GREEN REAL ESTATE BROKER OFFERS GREEN AID TO INTERESTED BROKERS

Salem County NJ.  Green Paradigm Realty LLC, a Southern New Jersey real estate firm specializing in high performance buildings, announced an increased commission to cooperating brokers with the appropriate green credentials.  Green Paradigm Realty's Broker of Record, Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, GREEN, EcoBroker, threw down the gauntlet at Salem County's Energy Symposium to his fellow REALTORS^®.

Joe Scarpa said "virtually all the speakers here believe Salem County is ready to attract businesses involved in green energy technologies."  Scarpa saluted Salem County's only LEED certified building, the PSE&G Energy and Environmental Resource Center.  Scarpa also noted that all the LEED certified buildings in nearby Gloucester County are fully leased, e.g., the LogistiCenter^® at Logan and the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University.  Scarpa observed that PNC Bank has several LEED certified branches in South Jersey and TD Bank and South Jersey Federal Credit Union are following suit. 

Scarpa stated that not enough real estate brokers in Southern New Jersey are trained in what makes a property genuinely green and too few brokers hold professional credentials such as the LEED GA or LEED AP from the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) or the National Association of REALTORS'® (NAR's) Green Designation.  "To get more projects and buildings built green, to attract green businesses, we have to be able to explain to clients why building green is economically feasible in addition to its environmental aspects, not to mention the increased wellbeing of the building occupants," said Scarpa.

A proclamation of sorts was presented by Green Paradigm Realty announcing the need for the extra incentive from the company and explaining the rules to earn the additional commission. 

Basically, any licensed real estate agent who holds a green credential from GBCI or the National Association of REALTORS^® at the time they submit an offer on behalf of their clients on a property listed by Green Paradigm Realty will be given an extra half-percentage point of the sales/lease price.  "Green Paradigm Realty already gives 50 percent of its commission to cooperating brokers; we just would like the other broker to do at least 50 percent of the work-and if they are not conversant in green building-they are not helping us sufficiently to complete the transaction," said Scarpa.  The incentive could help pay for the requisite training courses.

The offer is good until the 4^th of July 2012, which Scarpa likes to call "End Dependence Day."

Green Paradigm Realty's declaration is provided below (next page).

Listings can be viewed at http://www.showcase.com/jscarpa@greenparadigmrealty.com

GREEN REAL ESTATE BROKER OFFERS EXTRA DOLLARS TO LIKE-MINDED BROKERS

Whereas, it is the mission of the U.S. Green Building Council to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life;

Whereas, the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS^® asserts the interests of the nation and its citizens require the preservation of a healthful environment, and that such interests impose grave social responsibility and a patriotic duty to which REALTORS^® should dedicate themselves, and for which they should be diligent in preparing themselves;

Whereas, Green Paradigm Realty LLC is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the National Association of REALTORS^®;

Whereas, Green Paradigm Realty LLC is dedicated towards educating the public and building the market for green buildings, sustainable development and renewable energy technologies;

Whereas, the Founder of Green Paradigm Realty LLC, Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, GREEN, EcoBroker, is professionally credentialed by the Green Building Certification Institute (under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building Council) and the Green REsource Council (under the auspices of the National Association of REALTORS^®);

Whereas, Joseph Scarpa and other credentialed professionals are trained in understanding what makes a property green, helping clients evaluate the cost/benefits of green building features and practices, distinguishing between industry and third party rating and classification systems, listing and marketing green homes and buildings, discussing the financial grants and incentives available to property owners and potential property owners, and helping consumers and businesses see a property's green potential;

Whereas, Green Paradigm Realty LLC believes the market transformation towards a green economy will be substantively complete by the Year 2012 but needs stimulus until then;

Whereas, Green Paradigm Realty LLC is a fully cooperating and collaborative broker in the practice of real estate;

Therefore, Green Paradigm Realty LLC is offering an additional half percentage point (0.5%) in sales/lease commission beyond a 50/50 split to any licensed real estate agent of a cooperating broker representing the Buyer or Tenant, who at time of offer to purchase or lease a property listed by Green Paradigm Realty LLC, is a LEED Green Associate, LEED AP, or holds NAR's Green Designation.  This offer of additional compensation is good thru 4 July 2012.

