Green Door Living keyed in on Green Homes

BrokerIPTV: Today we are talking with Christian Thompson, managing partner of Green Door Living and Christian, welcome to the show. Thanks for being with us.

Christian Thompson: Thanks for having me Dan.

BrokerIPTV: All right. Green homes, we have seen a lot of it in the newspapers as of late. It has been a big topic. You decided to focus a business plan right here why?

Christian Thompson: Well, we think that there is an appetite in Denver in the surrounding area for energy efficient housing. People are realizing that it is going to save them money, they are going to feel better about their housing, they are going to have a lower impact on the environment.

BrokerIPTV: All right. There are some skeptics out there that say, "Yes, this is a nice, new story. It's good for the newspaper, TV, whatever." Really how big of a market is it?

Christian Thompson: Well, right now this market is pretty substantial. People are making real decisions based on pocketbook issues of saving money. How do you save money through energy efficient upgrades? We are also expecting this market to really expand in the future.

BrokerIPTV: Because I would get a call from somebody who said, you know, I am really looking for this area, four bedrooms, three baths, but you get calls from people that say, "I am really looking for a green home?"

Christian Thompson: We do. We get people who say, "These are the things that are important to me." Solar panels, a low energy bill, a high efficient home. We also get regular buyers and sellers who say, "Hey, I am thinking about listing my home, I am thinking about making some energy upgrades. What would be the most effective things that I can do to help make my house more settled?"

BrokerIPTV: Oh, that's a good point. I was going to ask you what is the education curve right now with the public? I mean do people really know what they are looking for in an energy efficient home?

Christian Thompson: The range really varies. So, from a high tech engineer who has investigated solar systems and knows what it takes to get off the grid to somebody who says, "Hey, I know there are ways that I can make my house better and more efficient. I don't know specifically what those are, but can you help me?"

BrokerIPTV: Got you. How about the brokers in your office? If you are a broker of Green Door Living, are you green certificated or an ecobroker? Is that a mandate?

Christian Thompson: Yeah, that's a great question Dan. We have our agents trained through the ecobroker program, which is through the National Association of Realtors, a training on energy efficiency and environmental issues as it relates to real estate. It has been a very valuable training.

BrokerIPTV: Where does the green industry go from here? I mean, it would appear to me from the outside looking in that they have got to mount more of an education PR process to tell people why this is important. Your thoughts?

Christian Thompson: That's a great question. I would forecast that as the public realizes the benefits of "going green" specifically to the pocketbook issues of saving money, that we are going to see on a local, state, and federal level, incentives[Phonetic] that are coming down where going green doesn't... is not even an option anymore. You have to do it to save money because it is the right thing to do and the incentives[Phonetic] are behind it. So, I really predict a strong growth in this area.

BrokerIPTV: Are you living in a green house?

Christian Thompson: I am living in a 1920s bungalow that I retrofitted with ...

BrokerIPTV: With green...

Christian Thompson: Insulation and high efficient appliances.

BrokerIPTV: So, you must be in the Highlands.

Christian Thompson: I am in the Highlands, yeah.

BrokerIPTV: Got it. Christian, thanks.

Christian Thompson: Thanks Dan. It was great talking with you.

BrokerIPTV: [Voice Cross Over] stopping by.

Christian Thompson: Thank you.

Posted on October 31, 2008 09:46:30 by Blog Author