Eco Broker vs. NAR's Green Designation

Thought I'd give an update on NAR Green.  Got my official notice from NAR today and logged into the NAR Green world. Lots of links, PDF's to download and a monthly newsletter coming. Should be interesting to watch the two designations improve and mature into the future of GREEN as it becomes more mainstream in the Real Estate Industry.

Members only login.  EcoBroker is public for a lot of information.  That is a big plus.

I agree with Diane Aurit that NAHB'S Certified Green Professional (CGP) Designation courses are an excellent way to learn about green building . You also become aware of the Green scoring guidelines & how it works as a systematic approach . It was a tremendous help in building my 1st Gold Level Green home . Edward D. Nikles CGP ,CGB , GMB, CGR

I am a certified EcoBroker® in the South Metro Denver area.  I really like how the EcoBroker® program separates green real estate into three distinct areas: Energy, Environment, and Green Marketing.  It makes it simple to understand so that you don't have to be an Environmental Science major to be able to express the value in living efficiently and sustainably to your clients.

I've done both EcoBroker® and the GREEN core class. I think that Bud has put it as clearly and correctly as I ever could. I would only add that I've been waiting a month now for notice from NAR green REsource council that I have passed,let along received the designation. And I value the "search for your local EcoBroker®" tool on the EB site. No tool like that yet from NAR???

P.S. I was notified by the local Assoc. that I was one of the attendees who did pass. I bet we all did. It was a good learning experience.

I called the Council this morning, they had a typo in my email address! I've been a designee for two weeks. Time to update the marketing!

I chose EcoBroker--although I am still doing the course work. I know there are some that like the fact that the NAR course gives them an 'official' designation. Personally, I have plenty of designations, I am looking for the content and liked what EcoBroker has.

I have been debating a last minute invitation to spend Wednesday-Friday to earn the Green Designation.  I also think I would rather do the EcoBroker program.  Your post came at a very good time for me while I am trying to decide about this week.

Sabrina, your post helped me to decided which course to take. Thanks Bud for details. I am going with EcoBroker.

Very interesting post and responses.  I think I will go with the EcoBroker course.  Like you, I'm already all about green living.  I am going to reblog this!  Thanks!

I've enjoyed reading through all the comments, and would add one other thought. I was in the first NAR Green Class in Tucson and am currently working on my EcoBroker certification, so I decided to do both. I agree with Bud's comments about the NAR class being more for those with limited experience and the EcoBroker curriculum being more in-depth for many topics. The biggest benefit, for me, in doing both courses is the networking. Many of us from the NAR Green class have stayed in communication and we openly share ideas and dates of 'green' events that are happening around town. Also, now when I meet another Realtor who has a GREEN designation, there's an immediate connection and sense of some shared values and interests. With EcoBroker, there's opportunities for both national and local networking. The EcoBroker website has a wealth of information and many of the social networking sites (including ths one!) have EcoBrker interest groups. Being able to say "I'm an EcoBroker" makes a statement about who you are!

I'm taking Green right now, online. It is 3 parts, each 6 hours. I do not believe we have eco-broker in here.