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A Realtor Gone Green!

Last night, my husband and I watched a You-Tube video about the "Al Gore" debate and the reporter stated that we don't really know if it's a problem that there's global warming and we don't really know if it's humans to blame....Hmmm. Well, I'm not a scientist and I certainly don't care to debate the finer points of the influence of humans on Earth, environmentalism or the future of the Earth...But, I do know this. We are living in a society of consumerism! We live in a society where bigger is better, newer is brighter, and packaging sells. I do know that there are a lot of trees cut down, oil burned, a lot of toxins dumped into our water and ground, a lot of water wasted, and a lot of trash created. And, I don't care what your point of view is; how can that be good???! It just seems to me that if we all treat our environment - local and global - with respect and honor, that if we all choose to live responsibly, well it just makes sense and you don't have to agree, or disagree, with the political and scientific debate that is unravelling.

I've blogged about this before and so forgive me if you're bored but real estate is NOT a "green" industry in any way, shape or form. It drives me crazy how many sheets of bright white paper we use, business cards, contracts, flyers, vinyl signs etc. etc. etc. The National Association of Realtors, to which I proudly belong, is one of the most powerful PAC's in the Nation and I would love to see them embrace the "greener" side of life. But, I am just me...just little Emily in Blaine Washington...and, as my former business partner used to say, I can only make a difference in my own little "puddle." So, that's what I'm going to do...

I have all of my pretty bleached white paper, bright white vinyl binders, plastic tab dividers etc. loaded up in to my car and ready to be returned to Office Depot (sorry office depot - it's not personal - you guys are great). I have ordered reams of 100% post consumer paper from Bison Bookbinding in Bellingham. I have ordered 100% post consumer binders, dividers and notebooks from SustainableGroup.Net in Seattle.

These little things seem so simple, yet it took me quite a while to figure it out...You don't have to be a "tree hugger" or a "hippie" to respect our environment. I mean, it just makes sense, right? I feel so good about my decision to buy smart. Am I perfectly green? Well, no! Not even close but I'm trying - I'm open to suggestions - I want to do well by my planet...After all I have two young sons who will inherrit the earth I care for.

Comments? Suggestions? Thoughts?

Please share. After all, it's our roots we're talkin' about!
-Emily Cross

Posted by Emily Cross on 11/03/2007 11:54 AM

Comments (38)

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This post has been included in Washington Information Whatcom County, WA Information Bellingham, WA Information

38 Comments on A Realtor Gone Green!

NOV

2007

Global warming is something we all need to take seriously - great post!

Thanks Bill and Barbara Jo! Glad to hear there are like-kind out there!

Take Care,

Emily

Great idea with the post consumer products. I can easily switch to using the paper. I just never gave it much thought.

Yes, it's something we all should be concerned about. In housing we can encourage energy saving appliances, solar energy, windmills, watching water waste, etc. All of the little actions add up, especially if everyone were to do them. I've read articles about paperless closings. The less paper we use in transactions (especially when we're talking about 50 page contracts!) the better off we are as well. Thanks for the reminder!

Thanks for the thought provoking post. Big problems often seem too big for individuals to do anything about. You are correct, every little bit we do for the environment helps.

Emily,

Good for you...and all the rest of us. I try to do everything I can electronically, to avoid the huge paper trail. I like your ideas of buying recycled. I think I'll make it a point to do the same. Keep up the good work.

Hi Phaedra

I hadn't given it much thought before either. But it IS really simple and there are GREAT post-consumer products out there. I was really surprised. The company I'm getting my paper through is in Bellingham, WA but they can probably give you the name of a supplier closer to you. But, their website is http://www.bisonbookbinding.com

Good Luck and Thanks for Commenting!

Emily

This is a great idea. We currently have some recycled product but not enough. We are going to convert our office to a green office starting today.

I think as energy costs rise there will be more and more emphasis placed on energy efficent homes

Hi David and Lisa

GREAT ideas! You are so right that it goes beyond my own little office - I work a lot in my own home (Seventh Generation, organics, bleach-free-diapers for my little guy, energy star appliances, food composting, recycling, turn-down-heat-wear-clothes) but we can work with our local builders and developers etc. Nice post! Thanks for the contribution!

Rosario - Thanks for posting - looks like the "ripples of my little puddle" are growing! Yippeee!

Hi Andrew

Thanks for the post. Many folks are commenting on the paperless office - for some reason it hasn't found me in this little corner of the world. Perhaps it's time for me to go find it!

Spencer - One word for you! YEAH!!!!!! Let me know how it goes!

Charlie - Nice post In my opinion, we are not yet charging enough for our natural resources! The cost to buy "smart" does not yet outweigh the cost of consuming non-environmental choices.

Thanks for commenting!

Emily

I am with you on this one. My mail box at the office is always full of printed material from all types of resources and what for? It ends up not being used.

Hey little Emily in Blaine: This is little Carol in Wenatchee. Your points are well taken. We do save quite a bit of paper with the electronic age but, yes, we waste a lot of paper and other resources. Going further, I am often apalled at the monster homes people build. It seems such a waste of resources. But, people seem to be trying to make a statement or play some sort of ego building game and on and on it goes. In the end, though, like you say, we all have the choice to do our little part. Al Gore, himself, could do a lot more in his lie. He's not the saint the "green" side wants to portray.

It's ok to be kinda green..I am that way. Don't waste. Recycle when you can. Turn the thermostat up or down a hair. And like you said well...be reasonably responsible.

Many are unreasonably irresposible.

Emily - this is a great post and by getting it on AR you will get the message out to the masses. I would love to see this posted in the ECO AllStars Group! Our world needs more people like you!

