There’s a reason they call it March Break. It’s around the time when children and adults yearn for milder climates and a reprieve from the cold, dull grey of winter.

If travelling to warm, sunny spots is impossible at this time of year, consider brightening the interior of your home or office with lighting. But not just any old lighting. We’re talking about eco-lighting.

Lighting your interior space the green way is a good first step on the path to environmental awareness and action. It’s comparatively inexpensive to other eco initiatives so if this is your client’s first foray into going green, it’s a good way to go. Keep in mind, too, that their eco efforts are likely to pay off in reduced energy bills so the return on investment is well worth it.

We all know about incandescent light bulbs, those energy guzzling lights that cast a beautiful, warm glow unparalleled, some say, by compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and LEDs. Many governments have passed measures to phase out incandescent bulbs in favour of more energy-efficient choices. In Canada, that ban was scheduled to take effect in 2012, but the government has postponed it until 2014.

Incandescents waste energy because they need to heat up substantially to operate, have a short life span and need to be repeatedly replaced and discarded, which jams up landfill sites.

CFLs have long been touted as the ideal replacement for incandescent light bulbs. They use up less than 25 per cent of the energy required to run incandescents and are known to last up to ten times longer. While these benefits are considerable, these lights are far from perfect. The bulbs issue a harsh light that doesn’t compare to incandescent. More importantly, they contain mercury, a toxic substance and they should be specially disposed of, a fact of which many consumers aren’t aware.

LEDs (light emitting diodes)are viewed as the next generation in home lighting as they’re more energy efficient than CFLs, burn little heat and contain no poisonous gases. Their life spans are remarkable, lasting up to 35,000 hours or about 16 years based on six hours of daily use.

LED lamps can be easily recycled with regular glass products and should they end up in a landfill heap, no lasting environmental damage will be sustained as they contain no toxic chemicals. Finally, unlike CFLs, LEDs have improved their technology so that light bulbs are available in warm, cool and neutral tones. They also come in many different models and styles.

LEDSare made using as many as 180 bulbs per cluster, and encased in diffuser lenses which spread the light in wider beams. When they were first produced they were limited to single-bulb use in instrument panels, electronics, pen lights and, more recently, strings of indoor and outdoor Christmas lights.

On the down side, LEDs are not known for their brightness. And they’re expensive starting at around $35 and up. This expense when compared with incandescent and CFL lighting seems to be the major sticking point right now in the market. Still, consumers are beginning to understand how economical LEDs are to operate. And as their price continues to drop many are warming to the idea of installing LEDs in their homes and offices.

A cost comparison by www.eartheasy.com on running the three main types of lights for 50,000 hours shows incandescents at over $350, CFLs at nearly $90, while LEDs come in at almost $66.

Knowing LEDS cost more upfront isn’t as painful when you consider the long-term savings you gain in running them. Think of it as the price of shedding new light onto your life.

The National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB) provides a Greenbroker and Greenagent certification program to Realtors across Canada. To get more information or to sign up for a course, visit www.nagab.org. Elden Freeman M.E.S., AGB, broker is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization. 1-877-524-9494 Email elden@nagab.org.

The uncertainty over the global marketplace, which emerged as the big economic story of 2011, will continue this year to influence most markets – including Canadian real estate.

Within this cautious milieu, we will begin to see changes in the way consumers spend their money and how they approach buying real estate. Because markets are volatile, consumers will be generally more likely to rein in their spending or find ways to acquire status that doesn’t cost money.

The consumer research firm Euromonitor International says we should look for altruism, connectivity and eco-credentials to have more prominence in people’s spending habits. Because consumers will grow even more green, value-conscious and mobile, expect those traits to penetrate the housing industry more deeply than ever.

Renovate is the fourth R when it comes to the environment – More people will turn to makeovers when it comes to changing the space in which they live. This is good news for their pocketbook and for the environment. Realtors might anticipate that buyers will do more with less as they consider purchasing smaller homes with fewer bells and whistles and renovating when the time is right.

Expect homeowners to invest in energy-efficient upgrades that reduce the draw on a home’s heating and cooling. Consumers will be more vigilant when it comes to sealing leaks, installing windows and doors, adding insulation and replacing old energy hog appliances with Energy Star models.

Footprints Shrink — When people build new homes, more will be doing so with smaller as opposed to bigger footprints. While the days of the monster home have not completely vanished, the days of being awestruck by them certainly have. Today, they’re more apt to make us cringe. Let’s face it, less square footage means less cost for building materials and labour, less waste, less use of precious natural land as well as less in terms of the ongoing cost to heat and cool the home.

