Going Green
     

The real estate industry, and society and consumers as a whole, are paying more attention to energy efficiency and green building opportunities. This means living comfortably and efficiently when it comes to our health and the health of our planet. From windows to moisture control to energy savings, we now have more resources at our disposal to help buyers and sellers make better real estate decisions.


Eco-Broker Certified

As "green-minded" real estate professionals, we have the passion to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce consumption, overall. And it is our desire to help buyers and sellers of greener, healthier, more sustainable properties in the Piedmont Triad, Winston-Salem area. It is our goal to stay current on eco-trends and technologies pertinent to homeowners and to post this information in the hopes that we will educate, enlighten and empower our current and future clients. 

Certified EcoBrokers complete a detailed program that educates real estate professionals on topics such as energy efficiency, solar energy, indoor air quality, water quality, radon, and green building programs. The program trains students to effectively reach the green market and the average consumer who is interested in reducing their monthly utility bills and increasing home comfort and health while benefiting the environment at the same time.


   What does it all mean?

Go green. Eco-friendly. Carbon footprint. Global warming. Energy-efficient. Energy Star. Sustainable. Earth friendly. Passive solar orientation. Xeriscaping. These terms have become part of our everyday concerns and vocabulary, especially in the real estate business. As your dedicated ecoBroker, Read more ...


Energy Efficient Mortgages

Energy Efficient Mortgages

While a conventional mortgage is generally based on a debt-to-income ratio of 28% gross income for housing and no more than 36% for all debts, the Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) recognizes that energy efficient homes cost less to operate on a month-to-month basis than standard homes. Read more ...


Evaluating the Energy Performance of Your Home

Evaluating the Energy Performance of Your HomeA Home Energy Rater is a specialized contractor who performs an evaluation of the energy efficiency of your home. These raters can vary from experienced home construction and remodeling contractors, to specially trained utility employees, to certified ENERGY STAR, LEEDS, and other Green council representatives.
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Greenwashing: the act of misleading consumers

"Going green" has become mainstream for companies large and small - that´s good news. What´s not so great is when companies make misleading environmental marketing claims of the benefits of their product or services. In order to compete in a market that demands "green" products, some businesses and manufacturers have resorted to creative advertising instead. Read more ...


What is green building?

Green Building in Winston-SalemGoing Green is fast becoming mainstream in Winston-Salem. The public wants comfort, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, easy commutes, and quality.

Green building describes environmentally friendly construction, from planting shade trees-goes materials selection - to saving energy?to installing water efficient plumbing-to indoor environmental quality. Read more ...


Qualifying for an ENERGY STAR Rating

Energy Star LabelA home meeting the IRC requirements is assigned an energy rating of 100, while a home using no energy is assigned an energy rating of 0. So, a home qualifying for ENERGY STAR must have a minimum rating of >100 ? 15%, or 85. Read more ...


Energy Star Indoor Air Package Label

Homebuyers today are increasingly concerned about the indoor air quality of their homes. Issues like mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals have received greater attention than ever, as poor indoor air quality has been linked to a host of health problems. Read more ...


Glossary of Terms



There are tremendous green resources available in the market and as part of our service commitment to our clients, we can help you identify and make sense of these invaluable green opportunities. We offer our clients a list of Green companies who can service, inspect and turn your home into an EnergyStar® home. When you are ready to purchase a home, we can recommend energy raters who inpect and give a complete valuation report, and qualified suggesions in making the home a comfortable Green environment.