No New NEws on the NAR Designation, YET

Thanks for the update Tony. Interesting question on the Green Washing. I am not sure that Green Washing is in the same category as housing fraud, but I would hope a well informed Ecobroker or NAR designated agent would be able to explain what attributes are truly green.

I don't personally think a designation is necessary for an agent to be well informed, etc. My preference would be a local course sponsored by our local board and maybe one of the Green Builders as a participant and a lender who knows the energy star programs.  Sometimes designations are overdone.  One good example is the E-Pro. I paid for that, began the on line course and discovered I was way beyond what they were doing with computers and on line.  I was bored out of my mind with that course.   I did not finish it and unless you are a computer novice, don't waste your time or money.

Just as with degrees, designations can help show that someone has undergone education and that can be helpful, but it doesn't *always* mean that person is more knowledgeable.  It's a little of a catch-22 but it's the system we have.  I have a BA and an MA (most of a PhD as well actually) so while I feel there is value there, I do understand that not everyone fulfills the implication of what those letters are supposed to mean.

That said, not only am I on my way to get a new designation by the end of this week, I have just sat through some continuing education on Green building.  Designation or not, I am interested in real knowledge I can help clients with.

I don't think that greenwashing is going to be anything close to the trouble that housing fraud is/was.  I find that most consumers who are interested in being greener are smart...I would think they can tell if their agent is only jumping on the green bandwagon or not.

YES, I do think Greenwashing is a problem.  The real problem is how it dilutes the efforts of the legitimate organizations and the public begins to put out a deaf ear to ALL because of it. 

YES, I do think Greenwashing is a problem.  The real problem is how it dilutes the efforts of the legitimate organizations and the public begins to put out a deaf ear to ALL because of it.