Greening the Real Estate Industry - Home - greengurus...Greening the Real Estate Industry – Survey Results 2010 to 2015 5/35 TM Executive Summary This Report is a collection of feedback

GreeningtheRealEstateIndustryEvaluationofSustainabilityinHousingEducationalWorkshops2010-2015

Authors:ChiaraPacificiMastersSustainabilityStudies(Curtin)GraduateCertificatePropertyInvestment(Curtin)DiplomainProperty(REIWA)EugenieStockmannPGDipSustainability(Murdoch)GreenGurus™

August2016 Photocredit:Psaros,AwardwinningEdgebyPsaros.

GreeningtheRealEstateIndustry–SurveyResults2010to2015 2/35

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Acknowledgements

ManypeoplehavemadetheGreenGurus™GreeningtheRealEstateIndustryeducationalprogrampossible.

WewouldliketoacknowledgeandthanktheRealEstateInstituteofWesternAustralia(REIWA).REIWAhavedemonstratedNationalleadershipinsupporting

thiscoursesince2010andhaveprovidedanopportunityfortheirmemberstolearnaboutsustainabilityinrelationtohousinganditsimpactontheir

industry.

Wewouldalsoliketothankattendeeswhohavetakentheinitiativetoparticipateandlearninourtrainingcourses.Wellover700realestatepractitioners

andpropertyprofessionalshaveattendedourcoursestodate.

Aspartofourtrainingweinviteguestspeakerswhoareknownasindustryexperts.WeparticularlywishtothankourknowledgepartnersGérardSiero

(EcologicalArchitect),SidThoo(Eco-EfficientArchitect),andAlexBruce(LifeCycleandRenewableEnergyEngineer,eTool®).Theirwealthofknowledgeand

experiencehashelpedtodelivercredibleandmeaningfulinformationtoallstakeholders.

Finally,wewishtothankSitiNurlaelaandAdrivanderMeschtfortheirassistancewithdataentryandanalysisofsurveyresults.

ToaideinthesharinganddistributionofinformationonSustainability,thispublicationcanbequotedorcitedfreely,howeverweaskthatyoumake

referencetoGreenGurus™andtheauthorsofthisreport.

ViewsexpressedhereinareoftheauthorsandnotthoseofREIWA.

Research&Education Supportedby

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Contents

Preamble................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4

ExecutiveSummary................................................................................................................................................................................................................................5

Keyfindings........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6

Testimonials...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7

AbouttheAuthors.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8

WHYistheRealEstatesectorsoimportant?......................................................................................................................................................................................10

Background–TheLastDecade........................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Trends-What’sDrivingChange?.....................................................................................................................................................................................................12

What’saSustainable‘Green’homeanyway?..................................................................................................................................................................................13

Methodology.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14

Findings................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15

Reasontoattend..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................15

TopicKnowledge..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................17

EvaluationofWorkshop...................................................................................................................................................................................................................27

Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................34


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Preamble

Sustainable‘Green’homesaresmarter,affordable,healthierandmorecomfortableplacestolive.

Qualitysolarpassivedesignfornewbuildingsandsustainabilityinfrastructurethatimprovestheenergyandwaterefficiencyofourhomeshasleadto

significantlong-termfinancialbenefitsandcostsavingsflowingdirectlytooccupants(bothownerandtenantalike).

Thedemandtosecuresuchhomesisgrowing,asistheevidencethatconsumersvalueandpaymoreatpointofsaleandlease.

ThereisagrowingdesirebyWestAustraliansformoreenergyandwaterefficienthomestobuyorleaseanditisimportantthattherealestatesector

understandsandcommunicatesthesebenefitsaccuratelytoconsumers.

Arealestatepractitioner;whetherasalesagent,buyer’sagent,propertymanager,facilitymanagerorpropertydevelopmentadvisor,mustbeabletoidentify,communicateandmarketuniquesustainabilityfeaturesandtheirbenefitstoconsumers,orbeleftbehind.

