Includes advising clients, comparing properties to sell to clients, promoting properties, preparing documents and purchase agreements, soliciting potential clients, negotiating properties for clients
Company
Required:
- Business core purpose includes a “green” business function.
- Social and environmental mission and vision statement for your business on its website.
Preferred:
- Banking with a community development, minority, or socially & environmentally responsible bank or credit union.
- Protocols in place (e.g., trainings, HR policies, support group(s), statement of commitment, accountability mechanisms, etc.) that advance justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) within the company.
Services
Required:
- Ensures health and social equity
- Prioritize access and inclusivity of services (e.g., works with mixed-income communities) For example, many low-income communities are more prone to health issues due to water and air quality issues, like placing them closer to incinerators, etc.
- Create goals to improve equity issues related to real estate
- Benefits the community (e.g., philanthropy, services) Improving the health of the overall community and its people
- Provides equitable financing recommendations for clients.
- Familiar with sustainability best practices and benefits
- Avoids selling “flipped” properties that do not include energy saving features such as eco-friendly insulation, energy efficient appliances, alternative power source, etc.
- Energy and water efficient appliances (e.g., EnergyStar rated appliances, water saving fixtures)
- Practices in place to reduce stormwater runoff
- Landscaping done with sustainability in mind (irrigation, xeriscaping)
- Energy efficient lighting
- Buildings are properly insulated (e.g., energy efficient windows, insulation)
- HVAC system well-maintained
- Access to renewable energy; knows EPS (Energy Performance Score) or HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score
- Ensure resilience of buildings from natural disturbances
- Minimize exposure to toxins and pollutants (pest control, lawn maintenance)
- Location is near access to alternative transportation
- Informs potential homeowners or renters and sellers of sustainability initiatives and has this information on their website
- Offer virtual showings and meetings
- Use of digital documents
Preferred:
- Provides a list of recommended green businesses/contractors to potential buyer
- Familiar with a variety of sustainable and high-performance building methods and certifications
- Earned a Green Certification or completed a course in how to be a green realtor or real estate agent
Company Employment
Required:
- Employees have access to family friendly benefits including high-quality health insurance, sick days, paid parental leave and childcare help.
- Offer a flexible workplace culture that encourages work/life balance and makes reasonable accommodations for telecommuting and flex schedules.
- For employees that are not commissioned, pays a wage that ensures employees well-being.
- Has an established non-discrimination policy and procedure and ensures an inclusive workplace culture.
- Governs fairly and in a transparent manner. Is open to employee input. Has a whistle blower protection policy in place.
Preferred:
- For employees that are not commissioned, living wage is paid.
- Has an established program that invests in employee growth and development.
Education
Required:
- Use transparent and truthful marketing.
- Advocate for green business practices in your industry.
- Established program for receiving input from both internal and external stakeholders.
- Participation in continuing education such as Earth Advantage
- Familiarity with Home Energy Score and the EPA’s Indoor airPlus .
Preferred:
- Actively seeks feedback from industry peers and participates in industry associations and mentor programs.
- Provide educational materials to clients on value of energy efficiency homes
Green Office/Facility
Required:
- HVAC system well-maintained, building well-insulated, and smart and efficient climate control employed.
- System in place for reducing electricity consumption from lighting and electronics.
- Use of Energy Star rated appliances and CFL/LED light bulbs in office.
- Use of 100% post-consumer recycled, Chlorine Free paper in the office and in all envelopes, marketing, and print materials.
- Systems in place for reducing paper use such as electronic processes, printers set with double sided printing as the default, and more.
- Use of only non-toxic cleaning and pest control products.
- Maximum amount of waste is reused or recycled including paper, plastic, metals, glass, electronics, and printer ink cartridges.
- Action on clean energy such as purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or use of on-site clean energy.
- Compost all food waste.
- Landscaping done with sustainability in mind, especially considering runoff and stormwater management.
- Only fair trade and USDA certified organic coffee and tea served in the office.
- Use of green or local caterers for events.
- Use of a certified E-Steward for electronics recycling.
- Proper disposal of hazardous materials (e.g., batteries, paint, motor oil, etc).
- Knowledge of recycling/composting guidelines at your local recycling/composting facility.