Smaller spaces don’t always mean tight quarters. Perhaps we need to rethink how we design our homes. Do we really need mammoth master bedrooms that are primarily used when our eyes are shut?  According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average size of a new home in 1978 was 1,750 square feet, a figure that had grown to 2,520 square feet by 2008. In 2010, that figure fell to 2,480 square feet, the first time since 1982. The decreasing trend is expected to continue with square footage estimated to fall to 2,152 by 2015.

Net Zero – A net zero home generates as much energy as it consumes, which is clearly a tall order, though a noble one. To achieve this, homeowners need to combine passive and active design strategies. Passive energy includes such methods as strategically placed windows that maximize or deter heat or shrubs and trees planted to help cool your home. Solar panels and wind turbines, on the other hand, produce energy.

While investing in a renewable energy system such as a geothermal well can be costly, perhaps the net result is worth it in the long run.

Energy Monitoring Systems — Keep track of your minute-by-minute energy usage. Find out what it costs to wash a load of laundry or to cook a meal. These systems let you check on how much energy you burn from the convenience of your laptop or mobile phone. The point, of course, is for you to learn how and when you use the most and to figure out ways to cut back. You save money and wear and tear on the environment, both good things.

LEDs – These lights use less energy than compact fluorescents (CFL) and have much longer life spans. At one time, LEDs were pricey, had low lighting output and emitted unattractive and cool light colours.  Prices are starting to drop with LEDs so more and more consumers will adopt this lighting especially once they learn how much more they can save on their energy bills.

Getting a handle on these emerging trends for 2012 will give you a leg up as you gain a deeper understanding of the prevailing M.O. of your clients. You’ll be viewed as a savvy and responsive realtor who’s in tune with your clients’ demands. And isn’t that what we’re all after?

Elden Freeman B.A., M.E.S, broker is the founder and executive director of the non-profit National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB). Freeman says he believes that Realtors across Canada can play an important role in educating their clients on increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (877) 524-9494; www.nagab.org; elden@nagab.org.

The New Year is a good time to reflect on our past performance, our present considerations and how we see them fitting into our dreams for the future.

As we take leave of another holiday season, a time of year often marked by excess, we should turn our thoughts to ways in which happiness and contentment fill our hearts not by how much we consume but by what we save and spare.

As a realtor, your role as a trusted advisor in the lives of your clients cannot be undermined and that’s why it’s vital that you use your position to spread the word about saving the planet. We’re not talking about getting self-righteous and preachy, but sharing your know-how from a place of compassion and practicality. Besides, in this day and age, it’s the socially responsible thing to do. You’ll be surprised at how influential you really are.

So when you consider how you’d like to make 2012 better, think about the ways you can help the environment and, by turn, your clients. Know also that they’ll appreciate your tips, advice and recommendations. After all, you’re helping them save money.  In the end, their estimation of you is elevated and that’s good for everyone.

Raising your green IQ might be a good place to start.  Generally speaking, green real estate has less impact on the environment in its construction and its day-to-day operation when compared to its less environmentally friendly and conventional neighbours.

Do you know about efficient ways of using energy and water? How’s your knowledge on environmentally sustainable materials?  What constitutes a healthy house in your mind?

So that your clients can take advantage of government-sponsored rebates and incentives on eco-friendly upgrades, get acquainted with whom they should talk to about obtaining energy audits in their market area. The audit essentially pre-qualifies them for the grants. It’s probably also a good idea to find out what rebates are available in your province and, if applicable, in your municipality.

But don’t let your heightened awareness stop there. Find out about ways your clients can save on their energy bills. What types of insulation are best suited for mid-century homes? Are tankless water heaters really worth the investment? Is it worth replacing your older appliances with Energy Star ones? What renovators and builders in your market take into account green principles when plying their trade?

Take a look at your own eco footprint. As a real estate professional, do you burn through fuel, paper and energy as though there were a limitless supply? You might want to think of better, cleaner ways to run your business.

Consider the National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB), a national non-profit professional association that aims to educate real estate professionals about energy conservation and environmental awareness.  NAGAB offers designations that help realtors gain more clients and increase profitability, protect the natural environment, fight climate change, access new markets and create a positive, long-term impact on their community.

As January begins a shiny new year filled with hope and optimism, we’re eager to earn more money, mend ailing relationships, lose weight, and go to the gym more often. But why not do our earth a favour and add the environment to your list of resolutions for 2012? The world will be glad you did.

New Year’s resolutions can be about as daunting as those polar bear plunges some people take on January 1^st. So instead of making pointless pledges, why not consider tackling something that really counts.

