. “I think people who are interested in these buildings are already pretty eco-friendly, already driving a Prius and recycling and composting.” Write to Sara Schaefer Muñoz at sara.schaefer@wsj.com 2008-04-23T02:10:00-05:00