Sustainability Isn’t a Checkbox – It’s a Way of Life

What is on my mind this month?

I attended a Realtor Sustainability Summit last week; it was amazing to be surrounded by such a large group of Realtors with the same passion for the health of our clients, their homes, and the planet!

Presentations included:

• Minneapolis Center for Energy and Environment which is doing energy audits at the time of sale. Note: This is not a full comprehensive blower door test audit but a minimally invasive inspection addressing energy efficiency, completed before listing and paid for by the seller, with the buyer receiving this information to make an educated purchasing decision. I do believe this is coming to Whatcom County; I will work with our local Realtor Association to make sure the community has a good idea of when to expect this type of inspection to become code.
• A panel of professionals speaking about how Realtors need to be playing a role in energy and environmental policy making, forming partnerships to do this, and reminding all of the significance of the Realtor Preamble, which starts with “under all is the land”. We must protect the land and mother earth; with a lack of inventory, we must preserve the stock of older homes with sustainable renovations.
• Prevent, Prepare, Prosper: Getting on The Path to Low-Carbon Resilient Housing. Topics included: 1) We had the most climate events in history last year. 2) Homes, or the ‘built’ environment, is our biggest investment and one of the biggest contributors to climate change, along with transportation. 3) We need to continue with ‘infill’ and how we rethink current dwelling conversions. 4) Transformative climate action is only possible when the majority opt in.

There were many other wonderful presentations! Overall, what I was reminded of  is that “Sustainability is not checkbox, it is a way of life”. We need to change our habits and get the majority to opt in on these changes.

And THIS: The National Association will be changing their Code of Ethics to elevate and evolve the Realtor competency requirements specifically geared towards high performance homes, so that when a broker works with a client who has a high performance home, the homeowner will be assured that the home is marketed with the knowledge and professionalism these homes deserve.

Want to learn more? The Whatcom County Green Home Tours offer incredible opportunities to learn more about high performance homes by touring some local properties. The first tour will be on Saturday, July 13, from 12-2 and is a Lake Whatcom Passive House.
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It’s June, and there are many things to celebrate this month! I would like to make sure to recognize Pride Month (Look for the Whatcom County Association of Realtors Pride Parade “Float” in Bellingham’s Pride Parade on July 7.) and Juneteenth, on Wednesday June 19th. Juneteenth is the oldest-known celebration marking the end of slavery in the United States – it is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

Please take a few minutes to read this:  A History of Housing Discrimination – A Commitment to Make it Right offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.