NAR’s Green Designation: The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® debuted the Green Designation at a two-day course in November 2008. C.A.R.'s first Green Designation class was held in January 2009. This designation addresses: defining "green"; green communities; green homes and buildings; green buyers and sellers; and how agents can green their real estate practices. C.A.R. offers this designation in several format and throughout the state. For a complete listing of upcoming dates, visit C.A.R.'s Web site and Education Calendar.
Other designations and training programs:
The EcoBroker Certified® Designation’s curriculum is designed to immerse agents in the growing green real estate market and to provide a foundation in green trends such as energy, environmental, and green strategies and tools for real estate professionals. The designation also serves to differentiate you from other agents. For instance, EcoBrokers can address the following topics during a transaction: "green" home certification programs like ENERGY STAR-qualified homes; mold, radon, and poor indoor air quality; energy efficiency; and sustainable design. See www.ecobroker.com/.
EcoGreen Certified Agent: This California -based group provides live-presentation educational training focused on green building principles. The course has been approved by the Department of Real Estate. Currently, the EcoGreen Certified Agent only credentials California agents.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): This non-profit group credentials buildings (LEED® Green Building Certification System) and professionals (LEED® Professional Accreditation). Both of these designations are national in scope and the LEED® building certification is considered the gold standard in commercial real estate circles. Many of the courses are offered online or throughout the state. For more information or to find a local chapter, visit www.usgbc.
Build It Green: Like the USGBC, this non-profit group credentials real estate professionals, builders, and buildings. Unlike USGBC, Build It Green’s scope is California only. The group’s collective goal is to accelerate green building practices and to green 10,000 California homes by the end of 2008. Build It Green has rating systems for new homes and existing homes.
Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals (AEEREP): This non-profit group, in partnership with EcoBroker International, also confers the EcoBroker® designation. Its mission is the education of real estate professionals and, by extension, the education of the public. The group’s Web site features a “Links and Resources” page that is rich with links to like-minded green groups, developers, and projects across the country. www.aeerep.org/aeerep/default.aspx
Did You Know? Forty percent of REALTORS® report that green building is important to their business and clients, while 87 percent believe it will be of even more interest a year from now.