Green Occupations: Educating Builders and Brokers

Brokering Green

Building a green home isn't for everyone. For those in search of a green home that's already built, look for a real estate agent who is current on the green industry; they need someone who has identified the green homes on the market and knows what it means to be green. EcoBroker International offers certification courses to brokers and agents looking to get that edge on the green real estate market. “We offer a three-course curriculum that educates real estate professionals and provides them with EcoBroker® Certification,” says Moehring. The three courses touch upon all things green, including the ins and outs of energy efficiency, securing finances to include green features and marketing oneself as a “Green Professional.” The certification program, which started in 2002, can be taken online and costs $395, a fee that includes textbooks, a one-year membership to the Association of Energy and Environment Real Estate Professionals (AEEREP) and the ability to list green properties on the company's Web site, EcoBroker.com..

A program like EcoBroker is also designed to meet the needs of the green home seller. A homeowner who has invested in green features will want a real estate agent who can understand—and sell—those features to a potential homebuyer. “A real estate professional who knows the value of those investments will be able to better sell the home,” adds Moehring. EcoBroker.com features a search engine to match consumers with Certified EcoBrokers® in their area.

The growing education of builders, buyers and sellers on green home trends and features is one more vital step in elevating the awareness and importance of going green. It's ultimately up to the consumer to drive demand for even greater knowledge and construction of green homes and green home features.