Green COmmITTEE
Welcome to the online home of GCAAR’s Green Committee. Here you will find resources and news about environmentally conscious practices. GCAAR’s Green Committee is comprised of real estate professionals that are committed to environmentally sustainable development, green policy initiatives and education. REALTORS® engaging and educating their clients in green practices is a valuable investment towards cleaner more prosperous communities.
MRIS Green Glossary
See glossary.
Montgomery County Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program Launch (8/11)
Montgomery County is now offering a one-time program to help pay for the costs of upgrading your home to improve comfort, reduce energy costs and even boost long term home value. The funds for these grants are provided for by the U.S. Department of Energy. Announcement. Fact Sheet.
Rockville, Brookeville, and DC at the Forefront in Green (8/11)
Washington, DC, Rockville, and Brookeville, MD are amongst the top 40 leading local governments across the nation that are partnering with EPA to become Green Power Communities (GPCs). GPCs are towns, villages, cities, counties, or tribal governments in which the local government, businesses, and residents collectively buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA's Green Power Community purchase requirements. For more information, go to: www.epa.gov.
NAR Toolkit on Water infrastructure Now Available Online (8/11)
This toolkit is intended to offer a grounding in the basic issues of water infrastructure and to point to further resources for those wanting to delve deeper into particular aspects. Read more.
WeatherizeDC Briefs GCAAR's Green Committee (7/11)
On July 27, WeatherizeDC’s Brett Wiley, Field Director, and Shefaali DeSai, Deputy Policy Director, presented how WeatherizeDC, a nonprofit program of The DC Project, advocates for consumers throughout the weatherization process, provides quality assurance and connects communities for a sustainable future in the DC metro area. See presentation.
Top Green DC Neighborhoods
Check out the list of Top Green Neighborhoods in the DC metro area as released by MRIS. Read more.
Greening Condominiums Series
Attend a free series of panel discussions focusing on greening condominiums. Greening Condos targets residents, boards, property managers, and companies that provide green services to condominiums. The goal is to make it easier for residents to take action to improve their building's environmental impact, to save energy, and to lower their utility bills for both units and common areas.
The five monthly sessions are scheduled at Bethesda Green on the first Wednesday of every month through July. Learn more or RSVP.
Free Home Weatherization Services in Montgomery County
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County can help families save hundreds of dollars on utility bills every year by participating in their weatherization program. Applications are currently being processed on a first come first served basis. Download the application.
Green and Solar Homes Are Selling Faster and at Higher Prices
A number of research studies are indicating that Green homes are not only selling for more, but also at a faster pace. As consumers are getting more educated on the value of Green technology, energy efficient features in homes are becoming more sought after. Solar homes are also selling much faster with utility costs remaining high. These homes not only help homebuyers lower their bills, but also are kinder to the environment. Read more on Green homes, as well as solar homes.
Taking the LEED in Green Design – Silver Spring: A Leader in our Community
Every day, buildings in the Greater Capital Area are taking steps towards going green. 7981 Eastern Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland is a perfect example of integrated green living. Read more.
Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: How it Affects Your Communities
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is being polluted by wastewater runoffs at an alarming rate. REALTORS® can help. See what you can do to preserve our waters. Read more.
Make Your Home a Riversmart Home
Riversmart Homes is a district wide program in Washington, DC that helps private property owners reduce stormwater runoffs from their properties by offering grants of up to $1,200 for environmentally conscious landscape enhancements. To find out how you and your clients can get a rainscaping grant, Read more.
A Solar Power Learning Curve
Could your home be the next energy power plant? Mount Pleasant in Washington, DC has turned that dream into a reality. Learn how you can transform your resources into renewable energy. Read more.
Green Gifts for Clients
From a Rain-Forest Goody Basket to a Green Starter Kit, sites like www.eco-express.com have just the right environmentally-friendly gifts for all of your clients. Read more.