About the U.S. Green Building Council.  The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, including the Delaware Valley Green Building Council and the U.S. Green Building Council - New Jersey Chapter; more than 18,000 member companies and organizations (600 in New Jersey); and more than 140,000 LEED Professional Credential holders (3,000 in New Jersey); USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013.  USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO₂ emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity.  Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of high performance buildings. Over 35,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising over 6.9 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries.

By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

National Association of REALTORS^® Green REsource Council was founded to make the knowledge of green real estate practices available to everyone.  We accomplish this by focusing our attention on real estate agents and property managers; the link to millions of consumers, tenants, developers, and building owners.

We award students who successfully complete the program requirements with NAR's Green Designation and membership to our council.  Designed for residential, commercial and property management professionals, NAR's Green Designation addresses multiple specialties.

Green REsource Council members place themselves at the leading edge of green real estate, gaining access to member benefits including ongoing education, up-to-date green resources and professionally crafted marketing tools. We also work to promote NAR's Green Designation, building consumer and builder awareness and supporting green real estate advocacy.

For more information, visit www.GreenREsourceCouncil.org.

CONTACT: Joseph Scarpa
JScarpa@GreenParadigmRealty.com
856 981 2973

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED^®)

Energy and Atmosphere  |  Solar Architectural Design / Construction Costs

 Wednesday - May 05, 2010 - - 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM [$10 at the door] [register]

 Light Breakfast provided (program starts promptly at 9:00 am)

 Speaker: Jason Kliwinski, AIA, LEED AP, Spiezle Architectural Group

 Continuing Education:  LEED Credential Maintenance Program (1.5 hours)

                                                                         AIA CE (1 hour) (approval pending)

 Why:  Learn the mandatory prerequisites involved in "Energy and Atmosphere" for U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certification.  Energy demand reduction and rightsizing your HVAC system is critical before drawing up specifications for a geothermal or solar system.  Speaker will address costs and benefits and architectural alternatives of designing solar energy into your building and offer case studies of successful New Jersey LEED projects incorporating solar.

 Where: Energy Freedom Pioneers Eco-Industrial Park (Bldg 322)

                300 Route 130, 322 Artillery Ave, Pedricktown NJ 08067-0420
                Salem County - six miles south of Commodore Barry Bridge

 RSVP:   RSVP@GreenParadigmInstitute.com  or  www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com

 RSVP by Monday 3 May 2010 | Directions or Questions: 856 981 2973

March 11 is World Plumbing Day, established to further understanding of the vital role the plumbing industry plays in guarding the public's health and safety.  World Plumbing Day also honors the often underrated ways in which contractors, inspectors, installers, engineers, and manufacturers do great things for the environment. 

March 15-21 is Fix a Leak Week.  One pays for leaks as water coming in, sanitary waste going out, and-in the case of wasted hot water-electricity or gas to heat it and not use it!  Instructions on how to fix a leak are available in English and Spanish at the EPA web site. 

For more information, visit www.GreenPlumbersUSA.com, www.epa.gov/WaterSense, and www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com

New Jersey will be the last state in the nation to mandate continuing education for its real estate licensees, legislation in place now to implement for the license renewal cycle July 2011 thru June 2013.  With all the programs/monies promoting energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings, it would be comforting to know that our real estate professionals have the capability and skills to properly market energy efficient buildings.

Why not have the NJ Real Estate Commission mandate that 3 hours of the ~15 mandatory hours be specifically on "green real estate."  (It is not uncommon for state real estate commissions to mandate specific topics for one or two courses of the mandatory set of courses required for relicensing).

Benefits: 

(1)     Property values might be appraised and marketed more in line with the increased value truly attributable to the property that is, say, more energy efficient than its competitor property.

(2)     Site Selection - Renewable energy firms around the world looking to locate in the USA will take note of our cultural mindset favorable to green building and renewable energy ... it will get us top of mind in site selection officials and onto their short list.

It's important for NJ to be first in mandating green real estate education (3 hours) as mandatory continuing education for its real estate licensees.  Branding for the state(s) that mandate such a green real estate educational requirement would be enormous.

