Maybe you’re an eco-friendly investor at heart and
only support sustainable projects; or, you’re a traditional investor
looking to ride the green wave. If you’re the latter, you may not
really understand or care about green, even though you should.
And I say that not just because I feel all of us should be good
stewards of the environment, but because “not caring” can, and
will, cost you money.

There was an interesting study published recently by Green Builder®
Media and Imre Communications that’s worth taking note of. It’s titled,
“U.S. HOMEBUYERS WILL PAY PREMIUM FOR ‘GREEN’ HOMES”.

The study suggests that buyers are willing to pay 11-25% more for
green built homes”. It also reveals that these buyers have an
understanding of green products, are college graduates, and are
between the ages of 35-50.

Now, let’s take a look at some information about LOHAS consumers.
For those of you who don’t know about LOHAS, allow me to share
the following information, taken directly form the LOHAS website:

Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) describes a $228.9
billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the
environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living.
The consumers attracted to this market have been collectively referred
to as Cultural Creatives and represent a sizable group in this country.
Approximately 30 percent of the adults in the U.S., or 50 million people,
are currently considered LOHAS Consumers.

www.lohas.com

In regards to Green Building, let’s look at their Market Sector Information:

Sustainable Economy
Green building and industrial goods
Renewable energy
Resource-efficient products
Socially responsible investing
Alternative transportation
Environmental management

US Market--$76.47 billion

www.lohas.com

There is no question that the LOHAS population is growing. In fact, I
believe it’s safe to say growing rapidly. There has been a major shift
in this country to be healthier, to live a healthier lifestyle, and to be
environmentally conscious. People are seeking “green” everything,
from spa products, to toothpaste, to GREEN HOMES!

So, if you’re not educated about Green Real Estate you could be missing
the boat. Popular chatter is around energy efficient homes, solar,
sustainable design, etc. and it will continue to move forward in that
direction with greater force. Now is the time to educate yourself,
if you haven’t already, in this arena. Not only will you be helping the
environment, you will be seeing more “green” in your return.

Kristen Fischer