GreenClips

Issue No. 289 | May 24, 2006

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GREEN HOUSE HUNTING COULD GET EASIER

In some parts of the country, it may soon be easier for home buyers to identify homes with eco-conscious features. John Beldock, founder and chief executive of EcoBroker.com, said that in the past three years, his group, which trains real estate agents in energy and environmental issues, has more than tripled. EcoBroker is now in 31 states. Meanwhile in Portland, Oregon, Kria Lacher, who bills herself as the metro area's Green Realtor, has rallied the major green building certification programs, builders and real estate agents to urge changes to the Regional Multiple Listing Service. RMLS is owned and operated by a consortium of real estate agents that decides what information is collected and which part of its database is private or public. Under Lacher's proposal, real estate agents could search for homes that comply with the standards of programs such as Earth Advantage, LEED and Energy Star. Lacher submitted her proposal to an RMLS committee conducting an annual review of the database. Currently, agents can note environmental features in a "comment" section that is searchable in the database. "It's really hard for a Realtor to find those things," Lacher said. "There are hundreds of listings that come up every day, and there's only so much time in a day to search." So Lacher argues for a pull-down search menu of certifications to let consumers and agents search more efficiently.
The Oregonian, 21 Jun 06, p E1, by Dylan Rivera.

The New York Times, 2 Jun 06, p D1, by Sarah Tuff. www.ecobroker.com

THE REIT STUFF

Those who invest in REITs—real estate investment trusts—are traditionally conservative, causing some fund managers to be concerned that broadcasting their investments in green building will scare off shareholders. While it may seem there are only one or two REITs overly focused on environmental responsibility, many other trusts make features such as energy efficiency a key priority—they just wouldn't dream of applying narrow descriptions such as "green" to their investment portfolio. One example is Equity Office Properties, a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). Another REIT, Arden Realty, was an early adopter of energy-efficient design, and for five years was the only REIT with a formal and vocal commitment to the environment. Trizec Properties Inc. (NYSE: TRZ), a REIT that is starting to be more vocal about its environmental record, is acquiring 13 Arden properties. Investors concerned with environmental and social responsibility are likely to do their homework and find REITs in line with their values. Those who aren't concerned will choose the best-performing REITs. With trusts active in EPA's Energy Star program outperforming non-participating REITs by over 18 percent, according to Innovest, these two hypothetical investments may be one and the same.
Sustainable Industries Journal, Jun 06, p 22, by Amy Westervelt.

www.energystar.gov/ia/business/guidelines/assess_value/reit.pdf

SUPREME COURT DIVIDED ON PROTECTIONS OVER WETLANDS

The Supreme Court issued a fractured decision on two cases that sought to restrict the definition of wetlands that are subject to federal jurisdiction. While likely to preserve vigorous federal enforcement of the Clean Water Act, the decision is also likely to lead to new regulatory battles, increased litigation by property owners and a push for new legislation. Environmental advocacy groups reacted to the decision, which sends the cases back to an appeals court, as if they had dodged a bullet. Justice Scalia's opinion, joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., said the Army Corps of Engineers had stretched its authority under the Act "beyond parody" by regulating land that contained nothing but storm sewers, drainage ditches and "dry arroyos in the middle of the desert." Scalia's opinion said the agency's interpretation of its authority "stretches the outer limits of Congress's commerce power." On the other side was Justice John Paul Stevens, joined by Justices David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer. Accusing the Scalia group of "antagonism to environmentalism," Justice Stevens said the Scalia opinion "needlessly jeopardizes the quality of our waters." Justice Anthony M. Kennedy controlled the outcome in a solitary opinion, saying that the current standard used by the Corps, was too open-ended in permitting regulation of remote drains, ditches and streams that did not affect "the integrity of an aquatic system." Justice Kennedy, however, said that wetlands as defined by his test "raise no serious constitutional or federalism difficulty." With Justice Kennedy agreeing that United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in Cincinnati, should take a fresh look at the cases, there were five votes for a judgment to "vacate and remand."
The New York Times, 20 Jun 06, p A1, by Linda Greenhouse.

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS HOW TO BUILD THE GREEN WAY

According to the Harvard Business Review, the green future is here. Green is not simply getting more respect; it is rapidly becoming a necessity as corporations—as well as home builders, retailers, health care institutions, governments, and others push green buildings fully into the mainstream over the next five to ten years. The Review has taken this stance based on information in Charles Lockwood's new book, Building the Green Way. Like the dramatic, occasionally unsettling, and ultimately beneficial transformations wrought by the introduction of electric lights, telephones, elevators, and air conditioning, green building principles are changing how we construct and use our workplaces. Armed with the Lockwood's ten rules, corporations no longer have an excuse for eschewing sustainability—they have tools that are proven to lower overhead costs, improve productivity, and strengthen the bottom line. Lockwood's ten practical design and construction rules are: Focus on the big picture; choose a sustainable site; do the math; make the site plan for you; landscape for savings; design for greater green; take advantage of technology; save and manage water; use alternate materials; and construct green.
Harvard Business Review, Jun 06, p 129, by Charles Lockwood.

www.hbr.com

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Sustainable design consultant Chris Hammer publishes GreenClips in San Francisco. Ms. Hammer helps her clients with environmentally responsible approaches to urban planning and development, and to building design, construction, and operation. Email or call for more information: chrishammer@greenclips.com; 415.928.7941. GreenClips is edited by Susan Vogt, a Portland, Oregon freelance writer with 25 years of experience in energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.

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