Looking for a green home? You could work with a green agent or win one from HGTV!

Posted by Annalisa Burgos | May 21, 2009

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We typically think “going green” refers to one’s efforts to be more environmentally-conscious, whether it’s recycling products or reducing the use of natural resources. The barrels in the photo to the right, for instance, are used to capture rainwater that is reused to irrigate the landscape and garden of HGTV’s Green Home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

In real estate, the green movement has created a new way for agents to market themselves. Introducing… the “green” real estate agent. And in this case, “green” doesn’t mean “rookie” (though we know many of those, don’t we?)

A green agent is basically someone who has gone out and taken a course on environmentally sustainable housing and gets certified. Many companies offer green certification, including the U.S. Green Building Council (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, designation), the Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals (ecoBroker designation) and the Green Certified Real Estate Education Company (green certified).

While LEED is widely recognized, it’s unclear whether the other “training” options really transform you into a reliable green housing expert, but it’s out there and some agents are taking it. Also not sure if green agents charge their clients more for their expertise, but from what it looks like, it’s simply another way for an agent to stand out from his/her competition. It’s up to the consumer to decide whether the label actually adds value.

One thing is for sure. You won’t need a green agent to show you HGTV’s awesome new Green Home!

Take a virtual tour and check out photos of the home and read more about what makes the home green and its neighborhood Port St. Lucie.

The best part? You can get the beautiful Green Home for FREE! Enter once each day at www.hgtv.com/greenhome. Hurry, you’ve got til June 5 to enter.


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