Earth Advantage - Green building practices

Great questions, Patti.  This stuff is happening whether we as RE agents care or note.  I've been touting green practices and thinking for over a year in my market, but only in the last few months has the media caught on around here.  Builders, well it all depends on how traditional your market is.  Some will take longer than others.

In Illinois Green Building practices are a hot topic, especially in the commercial sector.  I see more and more companies and builders jumping on the band wagon.  I truly feel that the future holds a strong market for this type of building, residential or commercial.  A lot of roofing companies are selling this concept with great success.  In Chicago it is mandatory that new roofing projects be energy efficent and I am sure other big cities are soon to follow. 

We have a builder who put up a "green" house here in Pike County Pennsylvania.  The sales price was higher than most people can afford.  Green houses need to be affordable for the environment to reap it's benefits.  The government needs to help the builder and/or consumer to afford these homes either by tax break or some type of incentive.  The next key factor is to educate the public.  I think these type of homes will become more popular due to the increase in heating costs, gas, electricity etc.

Green building is hitting Las Vegas as well. There are 3 green residential projects in the works. -Charles