Dive Brief:

• More than half (56%) of real estate agents surveyed by the National Association of Realtors reported that buyers were interested in sustainability when it came to their properties, according to a February survey by the NAR. 

• Forty-three percent of real estate agents said their multiple listings service included green data fields, and 71% of agents reported that energy efficiency promotion in home listings was "very valuable" or "somewhat valuable."

• Real estate agents said clients were most interested in sustainable home features such as efficient lighting (50%), smart home technology (40%) and shared amenities such as bike lanes and green space (37%), landscaping for water conservation (32%) and renewable energy systems (23%).

Dive Insight:

More builders are implementing sustainable products and practices, and clients are seeking the same from their finished projects, according to a recent report from the National Association of Home Builders.

Advances and refinements in green products and systems has encouraged more builders and owners to specify them. Photovoltaics are one example, with consumers and builders initially wary of the high cost relative to performance and aesthetic hurdles of early iterations. Today, companies like Tesla are getting in the rooftop PV game.

Other initiatives, like the new partnership between the Residential Energy Services Network and the Appraisal Institute, are helping to make green building mainstream. The joint effort will see Home Energy Rating System scores incorporated in some home appraisals, allowing the investment in energy-efficient features to be considered when determining the value of a home.