IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO SAVE YOU TIME & MONEY:

1.    The IRS offers possible tax deductions to commercial properties wanting to "green" their property. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 added section 179D to the Internal Revenue Code. Section 179D permits a deduction for the costs of installing certain energy efficient building systems in commercial buildings. For more information visit: http://sourcecorptax.com/energy/energy_efficiency.htm

2.    www.EnergyStar.gov  is  back by the United States government whose purpose it helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through the use of energy efficient products..Energy efficiency should be considered when installing appliances. You can find an updated list of product choices  at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product. As a realtor, you will provide value added services to homebuilders and others if you can be their "source of the source". Putting a link to this information on your website will provide store locations and special offers in your area.

3.    You will also want to recommend offering recommendations for reducing water consumption. By doing so, it provides a reduction in cost for the buyer and provides the seller with proof of "added value" and lower maintenance costs than other homes in the same price range. An excellent site to link your website to is http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/pp/index.htm.

4.    Using nontoxic or less toxic materials are also important in "green" buildings. One of the first things we do when we take a listing is to recommend to the seller they apply fresh neutral paint to high traffic areas or "outdated" current walls. This is very inexpensive and will help promote the selling of the home. By using low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint it reduces the amount of toxins in the home. This is important to many people with small children, asthma related conditions, or compromised immune systems. Remember: the lighter the paint pigment, the lower the VOC content. Sellers will be more likely to paint an off-white neutral color if they know that you will market this added "green" value. Buyers will also find this of value if you will take the time to educate them on this small but significant fact. Put information on your website &/or include this type of information in your presentation (listing or buyer).

5.    When working with buyers wanting a new home consider suggesting bamboo or cork as flooring options. Both are sustainable and renewable resources. Bamboo grows fast because it is actually in the "grass family", yet it is as hard as typically "hardwood" flooring. Cork, on the other hand, is much softer.great for bedrooms! When working with existing home sellers, recommend replacing worn carpet with bamboo or cork flooring.

6.    Curb appeal is also very important to the selling of a home. Consider using plants that are indigenous to the area. Because indigenous plants are native to the area, they will be more likely to adapt and thrive, require less maintenance and need less water than "exotics".

7.    When "greening" the outdoor, consider using permeable pavers or stones.  These pavers and stones absorb water, which is then naturally filtered through the earth and goes back into the ground-water supply. Using permeable pavers and stones helps reduce toxic run-off that can be caused by water rushing over cement and into drains, carrying oil and exhaust residue straight into the drainage system, which ultimately ends up being a nearby body of water. Storm water picks up heavy metals such as mercury, copper, lead, cadmium, and others harmful minerals as it flows. In this flow disposed medicines, bacterial, fertilizer, agriculture products, pesticides, etc. mingle in with the rain waters and flow into our groundwater systems. Ground water is not treated by water treatment plants but instead becomes part of our soil, which in turn translates into the food we eat and into those homes relying on well water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/stormwater.html) in the United States, storm water runoff from residential, commercial, and industrial areas is responsible for 21% of impaired lakes and 45% of impaired estuaries. In the Mid-Atlantic region alone, storm water is responsible for over 4,000 miles of impaired streams. The impacts from storm water are caused not only by the pollutants in the runoff, but also by its volume. As the water flows over land it can erode soil and then redeposit that soil in streams, causing muddy water and degrading aquatic habitats and destroying natural habitats. The Natural Resource and Defense Council (http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/stoinx.asp) has over 100 case studies intended to serve as a guide for local decision makers, municipal officials, and environmental activists; it is also a resource for citizens concerned about the quality of their local environment. These case studies offer some of the most effective strategies used by communities around the country to control urban runoff pollution, which is among the top sources of water contamination in the United States.