CityofCockburn,SustainableBuildingsSeminar,November2015 CityofVincent,SustainableBuildingsSeminar,March2015


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ExecutiveSummary

ThisReportisacollectionoffeedbackreceivedfromovern568realestateandpropertyindustryattendeesbetween2010–2015.Thisisthe3rdandmostcomprehensiveupdatetotheGreeningtheRealEstateIndustryReport1.RealEstateagentswhohaveattendedtheGreenGurus™coursesinWAbetween2010–2015haveexpressedagreatneedforrelevantinformationthat

theycanuseonadaytodaybasis,aswellasacknowledgetheadvantagesofbeingabletobetterassessandinformprospectsofthebenefitsof

sustainabledesignandthenewtechnologiesembeddedinthesehomes.

Agentshaveexpressedanincreaseinconfidencewhencommunicatingandvalue-addingtheseattributesduringthesellingandmarketingprocess.This

notonlyimprovestheirlisting,sellingorleasingpotentialbutalsoimportantly,helpsmitigatetheriskofmisrepresentation.

Themajorityofparticipantssurveyedoverthelast5yearsconfirmedthattheyarebetterofffromhavingobtainedtheinformationdeliveredintheGreen

Gurus™propertyworkshopsandfeelthattheycanofferanimprovedlevelofservicecurrentlyofferedtoprospectiveclientele.

Manyagentshavehighlightedthattheinformationtheyhavereceivedaboutthelatestemerginggreentechnologiesandimprovementstobuildingdesign

havechangedthewaytheyseeandrepresentpropertyandseethefutureofhousingasanexcitingopportunity.Manyagentshaveevenexpressedhow

theytoocanbuildacrediblegreenreputationbychangingthewaytheyoperateandreducetheirownecologicalfootprint

1GreeningtheRealEstateIndustry;2011Update:Identifythebestwaytobuildcapacitywithintherealestateprofessiontocommunicatesustainabilitymeasurestosellers,

buyers,landlordsandtenants.UpdatedJuly2011.ChiaraPacifici.Availableonline-https://greengurus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Greening-the-Real-Estate-

Industry_2011Report.pdf


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Keyfindings

Participants’knowledgeofsustainabilityandgreenfeaturesforhousingincreasedsignificantlyasaresultofattendingtheworkshops.

Interestinthesustainabilitytopic,theneedforknowledgeimprovementaroundthetopic,networkexpansionandlicenseeobligationsareamongstthemain

reasonsforattendingtheworkshops.

Attendeesagreemoststronglythat:

• itistheroleoftheagenttoinformclientsaboutsustainability–althoughnotallclientsareaskingaboutityet.

• theywouldbeabletousetheinformationgainedduringtheworkshop;• theworkshoppositivelychangedhowtheythinkaboutthefutureofbuildingsinPerth.

Intermsoftheworkshopitself,attendeesfeltthatthequalityofinformationishigh,usefulandpractical.

Theyfeltthattheyhavelearnedagreatdealaboutsustainabilityandthatattendingtheworkshophaschangedtheirmindsetwithregardtothetopic.

Morethanthree-quartersofattendeeswouldstronglyrecommendtheinformationworkshopstocolleaguesintheoffice/area.

ThemostsuccessfulchannelininformingparticipantsabouttheworkshopsisthroughtheRealEstateInstituteofWA(REIWATraining).

Inthelastfewyears(particularlyduring2015)therewasincreasedrecognitionofthefactthatsustainabilityisimportantfortheirbusiness.


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Testimonials

"IwasreallyimpressedwiththerecentcourseIattended.IfoundthecourseabsolutelyamazingandtookthetimetoletNevillePozziCEOREIWAknowthatitwasabrilliantcourse,asIdidmyownbusinesspartners!Goodluckinthefuture.”-Participant“Withinmycurrentpositionaspropertymanager,Ihavehadanumberofcommentsandcomplaintsfromtenantswantingmoreefficientairconditioners/hotwatersystemsandinsulation”-Participant“Thepresenterswereofanextremelyhighcaliber.HavingsuchhighlyqualifiedprofessionalsandacademicssharingtheirknowledgehighlightedboththerelevanceandimportanceofsustainabilitytoourRealEstateindustry”-Participant“Ibelievethatinourdutyofcareandprofessionalresponsibility,weasagents/managersaregoingtohavetobefarbetterinformedaboutsustainabilitymeasuresforhousingandfarmorecapableoftalkingtobuyersandsellersabouttherespectivemerits(ornot)ofthepropertiesthataresoldorbought”-Participant“Clearly,educationofthewiderpubliciscriticaltotheprocessofimprovingthedesignfeaturesofhousesandchanginglifestylestoreducethecarbonfootprintwithintheurbanenvironment.Iamnotsurethatrealestateagentsaregoingtobethebest,orevenadequatemessengersbuttheycertainlyneedtobebetterinformedthantheyare”-Participant“ThisisonlygoingtobecomeabiggerissueforusallandcertainlywithinRealEstatewearegoingtoseemoreandmoresignificanceplacedonthesubjectasitimpactsthemarketingandsaleofproperties”-Participant“Buyersarenowfarmoreselectiveandpointsofdifferencefarmoreimportant.Additionally,wearedealingwithbuyersthataremoreinformed–they