Of course, I’m referring to your real estate practice and how you can make it more eco-friendly. The New Year is clearly a good time to re-evaluate your business, to pinpoint what you liked and to discard what you didn’t and to note what changes you would like to make this year. If going green or greener appeals to you, here are a number of resolutions for your 2013 list:

Stop the Paper Trail – Easier said than done. Who said we’d be rid of paper once computers took over?  Still, there are options for eliminating our dependence on trees. An obvious no brainer option is to promote email and text messaging instead of hard-copy communications with vendors, customers and colleagues, which many of us are already doing.

Consider printing documents to PDF files. PDF printers offer a quick and easy way to convert documents into the Portable Data Format. A PDF printer is a virtual printer. Instead of printing documents to paper, it converts them to PDFs that you can share, upload and print. If you’re a Mac user, that’s easy as they have a ‘Save as PDF’ option already built in. Windows users need free software such as Bullzip or Cute PDF Writer, but that’s easily available online.

Using QR codes in your marketing helps reduce the amount of paper generated as smartphone users can instantly acquire information about a property without having to get out of their vehicle, and, more importantly, retrieve your paper-based marketing material. QR or Quick Response codes essentially send information about a listing electronically to the viewer.

Adopt marketing strategies that employ an online presence instead of mail or direct marketing. Using websites to advertise a property is one example. Or how about marketing your services thanks to a blog or an e-newsletter?

Digitizing all of the mounds of paperwork from all of the parties involved in a real estate transaction might sound impossible but there are firms specializing in software that digitizes the contract-to-closing process. While some realtors are pushing ahead in that direction, there still seems to be questions as to whether electronic signatures are legal and binding. Regardless, it’s likely that the industry will move toward becoming a paperless profession.

Recycle – It’s an old word but a good one. If you can’t eliminate your reliance on paper use, in the very least please recycle it. Place recycling bins next to the copiers and near all the trash cans. This will remind colleagues to use the bins instead of throwing all the paper bits in the trash.

Patronize vendors who will take back or recycle packaging. Many suppliers will reclaim their packaging to reuse or recycle. Recycle the packaging in your office by reusing boxes and repurposing them for organizing closets and storage areas.

Purchase printer and copy paper with the highest recycled content. Every office purchases printer and copy paper. When you order or otherwise purchase copy and printer paper for your office, be sure to select recycled paper with the highest percentage of recycled content.

If possible, print and copy documents on both sides of the paper. Educate co-workers to reuse the backs of recyclable paper. If your copier allows, try to print and copy double-sided documents.

Power Down — Turn off office equipment at the end of the workday and over the weekends. Many offices may save up to 25 per cent of the energy used to run the office simply by powering down the equipment during off hours. If you implement the additional step of turning off equipment that is not in use during working hours, you may even save an additional 25 per cent in energy usage.

Install a programmable thermostat. If you are in a stand-alone or home office, install a programmable thermostat that lets you program the device to turn down or turn off the heating and air conditioning during off hours.

Change all the light bulbs in the office to the compact fluorescent type. These light bulbs will last longer and produce a cleaner, brighter light on much lower wattage compared to traditional bulbs.

Green Vehicles – Since vehicles are responsible for a large chunk of greenhouse gas emissions consider purchasing a hybrid company vehicle. If the company is large enough to have a fleet and can afford the investment, convert the entire fleet to hybrid vehicles. This allows agents to share with clients their eco smarts. More importantly, it shows that you sincerely put your money where your mouth is.

Try greening up your practice a little more this year, if you haven’t already. The world is worth it.

The National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB) provide a Greenbroker and Greenagent certification program to Realtors across Canada. To get more information or to sign up for a course, visit www.nagab.org. Elden Freeman M.E.S., AGB, broker is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization. 1-877-524-9494 Email elden@nagab.org.

It’s easy to let the February blues derail your health and fitness efforts. Even Valentine’s Day is likely to remind us of our waning commitment to staying in shape thanks to romantic dinners and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.

If you’ve fallen off the fitness wagon and regret purchasing that gym membership or the new stationary bike for your basement exercise room, remember to keep your chin up and hop right back on.

The fitness world, like many sectors, thrives on our trials and errors. But its latest experiment is focused on the environment and that’s something we applaud. Increasingly but slowly, the fitness industry is looking at green-powered exercise equipment that converts your sweat into electricity that’s fed back to the grid, offsetting energy use.

This notion of using kinetic energy gained wide media attention in 2007 when a Hong Kong gym attached a generator to 18 exercise machines. Today a number of manufacturers such as Florida’s ReRev are producing the technology that allows the conversion of fitness equipment. When you generate movement on, say, an elliptical trainer, that 30-minute work-out translates into enough power to charge a cell phone six times or a desktop computer for 30 minutes.

