Architects, Builders, Consultants, Distributors, Energy Auditors, Green Verifiers, LEED AP's, Tradesman, and REALTORS®: You and I are the entrepreneurs of this world, and we must find a way to build / renovate the buildings that people need in a sustainable way. That's the future, and it's upon us. We can not afford to be in competition. We must come together regardless of designation or beliefs to meet the needs of the greater need.
Although there are still some tough times ahead in this tough economy, now is the time for leaders to stand up and effectively innovate, because "true opportunity appears at the market bottom, not at the top." While everyone else is getting conservative and worried and immobile with fear, true leaders will use available tools, find the important opportunities, and build necessary businesses. It's time to rethink everything. Shift your mindset, shift your skills, shift your home -- do whatever it takes to stay healthy and happy. Just as much as the economy has hurt many of us we owe it to ourselves, our families, and our clients to find ways to save money. Find a way to sell the home and not incur a deficiency for you or a client. Find a way to retrain yourself with new knowledge and skills. Find a way to be innovative. Find a way to pay your debts and not incur any more, show your clients how they can do the same. Find a way to educate yourself and your clients. Above all else learn to be nice. Just find a way to shift and adapt when the necessary time comes.
Going forward investments need to produce measurable results with a positive impact on the bank statement. If an investment, such as in a new windows, takes to long to payback or it is hard-to-quantify the benefit, it may not be a priority for the short term future. This is exactly why smart upgrades in terms of efficiencies and energy savings must be a high priority. A penny saved is a penny earned. Plus, some utility companies are willing to work with you and your clients to find cost-effective ways to save money. Why not take them up on that opportunity? If you can spend a hundred dollars today and know you will save a thousand over the year, won't you make that investment? I think you will. You should be helping your clients do the same.
Third-party certifications are only the beginning of where we need to go. Every house / project needs to have an impact label much like the MPG rating on a car; that tells you it's energy efficiency, water efficiency, and provides good air quality; you may even want to add the carbon footprint. You should be able to ascertain its actual performance as of "today". With that information, you will be able to compare it, apples-to-apples, with every other home / project in your neighborhood.
A good example of this scale is the new U.S. Department of Energy's E-Scale as seen below.
Thanks to the EScale, today's home buyers can make energy smart decisions. That is good news for quality driven home builders, firms that work hard to make their homes stand out in the marketplace.
When you see the EScale on a new home, you know that the home builder has taken the time to rate its products using processes supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Some builders go even further - taking the DOE Builders Challenge. These builders commit to constructing homes that are the best in the nation - homes that rate 70 or lower on the EScale and meet criteria for comfort, quality, health and safety. Look for the "Meets DOE Builders Challenge" banner on the EScale of these high performing homes
A green/energy efficient home offers your client savings that are quantifiable. Lenders, Utility Companies, even the federal government is giving money to anyone who will make sustainable building/renovation/remodeling choices. Our job is to take advantage of the incentives, help your clients do the same and where your clients need a little help, try using this or other social networks to find solutions. You'll feel good about going the extra mile, and your client will be very thankful.
Everyone can benefit, when everyone works together!
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