Community Planning, Transfer of Development Rights, and  LEED for Neighborhood Development Certification & Training - LEED AP and LEED Green Associate Credential Maintenance

Participate in a 90-minute forum on TDR and LEED ND on Wednesday, 3 Mar 2010, for Planners, Developers, and Real Estate Practitioners

Hosted by Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, Green, EcoBroker, e-PRO, Broker of Record for Green Paradigm Realty LLC / NextRE, Inc. (NJ)

Speakers:  Robert Melvin, AICP/PP, Principal of GROUPmelvinDESIGN a specialist in planning, community development, smart growth and sustainable development.   He will discuss Transfer of Development Rights in Woolwich Township (Gloucester County), the once-fastest growing community in the country, and the implications of TDRs elsewhere in Gloucester and Salem County, New Jersey.

John Hasse, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Geography, Rowan University, Co-Chair of Rowan University Campus Master Plan Committee.  Specializes in land use, environmental planning and geospatial systems.  He will discuss the alignment of U.S. Green Building Council's pilot LEED rating system for Neighborhood Development, due to be released this year, with New Jersey municipal master planning.

$10 at the door - Register now at www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com

Wednesday, March 3, 2010       8:30 am -  10:30 am    

Light Breakfast provided.  (Program starts promptly at 9:00 am)

Why:  Presentation and open discussion on sustainable development practices regarding neighborhood and community development; and the formulation and implementation of a plan for regionalized "Transfer of Development Rights".  The speakers will synthesize their knowledge with the audience on the opportunity offered by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in land use and master planning.

Click here for promotional flyer on our TDR / LEED ND seminar.

Attend our green building certification series ... every 1st Wednesday of the month!

Participate in a 90-minute forum on Green Building (Sustainable Sites) on Wednesday, 3 Feb 2010, for Real Estate Practitioners

Hosted by Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, Green, EcoBroker, e-PRO, Broker of Record for Green Paradigm Realty LLC / NextRE, Inc. (NJ)

Sam Renauro, P.E., PP, LEED AP, Civil Engineer and Planner, SR3 Engineers, an expert in feasibility studies, redevelopment projects, and stormwater management, will discuss the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Sustainable Sites category from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification and rating system:

•·         Construction Activity Pollution Prevention (Prerequisite);

•·         Site Selection (Sustainable Sites Credit 1);

•·         Stormwater Design and Management - Quality Control (Sustainable Sites Credit 6.1);

•·         Stormwater Design and Management - Quantity Control (Sustainable Sites Credit 6.2).

$10 at the door - Register now at www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com

Wednesday, February 3, 2010       8:30 am -  10:30 am    

Light Breakfast Provided      (Program starts promptly at 9:00 am)

Why:  Presentation and open discussion on sustainable site development practices and related engineering requirements.

Where: Energy Freedom Pioneers Eco-Industrial Park (Bldg 322)

300 Route 130, Pedricktown NJ 08067-0420
Salem County - six miles south of Commodore Barry Bridge | six miles north of Delaware Memorial Bridge

What to bring:  An appetite for learning sustainable site planning, site selection and stormwater management!

Open to real estate brokers, agents, surveyors, property owners, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, and concerned citizens!!

RSVP:   RSVP@GreenParadigmInstitute.com  or  www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com

Promotional one page Flyer for above event available at http://www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com/archives/

You will recall that the REALTORS® Code of Ethics was adopted in 1913 (the National Association of REALTORS® was founded in 1908) and the preamble was added to the Code of Ethics in 1924. 

My favorite part of our Code of Ethics is the preamble.  It seems we skip it in our quadrennial ethics training.  For those of us in the green space, the preamble seems to provide our raison d'être.

Excerpting the 1^st paragraph:

"Under all is the land.

Upon its wise utilization ... depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization.

... the interests of the nation and its citizens require the preservation of a healthful environment."

Advocating for and practicing sound environmental practices--indoor and outdoor--seems to be what a REALTOR should be all about.

Excerpting the 2^nd paragraph, we see:

"Such interests impose obligations beyond those of ordinary commerce. They impose grave social responsibility and a patriotic duty to which REALTORS^® should dedicate themselves, and for which they should be diligent in preparing themselves."

