In a previous blog, we showed that as the interest in green homes rises, it is of growing importance to also market a home’s sustainable features in multiple listing services (MLS). For example, the MLS serving the District of Columbia encouragingly has begun increasing the transparency of real estate transactions and ensuring that the green attributes of homes are being displayed, in effect serving as a prototype for other cities across the country.

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To help further that end, say hello to the Green MLS Tool Kit, a collaborative effort among numerous industry experts. The project supports the standardized collection of accurate information on homes containing features that improve energy performance and environmental impacts. The Green MLS Toolkit is one solution for three different problems. A multiple listing service with relevant green data fields that:

  • Helps buyers quickly find green homes.
  • Makes it easy to fully promote the special features of a green home, or a brown home with green retrofits.
  • Supports apples-to-apples comparison when it is time to appraise a green home.

A full green MLS implementation guide is downloadable.

Green MLS is designed to support the flow of green home information/performance between the players in the marketplace. When high-quality, verifiable information about improved homes passes to all the key players in a transaction, fair value at closing can follow.  A green MLS is often the point of origin that makes information sharing possible.

And the environmental impact of the residential sector is relevant, too. More than 120 million homes exist in the United States with roughly two million new homes constructed each year. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the residential sector accounts for 22 percent of the total energy consumed in the nation. (deleted a sentence here) The residential sector also contributes 21 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. This sizeable impact on the environment created by homes dictates a shift toward sustainable construction and retrofits.

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Breakthroughs in building science, technology, and operations are now available to designers, operators, and builders like R.E.A. Homes—the only “100% ENERGY STAR committed” custom builder in St. Louis. Our goal is to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance.

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We’re R.E.A Homes—creating luxury homes with superior energy efficiency.