How can brokers be more green?
We previously published articles such as Intermediary-Only Specialist Lender | FHL: launches Exciting New Fixed-Rate Green ABC Landlord Products ; Green Talk | Landlords Face Potential Losses by Misdirecting Green Investments Due to Outdated EPC & Green Products and Growth | Specialised Lender Lendivest Reviewing Buy-to-Let in 2021 & Previewing 2022 over recent years, consumers have been learning about the green agenda. Now, the new generation of buyers is taking green thinking into every purchase they make, including who they want to buy a property from. Although your first thought may be green mortgages, there are many other ways to prove you have a green business to help secure environmentally conscious buyers.
- Green Mortgage Options: One of the most prominent ways for brokers to embrace environmental sustainability is by offering green mortgage options. These mortgages are specifically designed for properties with energy-efficient features, which can be a significant draw for eco-conscious buyers. Promoting these specialized mortgage products can set your business apart in the eyes of green-focused clients. “How can brokers be more green?”
- Energy Efficiency Expertise: Knowing about energy-efficient home features and their benefits can go a long way in positioning your brokerage as a green advocate. From solar panels and efficient insulation to smart home technology, understanding these energy-saving elements can help you guide buyers toward eco-friendly choices. “How can brokers be more green?”
- Promote Green Home Inspections: Encourage clients to consider green home inspections that assess a property’s environmental impact. This step can help buyers understand a home’s energy consumption and identify potential areas for improvement. Recommending reputable green inspectors can add value to your services. “How can brokers be more green?”
- Sustainable Building Materials: Stay informed about sustainable building materials and eco-friendly construction practices. You can guide clients towards properties that use such materials or connect them with green builders and contractors when necessary. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Local Sustainability Resources: Develop a network of contacts in the sustainability sector, including energy assessors, green architects, and sustainable landscapers. These connections can be invaluable for clients seeking to make eco-friendly upgrades to their homes. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Carbon Offsetting Programs: Consider partnering with carbon offsetting programs and initiatives. This enables you to give back to the environment and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability. Clients who are environmentally conscious will appreciate your efforts in this direction. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Paperless Transactions: Embrace digital document management and communication to minimize paper waste. Not only does this reduce your ecological footprint, but it also streamlines the transaction process, making it more efficient. “How can brokers be more green?”
- Eco-Friendly Office Practices: Implement eco-friendly practices within your office, such as energy-efficient lighting, recycling programs, and responsible water usage. These actions showcase your commitment to green principles and can be highlighted to prospective clients. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Community Involvement: Participate in local environmental initiatives and community projects. Engaging in sustainability efforts within your community benefits the environment and enhances your brokerage’s reputation as a responsible, green-minded business. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Education and Promotion: Educate your clients about the environmental benefits of green homes and energy-efficient practices. Share relevant articles, resources, and tips on your website and social media platforms to empower buyers to make environmentally responsible decisions. = “How can brokers be more green?”
By taking these steps, brokers can establish themselves as eco-conscious professionals in the eyes of environmentally aware buyers. This not only helps attract a growing market segment but also contributes to a more sustainable and greener future for the real estate industry.
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What does it mean to be green?
In short, a green business is one that thoughtfully and actively holds itself accountable for its environmental impact. Being green requires the company to review its processes, purchases and outputs through a lens of sustainability and overall environmental impact.
Many new buyers want to see how businesses conduct themselves and the effort that goes into reducing their footprint. You can showcase this in an environmental impact statement and back up your claims by undertaking some of the initiatives mentioned below.
Already feeling green and want to show off your eco-conscious credentials? You can apply for B-corporation certification.
B-corporations are companies that have proven themselves to have a clear positive impact on environmental, social or governance (ESG) issues. It’s a well-respected certification that can immediately act as an identifier and proof point for ESG-conscious buyers. No minimum or maximum size of business can apply, and performing the impact assessment alone is free.
Small changes, big difference
Going green doesn’t have to happen all at once; it doesn’t mean revolutionising how you do business. Even some of the smallest differences can have a big impact. To make your business more green, consider some of the following actions for your office:
- Recycle – Starting a recycling initiative at work is a great way to introduce green thinking and make a difference immediately.
- Use eco-friendly products – These days, finding an environmentally friendly substitute for anything is getting easier, especially for cleaning supplies.
- Bring the green inside – Having live plants in the office doesn’t just spruce the place up – they also purify the air and generally improve well-being.
- Green team days – Encourage your team to participate in local outdoor clean-up initiatives like beach, park or river cleans. Make it a bonding experience and organise a whole team away to care for the planet!
- Reduce paper waste – As we’ve been working from home for most of the past year, your business may have already started this without realising it. Now it’s time to take a look at the places where paper is still being used and ask if there is another way.
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Since many of us are not back in the office full-time, there are activities that you can incorporate into home life as well. You can even encourage employee participation by creating challenges with prizes. In addition to tackling similar actions as you might at the office, here are some easy green wins for working from home:
- Commit to a plastic-free challenge – One of the biggest challenges contributing to climate change is the overwhelming amount of plastic that is disposed of each year. Much of that breaks down into smaller pieces, microplastics, that end up in our food. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that we eat about a credit card’s worth of plastic weekly. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Consider eco-friendly grooming – There are many options out there now to purchase plastic-free, all-natural, upcycled food waste grooming and beauty products that don’t cost the Earth and don’t contribute to climate change. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Reduce food waste – Use food-sharing apps like Olio or Too Good To Go to reduce food waste. Or, if most of your food waste is offcuts from cooking, explore the nutritious recipes trending for offal right now, save some pennies or give composting a go. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Try meat-free Mondays – The meat industry heavily impacts climate change, and skipping one serving of beef every Monday for a year saves the equivalent emissions to driving 348 miles in a car. = “How can brokers be more green?”
- Offset your carbon footprint – You can subscribe to carbon offsetting programs like Native Energy or Ecologi, which fund activities that counteract carbon contributions and enable you to live carbon-negative and climate-positive. = “How can brokers be more green?”
Don’t forget, Earth Day is coming up on the 22nd of April! This is a great opportunity to kick off some of your green activities and share them with your audience. You can appeal to the generation of green-conscious buyers by creating a greener culture within your business, sharing your efforts or results and making a deliberate effort to be more sustainable.
Credit: Accord Mortgages
We’ve come to the end of our publication on “How Can Brokers Be More Green?” Until next time, stay Connect!