A new report from the National Association of Realtors is recognizing the importance of green homes this Earth Day. NAR’s 2021 Realtors and Sustainability Report surveyed realtors about sustainability issues facing the real estate industry, and found that 32 percent of realtors said they had been directly involved with buying or selling a property that had green or eco-friendly features in the past 12 months.
Some 65 percent of respondents said promoting energy efficiency in listings was valuable. Additionally, 55 percent of realtors in the survey said their clients were interested in sustainability.
“A growing number of consumers are seeking homes with features that are good for the environment and, by extension, good for their wallets by reducing utility expenses in the long run,” said Jessica Lautz, NAR vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. “The pandemic has led to an increased focus on wellness and sustainability is an important variable in that overall equation for some people.”
The home features that realtors believed were most important to clients included the windows, doors, and siding (39 percent); proximity to frequently visited places (38 percent); a comfortable living space (37 percent); a home’s utility bills and operating costs (23 percent); and commuting costs (15 percent).