Green Real Estate Tool Kit

National Association of REALTORS® Green Designation
NAR's Green Designation is the only environmental real estate designation addressing multiple specialties. It is also the only green designation for agents AND property managers recognized by the National Association of REALTORS®.

EcoBroker Designation
EcoBroker is another green designation for real estate professionals designed to help real estate professionals help clients market properties with green features, save money and live comfortably, through energy efficiency and environmentally-sensitive choices.

Green Advantage Certification
Environmental certification for commercial and/or residential practitioners.

For Consumers

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, a national program from the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE, offers a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, while helping to protect the environment.

Department of Energy's Energy Savings Tips
Right in your own home, you have the power to reduce energy demand, and when you reduce demand, you cut the amount of resources, like coal and gas, needed to make energy--that means you create less greenhouse gas emissions, which keeps air cleaner for all of us... and saves on your utility bills! Plus, reducing energy use increases our energy security. For more, click here to download the Department of Energy's Energy Savers booklet.

U.S. Green Building Council Green Home Guide
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. USGBC is comprised of more than 15,000 member organizations and a network of 75 regional chapters working to advance the mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability.

Energy Guidance 
Helps to understand the EnergyGuide label and how it can help compare the energy use of different appliance models.

     
Home Energy Saver 
A great online calculator designed to help consumers identify the ways to save energy given their own unique circumstances and timeframe, and find the resources to make the savings happen.

Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
Several tax incentives are available for homeowners who make certain types of home improvements that will increase energy efficiency.  These credits all have expiration dates and vary in amount.  Homeowners who use them will save themselves money at the same time they increase te current future marketability of their property.

                                   
Consumer Reports Greener Choices
Information on appliances, cars, electronics, food-beverages, home and garden rated green along with recycling, label evaluation to buying greener products, energy calculators and product recommendations.

Dominion Virginia Power
Sign up for Dominion Green Power, a voluntary renewable energy program for Dominion customers.   

 Loudoun County Energy Efficiency
 Loudoun County is involved in a wide range of efforts to reduce the county government's energy consumption, improve energy efficiency and raise awareness about energy conservation.