Yes indeed we've got to do whatever we can to preserve this beautiful Earth of ours!

Good post!

This is something we all need to be concerned about. Hope they do not give you any problems when you go to return.

Great post! I think this blog should be featured and yes we can all help with the Earth being a bit greener and our lives and choices being greener as well. Excellent blog. Thank you.

I'm trying to get a new car but the gas milage will help determine what I pick.

This is an important issue, I try to recycle what I can.

I just did a blog here recently on builders and maybe the slow market is time to try building some green homes in there plats and see if they can get a captive audience.....

Please check out my blog as I would love to have your opinions also.....

http://activerain.com/blogsview/259461/Building-Green-Why-The

Todd Hueffed

www.ThatHomeZone.com in partnership with Keller Williams North Seattle

We could ALL do so much if everyone would do their part. Little modifications can make a huge difference

Emily,

Al Gore and us blogging here at AR and many others have at least brought up the issue of global warming and going green etc. It's important to just make the public aware of these view points and slowly they will start understanding of what is important for global sustainability. And hopefully buy into it.

Yes, it's great to use recycled paper for our stationary, brochures and flyers - but why not go paperless whenever possible? E-mail copies of contracts, flyers, surveys, etc. Instead of keeping copies of the company files, just put the .pdf files on your computer.

We just had a rally today in Nashua NH to explore getting greener. I think everyone should look out for the future of the next generation. I think every small step is a stp in the right direction.

I don't know what is going to happen. It definitely is not good for the planet. We need to take a trip back in time!

NOV

2007

Emily, great post. Thanks for taking the time and promoting action. I've been thinking about it and you have inspired me to look into green-friendly products. I've watched the Gore video....a must for everyone. Good Job! I have a wonderful agent in my office. George Potterat. He is a wonderful human being, besides being a good Realtor. He collects each week all the recycled paper in our office and makes sure we are properly recycling. I really love George and I am going to suggests to George and to my boss, that we take it another step forward. Through our company we get a discount on office supplies and if we put a program together, we can offer discounted prices on things we buy in bulk--thinking to put together a green program. I know George and I can promote it to the agents in our office--50 agents. I am talking to George on Monday! Awesome! Thanks for the inspiration! We have a great group of agents by the way. I know they will support it also!

Hi Emily, Very good! We all need to consider making some changes in our business. Going paperless would be a good thing too. :) Thanks for bringing this up!

Call me a tree hugger - I'm in!

I'm striving towards paper-free. Is it because I want to be green? No, I hate dealing with paper. I'm always working towards more energy efficiency in my home. Is it because I'm green? No, I'm cheap that way. I would like to get bio-diesel for my truck. Is it because I'm green? Ok, you have me on that one, although I was going to say that it's because I want my exhaust to smell like McDonald's french fries (it's true, it will).

Hi AR!

Wow! I am so, so, so pleased to see so many of you respond to this in a positive, pro-active way! As a member of AR and of the real estate community, the biggest honor is to make a difference - leave a footprint, etc. And I love all of the different aspects everyone has brought to the table! I just keep coming back to the idea that it doesn't really matter how or why we respect our planet, or which scientist you believe, or what you think of Gore; all that matters is that you live responsibly and respectfully. I just love everyone contributing in their own unique and fabulous way! Thanks so much to all of you for commenting!

Go GREEN!

Cheers,

Emily

You are correct that the real estate industry has a ways to go. On the subject of cars I think gas mileage is important to a lot of us just because of the number of miles we drive combined with the price of gas. It is easy to forget the small things you mentioned - thanks for the reminder.

Great post. I've been investigating the "Green" scene for 2 years now and am jumping in. It's exciting and you made a great point about our office products... got me thinking. BTW, did you know that Seattle is one of the leading movements in "Green"? I used to live in Seattle and it doesn't suprise me at all.

I am not a big green from a political sense but I live a more so called green life than most of the activitist. I actually walk to appointments. I have been in the same house for 35 years, sell plenty of old homes, ajnd try to do things that make sense. When you live in a poor area of the country being green is not at the top of the important list as is crime, education, declining values, corrupt pols, lack of doctors and hospitals, and with many people just trying to make ends meat. Seattle and New Orleans are at the oppisite ends but we all enjoy good coffee.

I love your enthusiasm and passion. I too am starting to witch to eco-friendly marketing tools. Also, I try to use as little paper as possiable when I go out on showings or do presentations...I keep everything on my laptop (I always have a hard copy for back-up).

My clients seem to really appreciate it, it not only makes me look tech savvy, but it's just plan smart.

Best Wishes!

NOV

2007

Sorry guys - I checked out for a bit but I am back and here to give you an update!

Office Depot took back ALL of my office supplies (with and without receipts) that I'd purchased in the last 14 months that they are still selling! Thank you office Depot!!!!!

Then, when I returned to my office, my new binders and dividers were here from SustainableGroup.net and are AWESOME!!!! Yippeee:)

I want to address all of your wonderful comments but, Eric Bouler, yours really got to me. Thank you for reminding all of us that, unfortunately, it is a privelege to be able to worry about our environment. Further, it is so sad to me that un-healthy products (food, cars, gas, office products etc.) are so much less expensive. I suppose the more "radical" side of me would like to see our government subsidize organic farmers and "green" companies....But for now, it is those of us with the "luxury" of living green who need to do it. Eric - best of luck to you and thank you so much for providing a different perspective.

Many of you were planning on implementing/speer-heading "green" office policies this week. Please return to this blog and give us all an update!

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