While retro-fitting fitness equipment or acquiring green equipment is not cheap, it is likely the way of the future as gyms work to market their services in an increasingly competitive marketplace. In fact, proponents say it’s just a matter of time till green fitness equipment goes mainstream, sort of like compact fluorescent bulbs and solar power. And as green work-out equipment becomes more popular and inexpensive, its appeal will widen beyond super-eco-conscious consumers.

While pedal power is not a new concept, the theory is widely applauded and is likely spawning new and inventive approaches to the notion of staying fit the green way. Here are a few ways you can do the same:

Stay Outside — No need to play couch potato because you can’t find a nearby green gym in which to work-out. Try outdoor boot camps and fitness classes or use GreenGym fitness equipment, which has been installed in nearly 200 parks and schools across the country. The equipment uses your own body weight for resistance and – best of all – it’s free.

When cold, sleet or snow isn’t impeding you, try on a pair of runners and go for a jog.  If you’re not a runner, take in local hiking trails, take your mountain bike out for a spin, or just walk during part of your lunch hour or during one of your breaks.

Hop off the Treadmill — While treadmills are a gym’s most popular fitness machines, you’re better to stay off of them if you worry about carbon footprints at all. The average treadmill uses 600 to 700 watts of energy or the equivalent of using a desktop computer for one month. As these machines age, energy consumption can climb by as much as 30 per cent.

Try Bikes & Ellipticals — In the realm of fitness equipment these are the Holy Grail. These machines need only a sixth or a seventh of the energy used by treadmills. Many modern elliptical trainers and stationary bikes generate their own power, which is enough to run the brake and electronic display. Another innovative product is the WaterRower, a rowing machine that requires no electricity and is constructed from renewable hardwoods.

Two-in-one — We sit too much and it’s killing us, says health and fitness experts. And while work often means sitting at a computer, there are alternatives. The standing work station allows you to stand all day if you choose. There’s even a bike that doubles as a desk. If that’s too rigourous, how about the kneeling chair or the balance-ball chair? Both let you take a load off while activating certain muscles and removing strain on others.

There’s a plethora of fitness gear that doubles as home or office furniture. If that doesn’t grab you, how about combining strength training with some cardio. All you need is a little space and a mat.

Isn’t it great when the sweat on your brow doubles to make the planet more sustainable? Talk about green sweat equity.

The National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB) provide a Greenbroker and Greenagent certification program to Realtors across Canada. To get more information or to sign up for a course, visit www.nagab.org. Elden Freeman M.E.S., AGB, broker is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization. 1-877-524-9494 Email elden@nagab.org.

Winter’s thaw is often the time of year we look forward to but it can also present worries and head scratching thanks to the amount of damage inflicted on our homes and properties during cold-weather months.

The impact of water freezing and thawing, sub-zero temperatures and strong winter winds can be substantial and result in breaks to your foundation, walls and sidewalks, pock-marked and crumbling driveways and torn or missing roof shingles.

Whether you choose to call in a contractor, handyman or simply do-it-yourself, the damage should be addressed as it will only get worse with the ravages of summer’s heat.

Start with your driveway. That winter-long two-step of freezing and thawing creates expansion and contraction in your driveway which causes bigger cracks and holes and more of them.

Before resealing, prepare your driveway by filling in the cracks. Clean out the loose bits of asphalt and debris that’s fallen into the cracks. Try to find crack filler that’s eco-friendly and low on volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Your next step is to seal your driveway and again you’ll want to use a green product. Traditionally, driveways and parking lots have been sealed with a coal-tar based sealant. But these sealers, which contain high levels of a harmful carcinogenic compound known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), are believed to pollute our ground water.  Some areas have begun banning the use of coal tar asphalt products and some home building supply stores have stopped selling them altogether.

Instead, look for asphalt based, water based or acrylic sealers. These are much kinder on the environment. If your drive is made of concrete, consider sealers that are epoxy or linseed-oil based.

Water from snow, ice or rain can leak into your home in many, often seemingly mysterious, ways. If you find cracks on outside walls, joints and on your foundation, seal them up.  While you’re at it, look to close up other breaks including those openings that allow your television cable and telephone lines into your home.

A flash winter thaw or April showers can bring wet basements. Be sure that downspouts direct water well away from your home’s foundation. Keep gutters and downspouts clear of leaves, dirt and other debris. Ensure proper grading around your home. Vines should be kept off all exterior walls, because they can help open cracks in the siding, which allows moisture or insects to enter the house.