knowalotmore”-Participant

“Greatinformationseminar!Igotalotoutofit.Itwentalongwaytoassistingusinformulatingourdirectionforhowwecanassistourclientsinthefuture”-Participant“Yourspeakershelpedputthingsintoeasyspeaksotheymadesense.Thefocusofbetterlivessustainablyratherthansavetheplanetseemsextremelymoreachievableasagoaltomeasanindividual.Mynextstepistoimplementchangeandalsospreadtheword”-Participant


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AboutGreenGurus™

GreenGurus™areasustainabilityeducationandconsultationgroupthathasconductedarangeofworkshopsandevents.Wepredominantlyworkwith

thepropertysectorincludingrealestatepractitioners,propertydevelopers,propertymanagersandstratamanagersaswellasbuilders,urbandesignand

architecture consultants.Wealso consult andwork closelywith local governmentandgovernmentdepartments,non-profitorganisationsandNGOs to

helpthemengagewiththisimportantsector.

WhilstGreenGurus™primaryfocushasbeenwithinthepropertysector,weworkwithmulti-disciplinarygroupsofexpertsandhaveextensiveknowledge

aboutthesustainabilityindustryatlarge.

TheGreenGurus™workshopsandeventshavebeenrunningsince2010andhaveconsistentlyreceivedpositivefeedbackfromindustryandconsumers

overthisperiod.

GreenGurus™wasfoundedbyChiaraPacificiin2010withthesupportandencouragementoflike-mindedpeoplearoundtheworldwhohaveapassionfor

sharingknowledgeandexperiencesonsustainability.

Theauthors

ChiaraPacifici.Founder.Educator.RealEstateAgent.Chiaraispassionateaboutsustainabilityandthrivesonhelpingpeopleandorganisationstransitiontowardsamoresustainablefuture.

Shehasworkeddirectlywiththerealestateindustry,propertydevelopmentsector,notforprofitorganizationsandalllevelsof

governmenttodevelopandimplementsustainabilityinitiativesandprograms.

WithastrongandsuccessfulbackgroundinrealestateforjustundertwodecadesandonbecomingLicenseeofaboutiqueagency,Chiara

decidedtocompleteaMastersinSustainabilityStudiesatCurtinUniversityandjointhetwoindustriestohelpevolvethegreenbuilding

revolution.ChiaracompletedaMastersinSustainabilityStudies(Curtin),diplomainProperty(REIWA),GraduateCertificateinProperty

InvestmentandisCertifiedTrainerandAssessor(CERTIV.TAE)andconductedoveronehundredhomeenergyauditsasHome

SustainabilityAssessor(HO50032).

ChiaraisHeadofSustainabilitywithoneofPerth’sleadingmid-tierresidentialpropertydevelopersandsitsonthePropertyCouncil

SustainableDevelopmentandWomeninPropertyandDiversityCommittees.


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EugenieStockmann.Educator.Developer.EugeniejoinedGreenGurus™startof2015.Shelivesandbreathessustainability;herpurposeisbuildingsustainablecommunities.Her

personaldesireforamoresustainableandcommunityorientedlifestyleledtoTheGreenSwinginitiative.TheGreenSwinginitiates

unique,sustainable,andcommunityfocusedpropertydevelopmentprojects.

ThroughGreenGurus™sheisworkingwithlocalcouncilsandadvisesotherdevelopersonimprovingtheirprojectsthathavelongterm

sustainableoutcomesforbuildingsandoccupants.

