GREEN GAINS

The next generation of homebuyers is going green. It's a responsible, forward-thinking outlook that declares, "There's no place like home - so save it." The key to green real estate is sustainability, living comfortably while minimizing your home's carbon footprint, lowering energy, and minimizing consumption and fuel needs. By giving consideration to green practices, you not only play your part as a responsible citizen of the planet, you're actually aligning your business with this ever-growing eco-friendly demographic. If you haven't already, get ready to go green.

MINIMIZE your paper usage. Through the use of email and the Internet the work has almost been done for you but you can take it a step further. Ensure that you use electronic transaction management systems for payments. Think twice before printing off every email and or invoice, request if you have a copy electronically don't waste paper by duplicating. No one needs a paper trail following them (literally).

RECYCLING is essential to any workplace and office. Especially at listed homes, recycling is an absolute must. Make sure the bins are visible.

COMPOST bins should be featured not only at the office, but at the homes you list, as well. If your area doesn't pick up composting then visit your local hardware store for a compost bin, it'll cut your waste down significantly.

COVERED IN GREEN. Align yourself and your clients' homes with green certifications and energy saving devices, which help lessen the carbon footprint of any home:

• Update insulation, which can help cut your heating and cooling energy costs and consumption.
  
  
• Changing your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs will cut your energy costs drastically.
  
  
• Reducing water consumption may not be as hard as you thought; gray water systems reuse rainwater by circulating it into the sewage system.
  
  
• Modern appliances are now going green, as well: dishwasher, ovens, stoves, refrigerators, freezers are now becoming energy efficient. By replacing your appliances with energy efficient ones you are appealing to the new eco-friendly buyers and making a great investment for the environment.
  
  
• Low-flush toilets are the new rage, wasting less water in volume per flush.
  
  
• Thinking reno? Nature's answer to interior lighting is the skylight: they help to illuminate rooms so you can keep those lights off.
  
  
• Partnering with designers, renovators and builders who specialize in green building and remodeling is a great way to show clients your eco-friendly alliance.

Most importantly, going green is the way of the future. And it's here to stay. Green homes are not only less expensive to maintain, they also guarantee that there will be resources for generations to come. Your business will be there as long as the planet is there, too!

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