Going Green
In today’s market, more home buyers than ever are concerned about the environment, their family’s health and reducing home maintenance costs. To address those concerns, I've studied the emerging green real estate market and expanded my services to clients as a certified Eco Broker. So if you’re a buyer, I can show you properties that are built green, have green energy-saving aspects or could be remodeled green with your personal touch. And if you own a green home and are ready to sell, list your home with me and I’ll market and sell it to a green-minded buyer.
Green Resources
Here are wide-ranging resources for learning about green design and building, energy efficiency, and leading a sustainable lifestyle. Browse the list for a sampling of organizations, publications, government agencies, and others that offer advice on navigating the green landscape.
Local Links:
- Bethesda Green promotes energy efficiency, recycling, and a community-wide environmental ethic.
- Community Forklift has surplus, salvaged and green building materials.
- Sustainable Building Network of Washington is a network dedicated to building more sustainable DC metro area businesses and communities.
Federal and Nonprofit Links:
- Architecture 2030 aims to achieve a dramatic reduction in the global-warming-causing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the Building Sector by changing the way buildings and developments are planned, designed and constructed.
- Building Green offers information on improving the environmental performance of buildings.
- The Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Program certifies various products and even whole houses that are more energy efficient than the standard.
- Green Home Guide provides information on green building and green remodeling for homes and resources for living green.
- United States Green Building Council provides the most widely used rating system for green buildings: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED).
Healthy Homes:
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- National Radon Proficiency Program
- EPA Indoor Air
- EPA Mold, Mildew, Moisture
- RTS Environmental Service
Green Blogs, Guides and Online Resources:
- Envirolink
- The Freecycle Network ™
- Green Home Guide
- Grist Magazine
- Lazy Environmentalist
- National Geographic online interactive: “Is Your Home a Green House?”
- Smart Communities Network
- Sustain Lane
- Treehugger
Green Design Resources:
- The American Institute of Architects
- The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
- The ASID Sustainable Design Information Center
- The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
- Futureproof/eco-design
- GreenBlue
Building Resources:
- Build It Green™
- Consumer Reports Greener Choices
- Environmental Building News – BuildingGreen, Inc.
- Global Green
- Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
- Hardwood Manufacturers Association
- National Association of Homebuilders
- National Association of Homebuilders Research Center
- Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
Energy Use and Efficiency Information:
- Incentives for Renewable Energy (Maryland)
- Energy Star
- The Home Energy Advisor
- Find Solar
- Real Goods
- Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
- Solar Energy Industries Association
- Zip Code Program for Insulation
- U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Green Resources for Kids:
- EERE Kids – Dr. E’s Energy Lab
- Energy Information Administration Kid’s Page
- EPA Environmental Kids Club
- Kids site on improving home energy efficiency
- NRDC – The Green Squad
- NRDC – Make Waves!
Environmental Organizations:
- Alliance to Save Energy
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
- American Solar Energy Society
- American Wind Energy Association
- Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology
- Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
- Edison Electric Institute
- Electric Drive Transportation Association
- Global Green
- National Institute of Building Sciences
- National Resources Defense Council
- Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)
- Residential Energy Services Network
- Rocky Mountain Institute
- Smart Communities Network
- Solar Living Institute
- Southface