Eugeniehasadiversebackgroundinfinance,projectandofficemanagementandhascompletedanAdvancedDiplomainAccounting.

EugeniehasalsocompletedaPostgraduateDiplomainSustainability(MurdochUniversity),focusingonSustainableUrbanandRegional

Planning.EugenieisacertifiedtrainerandassessorandcompletedaCERTIV.TAE.


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WHYistheRealEstatesectorsoimportant?

GreenGurus™wasestablishedtofillaninformationgapthatexistsintherealestatesectoraroundsustainabilityanditsimpactonproperty.

Thisinformationgapisslowlybeingclosedthroughthoughtfulandinspiringrealestateindustryfocusedtrainingonsustainabledesignandretrofit

opportunitiesavailableforhousing.Effortstowards‘GreeningtheRealEstateIndustry’arewellunderwaybutstrongsupportisneededtoensureALL

agentsandtheirrepresentativesarebetterinformed,engagedandeducated.

Itisnosecretthatrealestateagentsandpropertymanagersareatthefrontlinewhenitcomestocommunicatingaccurate,meaningfulandrelevant

informationtosellers,buyers,landlordsandtenants.Awarenessandknowledgeaboutsustainabilityfeatureshasbecomeauniqueandvaluable

differentiatorinthemarketplace.

Thepublicisincreasinglyawareofthebenefitsofgreenbuildingsandtheimpactthesesmartfeatureshaveonthecomfort,liveabilityandaffordabilityof

thehomestheychoosetolivein.

Background–TheLastDecade

EnvironmentallysustainabledesignandconstructionoutcomesforresidentialdwellingsinAustraliahavesignificantlyimprovedduringthepastdecade.

Inearly2009,theFederalGovernmentannouncedtheEnergyEfficientHomesPackage.Itincludedarangeofoptionstohelpimprovethethermal

performanceandthereforeongoingoperationalcostofexistinghousing.Thehomeinsulationprogram(discontinuedinFebruary2010)andrebatesfor

solarhotwaterandSolarPVsystemsbecameavailable.OtherinitiativesenablingAustralianhouseholdstoretrofitandimprovetheoverallsustainabilityof

theirhomesincludedtheGreenLoansProgram2,LivingGreeneronlineinformationportal,NationalSolarSchoolsProgram,andtheNationalRainwaterand

2TheGreenLoansProgramwasaGovernmentfundedloantoeligiblehouseholdsofupto$10,000(interestfreeandrepaidover4years)forapprovedsustainabilityitemsthat

improvedtheenergyorwaterefficiencyofresidentialbuilding.


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GreywaterInitiative.3OtherStatebasedinitiativeswerealsolaunchedtobolstertheefforttohelpimprovetheenergyandwaterperformanceofexisting

housingstock.

In2011,theAustralianGovernmentreleasedaconsultationRegulatoryImpactStatement(RIS)onResidentialBuildingMandatoryDisclosure(RBMD)

which,iflegislated,wouldrequireallsellersandlandlordstoprovideinformationtoprospectivebuyersandtenantsaboutenergyandwaterperformance

ofthedwelling.MembersoftheCouncilofAustralianGovernments(includingWestAustralia’sPremierBarnett)signedamemorandumtocommencea

journeytointroducethedisclosure,followingtheACTwhointroducedtheirownsuchdisclosurein2009.Althoughdelayed,theVictorianGovernmenthas

soughttointroduceaMandatoryDisclosurethroughaResidentialEfficiencyScorecard4sometime2016/20175.

Asfornewresidentialbuildings(includingextensions),theBuildingCodeofAustralia(BCA)increasedtheminimumenergyefficiencystandardsfrom5

Starsto6Stars.ThenewprovisionswereincludedintheBCA2010edition.Thismeantimprovementstoheatingandcoolingrequirementsofbuildings

designandwasadministeredbyNatHERS(NationwideHouseEnergyRatingsScheme)6.Inadditiontothe6-starratingforheatingandcooling,theBCA

requiresallhousesmeetnewlightingefficiencystandards.

