All agents have to complete real estate continuing education, but the best don't stop there. Our industry is ever-changing, and the most successful agents are the ones who never stop learning.
That’s why we’ve put together this collection of deep-dive resources just for you. These resources go beyond what's covered in our Going Green: Energy-Efficient Updates and Tax Credits CE course, giving you deeper insights, fresh perspectives, and actionable strategies to apply in your day-to-day business. So dive into these expert-approved reads and keep pushing your business forward.
1️⃣ Tips for Saving Money and Energy at Home
This free guide from the U.S. Department of Energy is packed with practical tips to slash energy use in homes. It covers everything from quick fixes (like sealing drafts) to bigger upgrades (like insulation or efficient HVAC), showing how even simple steps can make a home more comfortable and affordable to heat and cool.
Real estate professionals will find it handy for advising clients on cost-effective improvements – helping homeowners save money and make their properties more appealing.
It’s an enticing, easy-to-read resource that keeps you up-to-date on the latest energy-saving technologies and even touches on using renewable energy at home, so you can confidently guide buyers and sellers toward greener, more efficient homes.
2️⃣ ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade
ENERGY STAR’s Home Upgrade is a straightforward roadmap of six high-impact efficiency improvements recommended for homeowners. This resource breaks down upgrades like improving insulation, installing heat pumps, upgrading windows, and more into an approachable plan you can tackle at your own pace. Each step is designed to work together for substantial energy and cost savings, leading to a cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable home.
For real estate pros, it’s a goldmine – offering a clear picture of which upgrades add the most value. By learning these, you can help clients spot homes with great efficiency features or suggest improvements that increase a property’s marketability (and even take advantage of available rebates for extra savings).
3️⃣ Benefits of LEED-Certified Green Homes
Want to explain why green building certifications matter? This DOE resource on LEED-certified homes lays out the perks in plain language. Certified green homes aren’t just about saving the planet – they’re healthier, comfier, and cheaper to run. On average, a LEED home uses 20–30% less energy than a typical home (some save up to 60%!), meaning lower utility bills for the owner.
Even better from a Realtor’s perspective: in many markets these certified homes sell faster and for more money than comparable conventional homes. The page also notes extras like possible insurance discounts and tax breaks for certified homes.
It’s a convincing read that helps real estate professionals articulate the tangible value of green certifications to clients who may otherwise just see them as “nice labels.”
4️⃣ Market Trends in Green Real Estate
The National Association of REALTORS® publishes an annual Sustainability Report that reveals how eco-friendly features are influencing the housing market. The latest survey is an eye-opener: 57% of Realtors said that promoting energy efficiency in listings is at least somewhat valuable, and nearly half reported that their clients show interest in sustainability topics.
From the prevalence of MLS “green fields” to the fact that a majority of agents had been involved in transactions with green features in the past year, this report confirms that green real estate is no longer a niche – it’s going mainstream.
Real estate professionals should read this to stay ahead of the curve on buyer preferences (for example, solar panels were available in 80% of respondents’ markets, and a third observed they boost perceived value). It’s a concise, data-driven snapshot of trends that can help you better market properties and educate clients about the growing demand for efficient, sustainable homes.
5️⃣ Solar Homes and Property Value
Here’s hard evidence that going green can put more green in a homeowner’s pocket. This landmark study led by the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab analyzed thousands of home sales and found that buyers consistently pay a premium for homes with solar panels – roughly $4 per watt, or about an extra $15,000 for an average 3.6 kW solar PV system.
In plain terms, solar panels were viewed as a desirable upgrade (like a renovated kitchen) that added real value to homes. Real estate pros will love having this info at their fingertips to quantify the benefit of a solar-equipped home.
Whether you’re convincing a seller that installing solar could pay off, or reassuring a buyer that a home’s solar array is worth the price, this research-backed resource gives you the facts. It underscores that renewable energy features aren’t just eco-friendly extras – they’re assets with measurable market value.
6️⃣ Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
Money talks, and this official ENERGY STAR summary of federal tax credits will get your clients’ attention. Updated after the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, it explains how homeowners can claim up to $3,200 annually in tax credits for energy-efficient upgrades – covering 30% of project costs on things like insulation, efficient windows, HVAC, and more.
