Jami Stutzman and Libby Hunter love selling houses. "It's a fun job," Stutzman says. She and Hunter are both realtors with Comey and Shepherd. "But this makes it one hundred times better."

What is "this"? Green real estate! Stutzman and Hunter are the first two certified green real estate agents in the state of Ohio. Stutzman has a background in life sciences, and Hunter was raised with a strong respect for environmentalism. They use their passion for environmentalism to not only help buyers who are looking for an entirely green home but to save money for other buyers who are less interested in environmentalism but more interested in their bottom line.

Stutzman realized how inefficient the typical, older Cincinnati home was when she bought her first home and wondered, "How can I improve my house to be more efficient?" She did some research, which several years later led to her partnership with Libby Hunter and their eventual green real estate business. Hunter also has a background in home renovation, so she knows first-hand the challenges of rehabbing an energy-inefficient building.

They are the realtors behind the LEED-certified Northside HOME project, which provides eco-friendly homes in a variety of price ranges that blend into the existing Northside landscape while helping to raise property values in Northside. "The builders used as much locally sourced cabinetry and workers as possible to reduce the carbon footprint. Seventy five percent of the construction waste is recycled, and these houses have lead to other neighborhoods being interested in our program," Stutzman says.

Not everyone wants new construction, nor can they afford to completely "green" an existing home. So what are some easy, energy-saving, low-cost tips to save money (and the planet)?

1. Use Compact Fluorescent Blubs instead of regular light bulbs. You can find bulbs like this at the hardware store, or try Ikea if you want bulbs that look more like incandescent bulbs. Just be sure to recycle them properly once they burn out.

2. Use a programmable thermostat to control your furnace and air conditioning. Adjust the temperature to save money when you're not at home.

3. Weatherstrip and caulk your doors and windows. In older homes, these are major sources of energy inefficiency.

4. Blanket your hot water heater. You can reduce energy loss 25 to 45 percent by using a special blanket sold at hardware stores.

5. Low-flow faucets and shower heads can save up to 50 percent of water when you wash your hair or brush your teeth. For a little more money, you can also buy low-flow toilets or toilets with two types of flush (depending on what you're flushing, of course).

6. You can get an energy evaluation(around $200) that involves an infra-red camera that shows areas where you can improve your energy efficiency. An energy audit (around $500) uses a negative pressure test that shows areas that leak. An even more budget-conscious option is to talk to Duke Energy, who does in-home energy evaluations as well.

Click here or on the play button below to view a Webcast with Stutzman and Hunter. 

PHOTO CREDITS
Photographer: Amy Storer-Scalia
Models (left to right): Jami Stutzman and Libby Hunter

Julie Niesen
		About the author:
		When she's not freelancing or writing her restaurant column for Cincy Chic, Julie Niesen is writing for her own blog, wine me, dine me (in Cincinnati). Send her an e-mail at jniesen@cincychic.com
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Last update: 15-04-2009 16:15

Published in : Magazine Items, Career