On Friday, May 22^nd, several members of the Lethbridge and District Association of REALTORS® had the pleasure of hearing Lindsay Luhnau , Coordinator of Environmental Education from the Clean Calgary Association, speak about how to select a new home and what “green” qualities to look for when purchasing. Although here presentation was geared mainly to  REALTORS®, the information she presented is also useful to anyone wishing to buy or sell a "green" home. The main three objectives of the presentation were:

1. To help REALTORS® identify and give good service to “green” customers.
2. To assist in giving options for clients wishing to make “green” updates to their current or future home.
3. How to identify the “green” features of different homes.

Typically, green clients will place value on one of the following:

1. Energy efficiency which will translate into cost savings
2. Good indoor air quality (possibly related to health issues)
3. Value on a “walkable” community
4. Water conservation
5. Overall EcoClients (value placed on all benefits)

Lindsay suggested that in order to have a successful experience “green” clients should first establish their motivation by asking themselves the following questions:

- What upgrades do you value most and why?

- What green features are “must haves” in your next home? (i.e. solar panels, low flow toilets)

- What is the cost vs. benefit cutoff? (How much extra are you prepared to spend for green features)

 She finished her presentation by summarizing what green features to look for in each  home with special attention paid to the building envelope, heating and cooling systems, ventilation, insulation, air quality, VOC’s and off-gassing, water conservation, landscaping, appliances and doors and windows.

For more information visit the Clean Calgary Association’s website at http://www.cleancalgary.org/ or the Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Section at http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/.

View my personal website for more information on Lethbridge Real Estate.