It also outlines the separate 30% tax credit for residential clean energy systems (like solar panels, battery storage, geothermal) available through 2032. The resource is reputable and easy to digest, breaking down the credit limits for various improvements in a friendly way. Real estate professionals should read this to understand the financial incentives that can help buyers afford upgrades or make a rehab project more feasible.
It’s perfect for pointing out, say, “By the way, if you replace that old furnace with a heat pump, you could get a nice tax credit to offset the cost.” Knowing about these credits helps you add value for clients by connecting them to real savings for going green.
7️⃣ Energy Efficient Mortgages
Financing energy improvements can be a breeze with the right tools, and Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) are one of those nifty tools. This resource (from the ENERGY STAR New Homes program and HUD) explains how EEMs let homebuyers roll the cost of energy upgrades into their mortgage – and even qualify for a larger loan than normal by counting the future energy bill savings as extra income.
In short, an EEM can help a buyer afford a more efficient home or fund improvements like new windows, insulation, or solar panels when they purchase. The article breaks down that EEMs are available via FHA, VA, and conventional lenders, and that a home energy assessment is used to estimate savings for the lender.
For real estate agents, knowing about EEMs is a game-changer: it means you can help clients explore buying a fixer-upper and turning it into an efficient dream home without a huge out-of-pocket cost. This resource will get you up to speed on how the program works (in everyday language), so you can add “creative green financing” to your toolkit for clients.
8️⃣ Home Energy Score & Listings
Would making energy efficiency visible in home listings actually change what buyers choose? According to a first-of-its-kind empirical study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the answer is a resounding yes.
This study (detailed in an ACEEE press release) showed that when online real estate listings included a home’s energy efficiency score (like the DOE’s Home Energy Score), buyers gravitated towards the more efficient homes and away from the energy hogs.
It provides clear evidence that simply presenting efficiency information – say an energy rating or estimated energy costs – can influence buyer behavior, encouraging sellers to make upgrades and builders to construct better homes. Real estate professionals should read this because it underscores an important point: marketing a home’s green features isn’t just feel-good fluff; it can actively affect buyer interest and demand.
It might even inspire you to push for adding energy fields in your local MLS. In a conversational tone, the study’s findings will validate what you likely suspect – buyers do care about energy efficiency when you put the info in front of them, which is all the more reason to highlight those green features in your listings.
9️⃣ 1930s Home - Net-Positive Energy Showcase
Nothing beats a good success story, and this case study from BPC Green Builders delivers. It chronicles how a drafty 1930s colonial in Connecticut was gut-renovated into a high-performance modern home that meets some of the toughest green building standards.
The result? A home that produces more energy than it uses (thanks to solar panels and super-insulation) – in fact it achieved a HERS score of -6, meaning it’s generating surplus energy. Along the way it racked up accolades like the DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home certification and even won a sustainable architecture award.
Why should real estate pros care? This story is proof that older homes can be turned into eco-friendly masterpieces without losing their charm. It’s an inspiring example you can share with clients who worry that “going green” means compromising on style or breaking the bank. The case study highlights the planning and upgrades involved, demonstrating real-world costs and payoffs.
By reading it, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of what’s possible in green renovations – knowledge that can help you guide ambitious buyers or sellers and speak to the value of deep energy retrofits in a tangible, relatable way.
🔟 Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar
Thinking about solar panels on a home? The Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar is a fantastic starting point. It walks readers through key questions to consider, like whether your roof is suitable, how much solar you might need, and what financing or ownership options make sense. The guide notes that since 2008, hundreds of thousands of Americans have installed solar panels at home – a trend driven by dropping costs and strong government incentives.
It’s written in a very approachable, FAQ-style format, making a potentially complex topic easy to grasp. Real estate professionals should read this to confidently answer client questions about adding solar – whether it’s a buyer wondering if a property can go solar, or a homeowner asking if solar is a smart move before selling. The guide even touches on alternatives like community solar for those who can’t put panels on their own roof.
By understanding the basics (in plain English, no less), you can better advise clients and position yourself as a knowledgeable resource on renewable energy in homes. Plus, the more you know about solar, the better you can highlight the benefits of any solar-equipped listings (or the potential for solar savings in the future). This guide makes mastering the solar conversation a breeze.
