NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.
REALTORS® & Sustainability Report
REALTORS® & Sustainability Report (National Association of REALTORS®, Mar. 2022)
In March 2022, NAR surveyed its members pertaining to sustainability issues facing the industry. The findings are as follows:
- Thirty-five percent of respondents reported their MLS has green data fields, and respondents typically used the green data fields to promote green features and energy information.
- Sixty-three percent said energy efficiency promotion in listings was very or somewhat valuable.
- Fifty-one percent of respondents found clients were at least somewhat interested in sustainability.
- Forty-five percent of homes with green certifications spent neither more nor less time on the market.
REALTORS® Answer Questions about Climate Risk
Script for REALTORS® on Climate Risk (Sustainability Advisory Group, 2023)
“In 2023, the Sustainability Advisory Group requested this material to be placed on the NAR’s Sustainability webpage to help NAR members answer questions from consumers, clients and potential homebuyers about the risks of climate change in their community. This “script” will help members guide consumers to the information they need to make informed decisions about their property purchase.”
Sustainability and Real Estate
NAR Sustainability Advisory Group Market Transformation White Paperpdf
“Written by the National Association of REALTORS Sustainability Advisory Group, with input from the Appraisal Institute and the Council of Multiple Listing Services, recommends specific actions for state energy offices to consider when creating their Inflation Reduction Act rebate programs and required Market Transformation Plan. It includes a list of resources and tools already in the market that could scale with the programs. It also includes suggested strategies for partnering with REALTOR associations and other stakeholders to increase the impact of the rebate programs and solve for specific challenges agents face.”
Disaster in Paradise (Sustainability Advisory Group, Nov. 2023)
“In 2018, the Sustainability Advisory Group(SAG) was created to “evaluate, monitor, analyze, and implement means and methods for integrating sustainability into all aspects of residential and commercial real estate...[and to] provide information and proposed resources on sustainability-related issues to the NAR Leadership Team.” As part of their work providing information on sustainability-related issues, the SAG is exploring the impact of major natural disaster events on the local housing market and REALTOR®’s livelihood… in 2023 the SAG chose to study the impact of the 2018 Camp Fire on the housing of Paradise, California. The research focused on housing supply and price impacts, but the SAG chose to extend their research and pursue three central topics: 1. the ways the power grid infrastructure contributed to the fire and the role of power companies in natural disasters; 2. The preparedness of the community for a wildfire disaster; and 3. the rebuilding effort, particularly focusing on building codes, resilient building, and property maintenance.”
Better Sustainability Reporting and Increasing Mandatory Disclosure Requirements for Building Performance Are Bringing Greater Clarity to the Market (JLL, Sep. 22, 2022)
“Sustainability is a new marker of transparency in real estate as investors, companies, governments and the public increasingly look for clear long-term targets, regulatory standards and metrics to measure environmental impact and risk.”
What Retail Real Estate Owners Are Doing to Be Sustainable and Why It Matters (Forbes, Jun. 7, 2022)
"According to the United Nation’s 2021 Global Status Report for Building and Construction, 27% of global energy-related CO2 emissions come from the operations of buildings. With construction added, that percentage rises to 37%. Therefore, the real estate sector will play an essential role in reducing these emissions, a responsibility that lies in the hands of the asset owners."
Seeking Sustainability (CCIM)
Assess properties for overall savings, seek green certification, take advantage of free incentives, and educate tenants and employees.
Risk-Averse Real Estate Investing Is Turning to Sustainability for Strong, Long-Term Financial Returns (Forbes, Jan. 5, 2021)
An interview about the values that drive FORE Partnership’s investments and how the real estate industry is starting to evolve and innovate, and what it will take to move real estate more fully into environmental sustainability.
Tools, Tool Kits, and Guides
Links to Relevant Resources (National Association of State Energy Officials, 2023)
Energy code resources, key stakeholders, and general resources for local energy planning.
Sustainability Resource Guide (National Association of REALTORS®, 2018)
This resource tells NAR’s sustainability story and guides REALTOR® boards and members through common sustainability topics, case studies, industry partnerships, policy overview, internal programs and research.
