Green housing is a term that has been growing in popularity among Realtors®, builders, and homeowners. With green housing becoming more relevant in today's (and tomorrow's) real estate, RRAR's Professional Development committee put together a Sustainability Summit to provide more information to Realtors® about building that is more environmentally responsible.
The day's events included a collection of green vendors, a networking breakfast, and a seminar on establishing the value for solar PV homes.
The seminar was given by Craig Foley, a Realtor® who lives in the greater Boston area. Foley is a national voice on sustainability in the real estate industry and serves as the Chief Sustainability Officer at LAER Realty Partners.
Craig Foley at the seminar at RRAR on sustainable homes; Photo by Jay Nelson
When asked about why he chose to visit RRAR and share his passion for greener living, Foley had this to say:
"In the pipeline from NAR by the end of the year is a toolkit for state and local associations to engage members, customers and clients, and communities in this rapidly expanding green/high-performance home market. RRAR has set themselves up as a leading association to take advantage of the toolkit."Holly Pearce, RRAR Professional Development Coordinator, said that bringing this event to Raleigh is a sign of how important for developing the housing market of the future is to our Realtors®.
"Members of the Professional Development Committee were inspired to host the Sustainability Summit by their commitment to a sustainable real estate future. Our committee wanted to educate fellow Realtors® on the growing sustainability efforts in the Triangle and beyond," Pearce said after the event.
Several Realtors® shared with us what brought them to the Sustainability Summit and what they learned by attending.
Jon McBride, Realtor® & RRAR Board Member:
"My decision to attend was driven by a dual motivation. As an industry professional, I recognize the evolving landscape of real estate where sustainability is becoming not just a trend, but a foundational aspect. I wanted to immerse myself in the latest knowledge and innovations that are setting the tone for our industry's future.
Secondly, on a personal note, I have a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability. The summit provided an opportunity to bridge my personal passion with my professional endeavors."
Tim Mock, Realtor® & RRAR Board Member:
"I wasn't sure what to expect, but was very impressed at all of the resources and information that was available. One of the vendors gave us a tool to use to determine the current value of an existing solar system on a house. We were introduced to an app that will help you determine the potential cost (after rebates) and annual savings from the installation of a solar system on your home. All you need to enter is the address. I found that to be incredibly convenient and helpful."Mark Parker, Realtor® & RRAR Board Member:
"I chose to join the Sustainability Summit because the housing industry is changing faster than it ever has. I wanted to learn about new technologies and practices in today's environment."
The summit was capped by a panel discussion about sustainable housing in Wake County. Foley served as moderator for the discussion. Panel members contributing to the conversation were:
Cynthia Ball- NC Representative, District 49
Jodi Bakst- Broker & Array Net-Zero Developer
Heather Elias- Pearl Certification
Meg Garabrandt- Green Building Registry
Randall Lanou- BuildSense
High Performance Home panel, part of RRAR's Sustainability Summit ; Photo by Jay Nelson
McBride found the panel discussion enlightening:
"The panelists showcased real-world examples of homes where solar panel installations led to drastic reductions in monthly energy bills. While I was already aware of their environmental benefits, the summit presented a detailed breakdown of their economic advantages as well. I learned that, beyond their eco-friendly appeal, solar panels can also offer significant cost savings in the long run, and they can increase the property value considerably."
Foley shared with RRAR that NAR has created a free online short course you can take online called "Intro to Sustainability and Resilience: What Realtors Need to Know" for free. The course guides Realtors® through the value proposition of sustainability and promotes insight on embracing it.
Tim Mock:
"Based on everything I learned, I am now committed to obtaining my Green Certification from the NAR so I can be a better resource for both my sellers and my buyers."
Jon McBride:
"In essence, the Sustainability Summit was a treasure trove of insights and learning. It reinforced my belief in the importance of sustainable practices in real estate and equipped me with tangible knowledge that I'm eager to share and implement."Mark Parker:
"The panel was elite! I thought they brought tremendous knowledge to members. What I learned the most about was how fast the building process has changed in recent years in order to improve the lifestyles of homeowners."Holly Pearce:
"We were thrilled with today's turnout and the level of engagement from members. Attendees were able to forge valuable connections with our vendors & panelists, while educating themselves further on sustainable practices among real estate professionals."Craig Foley:
"Wow! The level of engagement and quality of questions and discussions from the RRAR members was outstanding. I was also impressed with the RRAR staff. Their dedication to its members and the Sustainability Summit was critical to its success. I left the event being super-impressed with the people of RRAR."
RRAR and the Professional Development committee would like to thank the vendors who attended the Sustainability Summit. You can learn more about each vendor by clicking the link to their website below:
- City of Raleigh Office of Sustainability
- Pearl Certification
- Array Net Zero Development- Chapel Hill
- Southern Energy Management
- Leaf & Limb
- Duke Energy
- PlugIn NC
- Calico Sol
