Union Leader – Avenues – New Hampshire Real Estate
Realtors to learn about benefits of energy efficiency
By DENIS PAISTE
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Most owners can make their existing home more energy efficient for less than $2,000, a national expert said this week.
“It creates a safer, healthier environment, lessens utility costs, reduces the carbon footprint, and makes for a better future,” said Candace Lightner, an Energy Smart Real Estate Specialist with Coldwell Banker.
Lightner will present an Energy Smart Real Estate Specialist course Wednesday at the Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury Ave., in Portsmouth.
“The course that I teach does kind of simplify the whole green concept,” she said.
The message for real estate agents to carry on to their clients is that making homes more energy efficient can make them more comfortable, cheaper to live in and easier to sell later.
Lightner, who is based in Alexandria, Va., served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Energy and developed a strategy to encourage real estate agents nationwide to become leaders in educating buyer and sellers on the advantages of energy efficient retrofitting.
She also founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) after her 13-year-old daughter Cari was killed by a drunk driver in California in 1980.
The value of green building construction starts grew nearly five times from 2005 to 2008 (from $10 billion to $36-$49 billion), and could triple by 2013, reaching $96-$140 billion, according to a November 2008 McGraw-Hill Construction report, “Green Outlook 2009: Trends Driving Change.”
Decrease in operating costs was the most often cited benefit (13.6 percent, up from 8 to 9 percent in 2005), followed by the increase in building values (10.9 percent, up from 7.5 percent in 2005), according to McGraw-Hill Construction.
U.S. Green Building Council members report green building to be less affected by the down market compared to non-green building, and home buyers are willing to pay more for a green home, according to the McGraw-Hill report.
Besides Lightner, presenters at the seminar will include:
Anthony Balakier of Solterra Renewable Energy LLC, who will speak on alternative energy sources.
David Duplessis of Equity America Mortgage Services, Inc., who will speak on energy efficient mortgages.
Kevin Hanlon of Horizon Residential Energy Services NH LLC, who will talk about home energy audits. He will be giving a discount on energy audits to those attending the class.
Among “Energy Smart” issues to be discussed at the seminar are factors affecting a home’s energy consumption and cost; the value of energy efficiency; the Energy Star label; and how to help clients find energy raters and home performance contractors.
New Hampshire ranked 18th among the states, with a total of 16.5 out of 50 points, in the State Energy Efficiency Scoreboard published in October 2008 by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The scoreboard measures states’ energy efficiency practices in eight categories, including successful utility efficiency programs, transportation efficiency policies and building energy codes.
Class hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost of the course, which is sponsored by Public Service of New Hampshire, is $99.
The Energy Smart Real Estate Specialist course is approved for five hours of continuing education credit by the Maine Real Estate Commission and 3 hours of continuing education by the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission.
On the Net: www.energysmartrealestatespecialists.com
Rachel Carter
Rachel Carter helped take on the Earth Day project for the Alexandria Coldwell Banker Office. She delivered posters to nearby stores, and developed a postcard for everyone to use announcing “Earth Day” to their clients and the office giveways: Energy Savers Brochures, Green bags and an energy checklist.
Office/Department: Alexandria/King Street
Direct Line: (703) 851-4207
Cell Phone: (703) 851-4207
Office Phone: (703) 518-8300
Fax Phone: (703) 518-8314
Email Address: rcarter@cbmove.com
Randy Morrow
Randy Morrow from Keller Williams in Arlington, VA has received his new name badge, with ‘ESRES’ added. All of his emails, letterhead, websites,etc have the new name and/or logo added. He has brought 4 other agents into the ESRES course and he is now bringing the training to his office! Soon he will be writing about ESRES on his blog and in his monthly newsletter.
Randy Morrow — EcoBroker, CRS, GRI
ESRES–Energy Smart Real Estate Specialist™
Keller Williams Arlington
2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22201
Cell: 703.629.1733
Office: 703.224.6000
randymorrow.yourkwagent.com
Val Puddington
Val Puddington from Coldwell Banker, MD couldn’t wait to conduct a power point presentation for about 18 people from Business Networking International, an organization she belongs to. She educated her peers about energy efficiency incorporating the information she learned from the ESRES course.