Aroundthesametime,renewableenergysolutionssuchasSolarPVbecamemoreaffordableandtherapiduptakeofenergygenerationfromrooftop

solarPVincreasedto22.5%byearly2016.That’snearly1in4WesternAustraliahouseholds.7

Waterefficiencyalsoreceivedincreasingattention.TheWaterCorporation’swaterefficiencyprogrameducatedthepublicabouttheimportanceofsaving

waterandprovidedarangeofrebatesforwatersavingproductssuchasshowerheads,greywatersystemsandrainwatertanks.Forexample,the

ShowerheadSwapprogramwaslaunchedinFebruary2011.

3AustralianGovernment.3February2009.JointmediareleasewiththePrimeMinister&MinisterfortheEnvironment.EnergyEfficientHomes–Ceilinginsulationin2.7million

homes.http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2009/014.htm&pageID=003&min=wms&Year=&DocType=4ResidentialEfficiencyScorecardhttp://www.energyandresources.vic.gov.au/energy/environment-and-community/energy-efficiency/residential-efficiency-scorecard

5FifthEstate.WillowAliento.27August2015.VictoriaGovernmentconsideringmandatorystandardsanddisclosureforresidentialproperty.

http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/politics/government/victorian-government-considering-mandatory-standards-and-disclosure-for-resi/768866NationwideHouseEnergyRatingSchemehttp://www.nathers.gov.au/

7AustralianPVInstitutehttp://pv-map.apvi.org.au/


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Trends-What’sDrivingChange?

Theneedtobuildsmarter,moreefficienthomesusingalternativematerialsthathavealowerenvironmentalandeconomicimpacthasbecome

increasinglyimportant.Alternativelowcarbontechnologiesthatwillhelptransitionawayfromfinitefossilfuelresourceshavebecomingaffordable.

InadditiontoGovernmentregulation,thereareothertrendsprovidingincreasedfocusonsustainabilityinhousing.TVprogramssuchasGrandDesigns

withKevinMcLeodhashelpedtoincreasepublicawarenessofwhatispossibleinrelationtodesignanduseofinnovativebuildingmaterialsandhas

highlightedthegenuineloveaffairpeoplehavewithinnovationinhousing.

Transportrelatedimpactshavealsocontributedtothecostofhousingwithtransportationthesecondbiggestexpenseformosthouseholds8.Higher

demandforhousingwithaccesstogoodpublictransporthashelpedreducetheneedforcarownershipleadingtosignificantenvironmentalandhealth

benefitsbycouplingefficientpublicandactive(pedestrianandcycling)transport.

SustainabilityinHousingwillremainaverytopicalsubjectthatisveryrelevanttorealestateagents.Therealestatesectorneedsmeaningful,credibleand

relevantinformationonsustainabilityconceptsinhousingandwhatitmeanstobuyers,sellers,landlordsandrenters.Sustainabilityneedstobecomean

integralpartofhowrealestaetagents,representativesandmanagersdobusiness,howagentsmarketandsellapropertyandhowtheyengageand

communicatewithclients.

8Whilehousingaloneistraditionallydeemedaffordablewhenconsumingnomorethan30%ofincome,theH+TIndexincorporatestransportationcosts—usuallyahousehold’s

second-largestexpense—toshowthatlocation-efficientplacescanbemorelivableandaffordable.CenterforNeighborhoodTechnology.H+T®AffordabilityIndex

http://htaindex.cnt.org/about/


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What’saSustainable‘Green’homeanyway?

Inasustainablegreenhome,youcangeneraterenewableenergyfromthesuntopoweryourhomeandtakeadvantageofthelatesttechnologieslike

batterystoragetopoweryourhomeatnightoryourfutureelectriclowcarboncar.Youcanharvestrainwatertogrowfoodfromyourproperty,and

recycleotherhouseholdwastelikeclothesandelectronicsbecausethelocalcouncilsupportsinitiativestoreducewastetolandfill.YoucanchooseNOTtoownacarbecausetherearealternativesustainabletransportoptionsavailablethatyoucanwalktolikepublictransportorCarShare.Youcanconnectmoremeaningfullyandcollaboratewithpeopleinyourcommunity,sharingfoodandenergyandfindnewwaystosupportlocalbusinessesinyourarea.

