Should You Be an "EcoBroker"?

When I started collecting articles a year or so about green homes, I never imagined that there would be such a huge growth in consumer interest in this subject.  Now, just about every other week, there's an article in our local paper or magazine about ways to make your existing home more energy efficient or builders that are building green homes.

Then I visited the web site http://www.ecobroker.com/ which is a product of EcoBroker International.  The web site describes an on-line course that agents can take to be "ecobroker certified".  But wait, NAR and our CT Association of Realtors has not "endorsed" the program, and no CE credits are given - they currently don't offer anything like it.

So the question is, should you sign up and pay the $399.00 or wait until NAR or CAR or your state organization offers an eco broker type course?  For me, I decided to go ahead and have started taking the course - it's in three sections (abbreviated from their trademarked names):

        1.  Environment        2.  Energy         3.  Green Market

What do I think so far?  It's a lot like the e-Pro course - a lesson with field trips, a quiz and homework.  Very well done, so far.

What do I expect?  I'd like to find more about the energy area and how a house gets a "LEED" rating; how can you demonstrate the advantages of a solar hot water heater ($ saved compared to non-solar), etc. etc.

In the meantime, check out the 57 page "Your 2008 CT Energy Guide" made available on http://www.conservationeducation.org/.  It's possible that other states have a similar publication.  The course is loaded with similar links that can be saved for reference.  I found out that my town even has an organization with a web site on the subject: http://www.essexcitizensforcleanenergy.com/

I'd be interested if anyone else has taken the EcoBroker course and their comments.