In a new survey of real estate professionals, 59 percent of respondents found that residential consumers were very or somewhat interested in sustainability issues, while seven in 10 residential and commercial agents and brokers stated promoting energy efficiency in listings was either somewhat or very valuable.
On the residential side, 41 percent of respondents were aware that their Multiple Listing Service had green data fields, compared to 14 percent that were unaware. Among those that do have green data fields, 35 percent of respondents use them to promote green features, 26 percent use to promote energy information and 14 percent use to promote green certifications. Thirty-six percent of respondents said that solar panels increased the perceived property value.
On the commercial side, 70 percent of agents and brokers indicated that promoting energy efficiency in their commercial listings was very or somewhat valuable. Sixteen percent of respondents observed that their Commercial Information Exchange had green data fields and that those fields promote energy information and green features. The top building features that clients specified as very or somewhat important to their agents or brokers were utility/operation costs (81 percent), efficient use of lighting (67 percent) and indoor air quality (64 percent).
“The state of the environment is important to our members and their business practices, and the report shows that sustainability impacts consumers’ home buying decisions as well,” said NAR President John Smaby, a second-generation Realtor from Edina, Minnesota and broker at Edina Realty.