Image:GenesisbyTheGreenSwing(photoSebastianMurgalski) Image:GreenGurus™GreenApartmentLivingEducationProgram


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Methodology

Toassesstheperceptions,attitudesandthelevelofknowledgerealestateprofessionalsheldontopicsrelatingtoenergyandwaterefficiencyand

sustainabilityinresidentialbuildings,attendeeswereinvitedtoparticipateinawrittensurveyattheendofeachworkshop.

GreenGurus™conductedsurveysattheendofeachworkshopbetween2010and2016,accumulatingarichdatasetoneducatingtherealestateindustry

onsustainability:thebackground,topicknowledge,workshopcontentandevaluationoftheworkshop.

Outof700peopleattendingtheworkshops,overn568participatedinsomeorallofthesurveyquestions.Thenumbersofrespondentsforeachquestion

areidentifiedineachoftheinfo-graphicsfoundinthisReport.

Note:Thequestionshavevariedovertheyearsandnotallquestionswereusedineachreportingyear.Mostofthequestionsremainedconstantbetween

theyearsfrom2012–2015.ThisfinalReportfocusesonthosequestionsthatremainedconstant.


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Findings

Reasontoattend

Interestinandknowledgeimprovementaroundthesustainabilitytopicswereamongstthemainreasonsforattendingtheworkshops.Networkexpansion

andlicenseeobligationsalsodroveattendance.


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‘Whydidyoudecidetoattend?-Resultsfromwordanalysistothequestion.


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TopicKnowledge

Participants’knowledgeofsustainabilityandgreenfeaturesforhousingincreasedsignificantlyasaresultofattendingtheworkshops.Priortoattendancemorethanhalf(53%)hadverylittletopicknowledge,afterattendance,fourinfiveattendeesratedtheirknowledgelevelas5oraboveona7-

pointscale.


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Theratedlevelofknowledgeofsustainabilityandgreenfeaturesforhousingwashigheramongstattendeesaftertheworkshopsin2015comparedto

2014,whereaslevelofknowledgebeforetheworkshopisratedlower.


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From2013to2015,thestatedleveloftopicknowledgeBEFOREattendingaworkshop,hasprogressivelydecreasedyearonyear.


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SeparatingtheCouncilhostedandREIWAhostedevents,participantsattendingCouncilhostedworkshopsratedthemselvesmoreknowledgeableonthetopic

ofsustainabilityandgreenfeaturesforhousingpriortoattendingtheworkshop,thanthoseattendingREIWA7CPDworkshops.Thismaybebecausethose

attendingtheCouncilworkshopsareactivelyawareofsustainablebuildingsandsoughtnewinformation.Itisimportanttonotethattheknowledgelevelafter

attendingtheworkshopswassimilarforbothgroups,whichsuggeststhattheinformationdeliveredwasneworvaluable,andtheirlevelofknowledge

improved.


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WorkshopContent

Stronglevelsofagreementfromworkshopattendeesthatitistheroleoftheagenttoinformclientsaboutsustainability,thattheywouldbeabletousetheinformationgainedduringtheworkshopandthattheworkshoppositivelychangedhowtheythinkaboutthefutureofbuildingsinPerth.


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Morethanhalfofworkshopattendeesstronglybelievethatitistheroleoftherealestateagent(6to7on7-pointratingscale),propertymanageror

marketingdepartmenttoinformclientsaboutsustainabilityfeaturesthatareimplemented.


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Acrossthevariousyears,attendeesratedtheusefulnessofinformationgainedfromtheworkshopshighly(6-7ona7-pointscale)intermsofenablingthemtoadd-valueandbetterrepresenttheirproperties.Averageratingfor2015washigherthanthatof2014.


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Itisevidentthatworkshopattendeesmostlyagreeorstronglyagreethatsustainabilityfeaturesforresidentialbuildingswillhaveapositiveimpactonthesalespriceorrentalvalueofproperty(meanscoreof5.2outof7).


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Overthelastthreeyears,overtwoinfiveworkshopattendeesfeltstrongly(6-7ona7-pointscale)thattheywerewellinformedaboutsustainability

conceptsavailableforresidentialhousing.Thisquestionwasaskedposttheworkshop.