Val Puddington, ESRES™
Realtor, Coldwell Banker
Cell: 301-613-1833
Office: 301-208-1880
valp@comcast.net
www.RealtorVal.com
Lynne Dermody
Lynne Dermody from Rockville, MD, has incorporated the ESRES designation on her CBMove Web Profile Page. She has updated her business cards with the ESRES logo and she purchased “Coldwell Banker Blue Goes Green” Bags for her Sphere and is including the Energy Saver’s Pamphlets in each bag for her clients!
Coldwell Banker, Rockville
14955 Shady Grove Road, Suite 170
Rockville, MD 20850
Direct Line: (301) 379-0672
Cell Phone: (301) 379-0672
Office Phone: (301) 921-1040
Fax Phone: (301) 921-4910
Email Address: ldermody@cbmove.com
Lorri Gould
Lorri Gould from Saco, Maine connected with a local bank and an energy evaluator and conducted a free Energy Efficiency seminar, that was open to the public. She had 16 people in attendance, with a mix of home owners, and other real estate agents. It ended in a very lively discussion.
“I continue to spread the word of energy efficiency with both my buyers and sellers. Thanks again for the great information gained in the class.”
Lorri Gould REALTOR® ABR® ESRES™
Cell: 207-590-3066
ESREP (Energy Smart Real Estate Professionals) and RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) sign a Memorandum of Understanding
ESREP (Energy Smart Real Estate Professionals) and RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
ESREP, who provides the Energy Smart Real Estate Specialist (ESRES) designation to real estate agents around the country has partnered with RESNET to help educate agents and homeowners about the value of the whole house approach and obtaining energy audits for both buyers and sellers. RESNET is a national not for profit membership organization and a national standards making body for building energy efficiency rating systems.
“The Obama administration’s top housing official, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, says consumers deserve more information on the energy efficiency of the houses they buy, both resale and newly built,” according to a recent Washington Post article.
ESREP agrees that energy audits are a valuable tool in determining a home’s energy use. We also believe that education is a vital component in reducing home energy consumption and real estate professionals are one of the most important stakeholders in relaying this information to the consumer. The ESRES training invites HERS raters to speak to the agents about the importance of an energy audit and the tools used in determining air leakage. Air leakage can account for more than 50% of a home’s heating and cooling costs, and contribute to problems with moisture, noise, dust, pollutants, insects, and rodents. Agents learn about a HERS rating, and the importance of blower door tests, and an IR camera scan.
Once the “Energy Smart” training is complete, the ESRES agent can assist homeowners in improving their home’s energy efficiency to positively affect the environment; reduce the costs of home ownership through energy savings; add value to their homes; and make their homes stand out in a competitive market. ESRES agents have the tools and resources to effectively market “green” homes, work with LEEDS, ENERGY STAR and other green builders, and provide knowledge about energy efficient financing and local financial incentive programs that will help their clients.
ESREP and ESRES looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with RESNET and it’s members.
Green Star Award
Let me start by saying, I hope this works. I am computer and technologically challenged and one whose grandson, Nicolas, could do this better.
In fact, when Carl and I were working on this concept of his, we had to come up with a new name “blogsite” to differentiate between a website, a blog, etc. just so I knew what we were doing. Otherwise it was too confusing. Actually he was doing it. I just listened in awe as he explained how this works.
When I give a “MADD” speech I mention that when I drafted my first piece of legislation, the legislative staff gave me one of the worst things you can give to an activist and that was a long, yellow legal sized tablet. Well, you will probably agree that the worse thing you can give to someone as opinionated as I am is a BLOGSITE!!
I will write more on utility companies later and question why none of the stimulus money given to them was for education (or so they tell me). Real Estate Professionals are the biggest conduit to homeowners, educate the agent, you educate the homeowner. You will see under my section “What ESRES Agents Are Doing” that they are reaching out to the public and making a difference in the world of energy efficiency. They also leave my class making changes within their own homes. (It may take awhile for me to figure out how to enter that information but it will be there.) Change a bulb, change the world – well maybe not, but you have to start somewhere if we want to make this planet a better place.
However, there is a utility company that is the best! Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH). They believe in partnering with real estate professionals, they have the greatest staff, they offer all kinds of beneficial programs for the consumers and they have earned my green star award this month. Everyone I have met or talked to at PSNH is terrific but the two I know the best, Mark Toussaint and Jack Schelling are knowledgeable, professional and really believe in energy efficiency. I tell my students in New Hampshire that they don’t know how lucky they are to have the Public Service of New Hampshire as their utility company.