The 3^rd paragraph explains why I share so much information in this blog:

In recognition and appreciation of their obligations to clients, customers, the public, and each other, REALTORS^® continuously strive to become and remain informed on issues affecting real estate and, as knowledgeable professionals, they willingly share the fruit of their experience and study with others.

Copyright National Association of REALTORS^®, Reprinted with permission.

Stay tuned to this blog and you'll be well positioned to help lead the real estate profession into the new green economy.  If you live in the Delaware Valley / Greater Philadelphia area, attend our "First Wednesday of the Month" breakfast seminars on green building.  Visit the resources section of our website www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com

Need advice on green real estate or a renewable energy project?  Give me a call at 856 981 2973.

Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace this 1^st of January asserts the stewardship of our environment as a moral imperative.

The Pope asks "Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions?"

Continuing his global perspective, he notes, "Sad to say, it is all too evident that large numbers of people in different countries and areas of our planet are experiencing increased hardship because of the negligence or refusal of many others to exercise responsible stewardship over the environment."

His Holiness's view of sustainability is consistent with that of the United Nations and other environmental advocacy groups defining sustainability as using natural resources responsibly today so as not to negatively impact the needs of future generations.

The Pope calls for "development of joint and sustainable strategies to satisfy the energy needs of the present and future generations."  He cites solar energy as an example.

Since the United States-and our region in particular-has always been a leader in chemistry and engineering, it seems that we should target organic [polymer-based] photovoltaics for intensive research, development and demonstration as building-integrated components.  Such an investment will go a long way in building an export-based industry leveraging existing U.S. strengths.  The Major Economies Forum has designated the United States as the lead agency for energy efficiency technologies in the building and industrial sectors.  We pray that all nations find environmental stewardship to be a moral imperative.

For those of you who are legacy LEED Accredited Professionals (like me), you have some decisions to make by 31 Dec 2009.  If you elect to pursue a LEED credential with specialty, you continuing education and volunteer hours for 2009 may be grandfathered in.  Further, certain fees for project registrations, e.g, LEED New Construction Version 2.0 will be waived if you transition your existing LEED registration to the new LEED Version 3.0.  Details at http://www.gbci.org/

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  For those who wish to further burnish your green credentials, we highly recommend you consider the entry level "LEED Green Associate" credentials offered by the Green Building Certification Institute.  Details at http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=83

And if you are a veteran, be sure to use your GI bill to help defray the cost of exam and exam prep course ... see http://www.gbci.org/News/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?ID=10

 "LEED Accredited Professional" and the related acronym are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and are awarded to individuals under license by the Green Building Certification Institute.

Give your customers and clients the impression that you are on the cutting edge.  Use 9-digit zip codes, officially known as Zip+4, on all correspondence (they have been around since 1983).  9-digit zip codes enable the U.S. Postal Service to systematically sort mail down to one side of a city block between two intersections, enabling efficiencies and reducing time in transit (your cooperating brokers will appreciate it).  Find your 9-digit zip at http://www.usps.com/zip4/

One might also implement postal addressing standards in your office practice, found at http://pe.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/pubs/Pub28/pub28.pdf or in html format at http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub28/welcome.htm

Briefly, the only punctuation that should be in your address is the hyphen in the 9-digit zip.

For address and reverse phone look-ups, try http://www.addresses.com/

Joseph Scarpa, LEED AP, GREEN, EcoBroker, e-PRO
Green Paradigm Institute - Tomorrow's Real Estate Education ^SM
Green Paradigm Realty LLC - Tomorrow's Real Estate Experience ^SM
Energy Freedom Pioneers Eco-Industrial Park - Bldg 322
322 Artillery Ave (Use "300 Route 130" for GPS)
PO Box 420
Pedricktown NJ 08067-0420
856 981 2973
856 385 7061 (green fax)
JScarpa@GreenParadigmRealty.com

http://showcase.costar.com/jscarpa@greenparadigmrealty.com

Green Paradigm Realty LLC is a real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in green building, renewable energies, and sustainable development.

Visit www.GreenParadigmInstitute.com on first Wednesday's of the month (check web site often for course topics, directions, and times).