It isn't easy being green, but it is getting easier

The theme of this year’s meeting of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents was “Going Green...It’s No Gamble.” I learned about solar and geothermal systems, ways to cut energy costs, green building and retrofitting, healthy homes, and rating systems for green/energy efficient buildings. All in the context of helping my clients choose better homes.

This was a national meeting, so I heard mostly about great things happening out west. Old construction and historic preservation seems to hamper progress in the east. One commercial project in Connecticut looked interesting.

Then I stepped out onto Freemont Street in Las Vegas, famous for its 12.5 million lights and 550,000-watt sound system. There is nothing like studying something all day, then walking through its antithesis!

I felt better about my homeland when my jet-lagged, bleary eyes lighted on The Boston Globe Magazine, Green issue on November 18th. Also, the Massachusetts House of Representatives have passed an energy bill while I was away. Massachusetts is a great place to live. The leaves are still on the trees, partly. The oaks and some other trees make a symphony of browns, coppers, and golds. The evergreens are green. All in all, it is good to be home.

What else is going on in local green building? In the brown part of the year, I would love to talk about going green.