Bringing Home Energy Information to Real Estate: A Toolkitpdf (Better Buildings Home Energy Information Accelerator, 2018)
This document helps readers interested in improving access to home energy information navigate the many resources, lessons learned, and best practices developed through the Accelerator.
GREEN Designation (National Association of REALTORS®)
By earning NAR's Green Designation, you position yourself as a leader in green real estate that's fully equipped to help clients take advantage of the opportunities their next home can offer. After completing the course, you'll have ongoing access to webinars, newsletters, and other resources that ensure you can continue to market your specialty even as the market changes.
Resources for State and Local Association
NAR’s Land Use Initiative
This program is designed to assist state and local REALTOR® associations in their public policy advocacy of land use issues. Upon request, NAR will provide expert analysis of the legal, planning, economic, and environmental issues surrounding legislative and regulatory land use proposals.
Placemaking
Placemaking is a way to make your community a better place to live and work by transforming public spaces into vibrant community places. As a place becomes more desirable and welcoming, properties around that place increase in value. Funding for placemaking projects is available to state and local REALTOR® associations.
- Placemaking Grant: To help plan, organize, implement and maintain projects to improve a neighborhood with small, inexpensive, incremental projects which will help to make the neighborhood a better place to live, work and play.
- Smart Growth Action Grant: For larger Placemaking activities, such as Better Block and Main Street®, which support land-use related activities.
Customized State Smart Growth Legislation Program
This program provides assistance to state REALTOR® associations that wish to take the lead in writing and introducing legislation to help the state better address the challenges of growth and improve local communities.
Greening the MLS
Home Energy Information Guidepdf (Home Energy Information Accelerator, Council of Multiple Listing Services, and National Association of REALTORS® Real Estate Standards Organization, 2017)
This guide helps real estate professionals and Multiple Listing Services make the value of efficiency investments visible to homeowners and buyers, even if the projects themselves are neatly hidden.
Quick Start Guide MLS Green Fieldspdf (Council of Multiple Listing Services, 2018)
The intent of this supplement is to provide a best practice check list that makes the identification and implementation of “green fields” or home performance indicators easier, and to provide information related to RESO certification.
Green Data Best Practicespdf (Council of Multiple Listing Services, 2018)
CMLS Best Practices bring together emerging and proven practices from across real estate to align and advance professional standards within the MLS industry.
Green Sheet: Solar Power Fieldspdf (Council of Multiple Listing Services, 2017)
This Green Sheet, published by the CMLS Green MLS Section Council, serves as a primer to educate the real estate industry on power production fields.
CMLS Green Sheet: Automated Efficiency Models (AEMs)pdf (Council of Multiple Listing Services, 2017)
As with any new data source that may potentially impact the marketplace, shape public perception, or influence a real estate transaction, there are always many questions. CMLS Green MLS Section Council has answered some of these questions in order to provide the MLS industry with a foundation of information regarding AEMs.
Duty to Serve
Supporting Affordable Housing Preservation (Freddie Mac®)
Shared equity programs and energy efficiency alternatives.
Committing to Do More - Duty to Serve (Fannie Mae®)
Helping keep established properties available as low-cost housing alternatives.
eBooks & Other Resources
Essential Sustainable Home Design (eBook)
Making Better Buildings (eBook)
Home Sweet Zero Energy Home (eBook)
Green Building Products (eBook)
Green Building A to Z (eBook)
The Homeowner's Energy Handbook (eBook)
Sustainable Design (eBook)
Sustainable Facilities (eBook)
The Homeowner's Energy Handbook (eBook)
On Common Ground (National Association of REALTORS®)
The Little Green Book: Green Rules to Live By for REALTORS® (Available for purchase from the REALTOR® Store)
Smart Growth America
Envisions a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize our vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity.
Appraisal Institute® Green Building Resources
Appraisal Institute offers a variety of resources centered on the valuation of sustainable properties.
Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.
The inclusion of links on this page does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this page complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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