ShareThisTraining to Boost Home Energy Upgrades
Seattle real estate professionals and appraisers will receive free training to boost home energy upgrades. Brokers will play a key role in transforming the Seattle residential marketplace by marketing the benefits of the EPS. It will also be important for residential appraisers to understand the EPS and how it applies to homes. EPS is a points-based home energy scoring system and audit that can include energy upgrade recommendations. The City's objective is to boost the number of residential energy upgrades.
Earth Advantage Institute will train more than 350 real estate brokers and salespeople who work in the Seattle area, using its S.T.A.R. (Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professionals) curriculum to teach them about green building techniques, green home certification programs, and the value of energy audits and energy upgrades. The classes begin June 16 at Olive 8, the first LEED® Silver-certified high-rise hotel/condominium building in Seattle, and will be taught by Dave Porter of PorterWorks, Inc. Earth Advantage Institute has certified more than 700 brokers in Oregon through the S.T.A.R. program.
The organization will commence training for more than 100 area appraisers starting July 30. Appraisers are critical in helping to provide accurate valuation and successful financing of green and energy saving homes, which offer benefits ranging from reduced energy costs to healthier indoor air. Appraisers will learn how to apply recent cost data for green homes, apply energy efficiency adjustments, and assess quality of construction.
"Energy efficient and green homes are gaining a larger market share in many parts of the country, expanding what was once a niche market," said Taylor Watkins, principal, Watkins & Associates, and developer of Earth Advantage Institute's appraisal class. "There are also various legislative movements afoot to directly affect the appraisal of these homes. It is clearly in appraisers' interests to familiarize themselves with these homes and how they perform in the market in order to appraise them appropriately."
While there is normally a fee associated with these two-day courses, the Seattle trainings are being underwritten by the City of Seattle. Spaces are limited and will be offered on a first-come first-serve basis to licensed professionals from the Seattle area. Continuing education hours are available upon successful completion of coursework. For more information or to register for one of the courses, contact Earth Advantage Institute at (503) 968-7160.
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