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Comparedto2014,significantlymoreworkshopattendeeshaveexperienceddemandorrequestsforclientsaskingaboutsustainabilityfeaturesorenergyefficientimprovementsin2015.Thismaybeduetoanincreaseinconsumerawarenessofsustainabilityanditsbenefits,increasestothecostof

electricity,uptakeofsolarPVorothertrends.


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EvaluationofWorkshop

Thevastmajorityofworkshopattendeesstatedthathighqualityinformationwaspresentedattheworkshops,thattheylearnedagreatdealaboutthesubjectandthattheywouldrecommendtheworkshoptocolleaguesintheoffice/area.However,asmallamountdisagreedthataSustainabilityReport

couldbeausefultoolinrealestate.


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Thevastmajorityofrespondentsfeelthattheoverallqualityoftheinformationdeliveredattheworkshopswashigh,withratingsthehighestin2013.


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Morethanthree-quartersofattendeeswouldstronglyrecommend(6-7ona7-pointscale)theworkshoptocolleaguesinhis/herofficeorarea,howeverthissoftenedslightlyin2015comparedto2014.


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Attendeesoverwhelmingagreethattheylearnagreatdealfromtheworkshops.


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Althoughgroupdiscussionwasoveralllargelyseenasusefulorbeneficial,theresponsetaperedoffin2014.


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Althoughasmallernumberofrespondentsansweredand/orwereaskedthisquestionovertheyears,peopleshowedinterestinanenergymanagementandsustainabilityassessmentoftheirownbusiness.Thiscouldbeduetoinformationdeliveredinthecourseaboutprogressiverealestateagenciesthat

havebuiltacrediblegreenreputationbypioneerednewwaysofreducingtheirecologicalfootprintfrombusinesspracticeandachievingcorporatesocial

responsibilityandculturalchange.


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ThevastmajorityofparticipantsheardabouttheworkshopviaREIWAemails.ThisemphasisestheneedforotherRealEstateInstitutesinotherStatesto

engageanddeliversustainabilityeducationrelevanttohousinganditsimpactontheindustry.


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Conclusion

ThisresearchshowsconclusivelythatsincetheGreenGurus™SustainabilityinWAHousingtrainingbegan,agentshavenotonlysignificantlyimprovedtheir

levelofknowledge,buthavepositivelychangedtheirmindsetofhowsustainabilityeffectstheirindustryandtheirdaytodaybusiness.

Attendeesagreemoststronglythatasanagent,theyhavearoletoplaytoinformclientsaboutsustainabilityeventhoughclientsmaynotbetheoneswho

starttheconversationfirst.Thisdoesnotmeanthatcustomershavealackofinterestinthesefeatures–butemphasisestheroleoftheagenttohighlight

theseattributewhenconversingwithprospectivebuyersortenants.

ItisimportantthatrealestateprofessionalsareeducatedonthetopicNationwidesothatconsumersarebetterinformedaboutwhattheyarebuying.

AttendeesratedtheirknowledgeofsustainabilityandgreenfeaturessignificantlyhigherafterattendingaGreenGurus™course.

Agentshaveconfirmedtheywouldbeabletousetheinformationgainedduringtheworkshop.TheyalsohaveapositiveattitudeabouthowtheythinkaboutthefutureofbuildingsinPerth.Morethanthree-quartersofattendeeswouldstronglyrecommendtheinformationworkshopstocolleaguesintheir

office/area.

RealEstateInstitutesandotherprofessionalbodiesrepresentingtherealestateindustry,includingrealestateagents,stratamanagers,andproperty

managersneedtoengagewiththeirmembershiponthistopicandactivelyprovideandpromoteongoingeducationalopportunities.

SustainabilityinHousingisanareathatcontinuestogrowandchangesrapidly,includingnewtechnologicaldevelopmentsandnewhousingprojectscoming

on-line,alsoinWesternAustralia.Providinguptodateandaccurateinformationtotherealestatesectoronthisimportanttopicisandwillbeincreasingly

importantfordecadestocome.


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POBox1366

WestPerthWA6872

P1300668221

[email protected]

Wwww.greengurus.com.au

Documents

Greening the Real Estate Industry - Home - greengurus...Greening the Real Estate Industry – Survey Results 2010 to 2015 5/35 TM Executive Summary This Report is a collection of feedback