"A recession is not a time to lay back and wait. It's a time when future fortunes are made. It's a time to assess what's really going on and seize opportunities."
I wish I had written this simple yet powerful statement but it was actually written by Joh Norquist, president and CEO of Congress for the New Urbanism when asked to summarize the 2009 theme for the magazine "Green Builder: 2009: The Year of the Green Retool."
So, are you seizing opportunities or merely hoping to survive?
My story started some time last year when I went on a home tour of a "high performance", "Energy Star" and "Healthy Buillt" home here on Lake Norman. By the time I had completed the tour I was hooked. I knew I wanted to learn more.
But how should I go about learning about green housing? The thought was a bit overwhelming. Green was everywhere I turned. After reading about it here on AR, I decided to get my Designation online. It opened the window but I still didn't get it and own it.
By pure coincidence I happened upon a copy of our local Lake Norman Home Builders Association's new The Lake Magazine summer 2008 "the GREEN BUILDING GUIDE issue" in which I learned that our local builders had just formed a Green Building Council. Of course, I immediately joined the LKNHB Association and The Green Council. I had no idea what to expect but can't believe how great it has been.
What I love about this approach to learning about green housing is that not only am I the only REALTOR on the Green Council (Shhhhh!) but I am surrounded by builders, suppliers, landscapers, all of whom are either experts or are learning to be one.
Last week I took the National Association of Home Builders 3-day Certified Green Professional designation classes.
Once again I was the only REALTOR in a class of about 50 fascinating people...from a Bank of America executive that was attending to learn how they can develop loan programs for green construction, to builders from North Carolina and even Virginia, to energy efficiency raters. I was surrounded by so much knowledge!
Our instructor, Michael Chandler of Chandler Design-Build has won numerous national green building awards. Between his knowledge and passion and the various experts in the class the energy and dialog was just so cool.
While I intend to get my NAR Green Designation, I can't help but think it will pale in comparison to what I learned and experienced this past week.
It was so fascinating to be around the contractors and sub-contractors that actually build the homes and hear about their challenges and successes and their lively debates.
Right now there are over 160 Green Housing certifications from Energy Star to LEED. But, from what I am learning, the newly released National Assocition of Home Builders Green Home Building Guidelines are going to be merged with the US Governments' Energy Star program to establish one clear set of guidelines for builders throughout the country.
Somehow, being a part of this emerging technology and movement has truly energized me. For the first time in a while I am excited about what I am doing and learning. Yes, our local housing market still sucks struggles, but the my future looks green...in more than one way!
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