How the Stimulus Benefits “Green”

(And How You Can Position Yourself to Benefit as Well)By Ryan Moehring

You may think there is too much “pork” in the recently signed stimulus bill. Or perhaps too much spending or too many tax cuts. Its passage may offend your Keynesian or Monetarist economic views, and may, you believe, lead to the very demise of capitalism itself. (OK, that may be going too far.) You may not think we need a stimulus at all—that we should let the free market recover on its own. Whatever your political and economic viewpoint, if you believe our country's energy policy needs a fundamental change, and that energy efficiency and renewable energy can simultaneously stimulate the economy and help the planet, chances are you are excited about the green provisions of the bill.To say the stimulus is big is an understatement. It is huge, colossal, gargantuan even. It is the largest spending bill the world has ever seen, which is a frightening proposition to say the least. However, if you can get past the staggering debt created by the bill, you'll find unprecedented subsidies for the energy sector. Here is an abbreviated summary of some of the energy-related provisions that can impact your real estate business:$6.3 billion for energy efficiency in multifamily housing getting federal assistance, such as HUD-sponsored low-income housing$5 billion to weatherize more than 1 million homes owned by "modest-income" families.$4.5 billion to increase the energy efficiency of federal buildings$4 billion to repair and modernize public housing units$2 billion to increase the tax credit for hybrid cars to $7,500$1.4 billion for bonds to carry out state and local renewable energy and conservation projects$510 million to repair and modernize more than 4,000 Native American housing units$500 million to train workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy$300 million for consumer rebates for energy-efficient appliances$268 million to remove caps on a 30 percent residential credit for solar, wind, and geothermal$250 million to HUD to improve the efficiency of government-subsidized apartmentsThe New York Times released a detailed breakdown of the energy provisions here.Interesting Facts About the $5 Billion Dedicated to Weatherization AssistanceThis amount could weatherize 1 million homes and, directly and indirectly, create 375,000 jobs.Low-income families will save an average of $350 annually from weatherization.Every investment of $1 billion in clean energy programs creates nearly 5,000 more jobs than traditional infrastructure spending.As a real estate professional, you may be wondering how you can benefit from all of this spending. Here are a few suggestions:You can always contact your state energy office and obtain information about their weatherization program. Once you have this information, how can you apply it?Do you know someone on your lead list, or perhaps a past client, who could use some free insulation or some caulking around their windows? Why wouldn't you take the time to connect a potential client with free weatherization money for home improvements that will actually improve their comfort and quality of life? When the time comes to sell their home, who do you think they are going to call? Mr. Big Shot REALTOR® with the huge advertising budget? Or the considerate agent who thoughtfully took the time to help make their winter a little more comfortable?Maybe you've already helped a family move into a green home, or have helped them retrofit it. You already know that green topics are important to them, so why wouldn't you tell them about the $7,500 tax credit for purchasing a plug-in hybrid vehicle?Do they already have a hybrid? Tell them about the rebates for energy-efficient appliances.Even better, how about informing them about the removal of the 30 percent cap on residential solar systems? Combine this credit with local incentives currently offered by a number of states and your clients can start producing their own energy for around one-fourth of the sticker price. Now that's exciting!Whatever the scenario, you should know that your competition will be putting the stimulus to good use. How will your business benefit? Start planning today.*********************Discover more about the growing interest in all things "green" in this issue of the EcoBroker Green Outlook.Want to know more about green issues in real estate? If you would like to receive information from us more often, just send us an email with your name, company name, address, and phone number, and we will keep you up to date on timely green industry news and opportunities. Join EcoBroker today to gain the tools to stay on top and address the needs of this changing market. With EcoBroker® designation training, you can help clients save money, live comfortably, and reduce their carbon footprint!

Green Lifestyle at Home

provided by:http://www.deadlinenews.com/

Going green at home is a lot more than just switching light bulbs, swapping out the thermostat and plugging holes. To really save the planet, change your lifestyle.
by Broderick Perkins© 2008 DeadlineNews.ComDeadline Newsroom - Think you really know how to go green at home? Sure, you've swapped out those incandescent bulbs with fluorescents. You have a new thermostat. You've stuffed your attic with insulation. Winterization plugs and seals have already saved you a bundle. You've been trading up to Energy Star emblazoned major appliances and those not-always-on tech gadgets. And gas prices are forcing you to trade in that gas guzzler.Still, chances are, you've only scratched the surface of saving the planet.Going green at home is more than just tossing one energy hog for a more efficient replacement. To really shrink your households' carbon footprint, going green must be more of a lifestyle than a trend-induced fad.Here are some green steps you may have overlooked.• Hire a green broker. When shopping for a home, hire an EcoBroker.Around since 2003, EcoBrokers are licensed real estate agents, additionally endowed with eco-savvy certification from the Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals.As an education outreach partner with a national green builder network, BuiltGreen.org, EcoBrokers help the home building industry sell green homes, but they also assist home buyers who want to buy green homes -- new and resale. At an open house they can point out features that save energy costs or where you can improve the green status of the listing. Schooled in energy efficient technology and sustainable energy issues they can also help you land an Energy Efficient Mortgage, which, if you are really serious about being green, you won't buy a home without.• Buy a green home. The U.S. Green Building Council, the folks who developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system for all kinds of structures, residential and not, help take the guesswork out of buying a green home. The council's Green Home Guide includes links to green multiple listing services (MLS), ListedGreen.com and GreenHomesForSale.com offering new and resale sustainable homes around the globe.To help you shop green the council also offers a Green Home Checklist a detailed analysis of what features to expect in a green home.• Regreen. "Regreening" is green remodeling, renovating and home improving and new guidelines from the LEED people, Green Home Renovations help you, well, go for the green.• Buy a green home in a real Emerald City. Two studies point you to green location gems. BestPlaces.net and Country Home magazine teamed up to produce Best Green Place To Live and SustainLane.com offers Greenest U.S. Cities.And if you really want to get down to the green nitty gritty, location-wise, you can plant your green being in specific communities and neighborhoods noted for green living.The LEED for Neighborhood Development program, offered by, the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for sustainable neighborhood design.• Fill up with green. When it's time to send a thank you gift to your Ecobroker or to fill that new or resale green home with stuff, buy green. Consumers Union's GreenerChoices.org brings the consumer advocate's time-honored goods and services ratings scrutiny to environmentally sustainable and healthy goods and services. From the foods you stuff in the fridge to the car you park in the garage GreenerChoices.org has ratings for numerous household goods.• DeadlineNews.Com offers more green news that hits home.• DeadlineNews.Com offers more global warming news that hits home.© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com