Waste costs money. Regardless of your social or political leanings, we can all agree that the costs associated with energy waste hurt individuals, businesses, our nation, and ultimately the world. It hurts us in many ways, the most prominent of which is our wallets.
Most home buyers today, especially those younger, first-time home buyers, are well aware that drafty windows and inefficient appliances only add more expense to what is already probably the largest purchase of their lives.
As a real estate expert, you can help guide such clients in helping them choose a home that not only fits their budgets, but also fits their lifestyles and energy-usage.
LEEDing The Way
With the cold months coming soon, now is the perfect time to brush up on your LEED knowledge. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and has become the standard by which all design, construction and operation of green buildings is based. The system was designed to give architects, planners, and building owners the information and tools needed to gauge a building’s energy performance.
You can find more information here, here, and here.
The more knowledge you have about how your clients can save money and time by using LEED techniques, the better. Homebuyers today are more conscious about the “hidden costs” of owning a home and with your guidance, they will make better decisions about which home to buy. This can only help your real estate business and your reputation as being the LEED agent in your area.
Hybrids Hog the Headlines
Most people, when they discuss environmental concerns, focus heavily on the transportation sector; mainly, hybrid cars. But did you know that more energy is wasted by poorly-ventilated or designed buildings? It’s true; almost 40% of all energy consumption in the US is consumed by buildings. Not only do poor insulation and old windows add hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in energy costs to a home every year, they also may end up harming the condition of the home itself. When we discuss energy savings, we must discuss buildings.
Location, Location, Location
Building or renovating a home or business to make it more energy-efficient is very important, but all the LEED codes and solar panels in the world won’t help you save any money (or energy) if the building is in a bad location. In fact, some research has even shown that most people waste more energy commuting to work than the building they work in uses.
So, if your clients want to make the most of their energy consumption, make sure they are looking at homes that offer a more walkable environment and easier access to areas like grocery stores or business centers.
Save Paper, Save Costs – How YOU Can Save Money Yourself
As a real estate professional, you can help yourself to many time and energy-saving techniques. Of course, the DotLoop system allows transactions and negotiations online, thus saving paper costs and waste, but there are other ways in which you can help your business expand while lessening your energy consumption.
Desktop Vs. Laptop
By simply switching from a desktop computer to a laptop (or notebook) computer, you can save up to 80% of the energy costs.
Public Transportation/Combining Trips
Meeting a client? Take a bus or streetcar to get there. Even if you do take a car, you can meet your clients close to a business district, so you can get more than just one thing done at a time. Saving money at the pump saves money for your business.
Being energy-efficient is not just about saving the trees (although it’s a great side effect), but also about saving money. If you can help guide your clients to homes that meet their needs and help them save energy costs, not only will you most likely gain a client for life, but you’ll help solidify your reputation as the “green” real estate agent.
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