The following is taken from the November issue of Radish Magazine.
EcoBrokers
Find a green home with help from the pros
By Steve Trainor
Looking to buy a green home, but not sure exactly where to look or what it should include? You might consider hiring an EcoBroker to help.
EcoBrokers are licensed real estate agents who have been certified by EcoBroker International of Evergreen, Colo. The program teaches agents how to best help buyers and sellers of houses with green features and provides extra instruction in various environmental areas relating to green home features and construction. Topics covered include radon, asbestos, lead, water, mold, indoor air quality, energy efficiency technologies, sustainable energy options and mortgage options that award up to $15,000 worth of energy efficiency improvements for a home.
"Green living is becoming more and more popular," says EcoBroker Chris Kaufmann of Mel Foster Co. in Davenport, Iowa. "Combined with the high cost of everything, it helps people get the extra edge and more value for their money."
Three other EcoBrokers are currently in the Iowa Radish region, according to EcoBroker.com: Linda Thrasher, Remax Real Estate Centre (Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty and Cedar Rapids); Chris Mottinger, Solon; and Verne Folkmann, Lepic-Kroeger Realtors, Coralville. All took online or classroom courses, did research and took tests, which included essays.
In the current tight economy, Thrasher says that more buyers are demanding energy efficiency in their homes. "That's a big selling point. People want value and are willing to pay for it," she says.
But buyers who want the greenest home they can afford often don't know where to go or whom to ask. "That's where we come in," says Kaufmann.
If you don't have an EcoBroker, there still are questions you can ask while you're shopping for an environmentally-friendly home. Here are several that Kaufmann and Thrasher suggest:
· Does the home have Energy Star appliances?
· How new and efficient are the air conditioner, furnace and water heater?
· Are the faucets and toilets "low-flow" (do they conserve water)?
· Is the flooring made from salvaged and/or recycled materials?
· Does the energy provider offer rebates to offset the cost of a new water heater or furnace?
• Does the carpet contain the preservative formaldehyde?
To determine how eco-friendly a home is, EcoBrokers use a checklist of 19 categories that cover everything from the roof to the landscape. The list contains almost 150 specific items.
Thrasher insists that there are enough green homes out there because many are equipped with Energy Star appliances - and appliances consume about 45 percent of the energy used in a home.
She says that being an EcoBroker excites her. "I get calls on what to do or use. I'm an eco-resource!" she says.
If a new home is what you want, most builders are happy to work with their clients to incorporate green design and amenities in a building plan. Thrasher and Kaufmann say that Dan Dolan Homes is one such builder, who has done ecofriendly homes in Davenport, Muscatine and Iowa City.
It's also possible to get a green loan for the eco-friendly home you choose. Green lenders are mortgage experts who can provide reduced interest rates, lower closing costs or energy analyses that allow buyers to set aside funds to make energy improvements later. Countrywide and Wells Fargo are two such lenders, the EcoBrokers say.
Want to green up the home you're in? They say that you can retrofit your home, making it a bit more eco-friendly as opportunities present themselves. You can replace old appliances with Energy Star appliances. You also can test for radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer. They highly recommend a licensed radon test, saying that do-it-yourself kits aren't nearly as good.
With healthy, low-impact, efficient homes, Thrasher and Kaufmann are trying to ensure a better future for everyone.
"I'm kind of surprised I'm the only EcoBroker in the Quad-Cities metro area," muses Kaufmann. Maybe not for long.
About Radish:
Radish magazine is a guide to improving your health through the natural foods, products and services of western Illinois and eastern Iowa. Editorial content is geared to reflect lifestyle choices that lead to self-renewal and renewal of resources and includes information, news and advice on diet, cooking, health and fitness. Radish is published monthly and distributed free at farmers' markets, food stores, fitness clubs, libraries and health-care facilities.