Keep the roof of your home in a state of good repair as well to prevent leaks from above into the house that could cause major damage. Make sure water pipes are protected by caulking and see to it that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather stripping to prevent snowmelt from seeping in. Be sure to check windows and doors for leaks, too.

In the event of a flood or sewer back-up, there’s no peace-of-mind quite like insurance coverage. Typically, insurance for water damage depends on where you live and your home’s construction. Many plans include coverage for certain types of water damage such as a sewer back-up, while protection for other types of damage such as flooding may need to be purchased as extra. If that’s a concern be sure to check your policy.

The National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB) provide a Greenbroker and Greenagent certification program to Realtors across Canada. To get more information or to sign up for a course, visit www.nagab.org. Elden Freeman M.E.S., AGB, broker is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization. 1-877-524-9494 Email elden@nagab.org.

The story of the three little pigs has a certain relevance in our modern, eco-conscious world.

Based on the fairy tale, brick homes are the strongest and most enduring, attributes any homeowner would value. But still plenty of other cladding or siding options are available so clearly there are contenders that beat out sticks and straw and may even give bricks a run for their money.

Whether you’re building a new house, adding on an addition or perhaps just patching up an old one, it’s good to know what your choices are. Home cladding materials come in a wide range of prices, materials, colours and styles depending on your budget and taste. So let’s take a look at what really counts: exterior cladding materials that get a green thumbs up because they go easy on the earth.

Vinyl — Vinyl or PVC siding accounts for a large chunk of the flexible siding market in Canada thanks to it being a relatively inexpensive product. Light and easy-to-install, vinyl is a low maintenance siding that never needs scraping or repainting. This versatile material comes in dozens of colours and profiles and can be recycled when its time is up.

On the down side, vinyl siding is made from oil which is not a renewable resource. Also, a lot of energy is burned to produce PVC. When it comes to fire, its performance isn’t the greatest and the fumes can be quite toxic. PVC is pretty much the bottom of the barrel from an environmental standpoint thanks in large part to its chemical formation.

Wood – Wood offers homeowners a beautiful, traditional look. It’s largely available in Canada and its production emits small amounts of pollutants so it’s common to think of it as a great renewable resource.

From a practical standpoint, wood has its challenges, though. It’s not the strongest material and can be prone to mold and rot, insects and rodents. Needless to say, it’s not the most flame-retardant material either. Wood is also fairly high maintenance requiring regular painting or staining and caulking to prevent weather damage. It also tends to be pricier.

Stucco – Aesthetically, stucco is very versatile thanks to the fact that it can be textured and shaped to achieve a variety of architectural styles. Stucco rates well in its resistance to pests and rodents. It’s quite fire resistant and the materials required to manufacture stucco – traditionally a cement mixture with sand or lime – are in heavy supply.

Unfortunately, the making of concrete ranks high in its carbon footprint. It doesn’t weather as well as other materials and stucco is difficult to install and to maintain.

Brick and Stone – The durability of these materials makes them building superstars. Granite, slate and limestone are virtually immune to the ravages of Mother Nature. Brick, which is made of fired clay, means some maintenance for homeowners as a light washing may be required from time to time.

Brick and stone resist the elements extremely well and are impermeable when it comes to pests, mold and fire, making them very low maintenance products.

On the pricier side, brick and stone are difficult to install. They also burn a significant amount of energy during their extraction and production processes, but fans of the products say their longevity make up for this.

Metal – On the performance end, metal ranks quite high. Resistant to weather conditions, mold and parasites, metal is easy to install and maintain. It’s also very durable, long-lasting and recyclable. While it’s been mainly used for roofs, it is gaining ground as a siding option.

However, mining the products that go into some metals (copper and zinc, for example) come at a high energy cost to the environment.

Like any major purchase, we need to consider the pros and cons when covering our homes and buildings. And we should bear in mind the lasting consequences our choices make on the environment. While considerations such as durability, water resistance, energy efficiency and aesthetics are big factors don’t forget to consider the environmental cost your product has made on the planet. How much energy went into extracting the materials used in those shingles or bricks? How about manufacturing and transporting them?

Thankfully, big bad wolves don’t really huff and puff at our doorsteps. But if there’s a moral to this story, it’s keep up your chinny chin chin, do the right thing and select the greenest product your money can buy.

The National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB) provide a Greenbroker and Greenagent certification program to Realtors across Canada. To get more information or to sign up for a course, visit www.nagab.org. Elden Freeman M.E.S., AGB, broker is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization. 1-877-524-9494 Email elden@nagab.org.