Real estate representative Ruth Bowes is one of a growing number of Real Estate Sale Representatives to focus her attention on Green Real Estate.

Bowes, a member of the Royal LePage Royal City Brokerage team of Rockwood, Ontario, became a licensed agent in November 2005. Since those first days Ruth was exploring how she could bring her environmental interest and desire to raise people's environmental awareness into her real estate career. She began to look for resources that would help her journey and discovered a Toronto REALTOR in the beginning stages of creating what would later become the National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB). When NAGAB offered its first of three mandatory courses last year - Bowes jumped at the chance to become more knowledgeable within the context of the housing market.

According to a recently released report by Royal Lepage and National Association of Green Agents and Brokers (NAGAB), "green" is a growing trend. The report found that 72 per cent of Canadians plan to make their next home purchase a green-improved one. Of those, 62 per cent said they would pay $5,000 to $20,000 more for green features. Another eight per cent would be willing to pay more than $20,000.

The National Association of Green Agents and Brokers, a registered non profit, dedicated to improving the professional competence of its members in Green brokerage. NAGAB offers an affordable GreenRealestate program leading to the Accredited Green Agent designation. This designation is awarded to those who meet the association's requirements such as required Green building courses and involvement and service to the Association.

Ruth's "Going Green Business Practices" are as follows:

• Using and promoting clean energy sources where available (Bullfrog Power)
• Reducing emissions by carefully planning travel & purchasing offsets (Planetair.ca; driving a Prius Hybrid)
• Reducing print materials through increased use of internet, e-mail, and through the use of new technologies (Tablet PC/VREO Software)
• Printing, when necessary, on FSC approved paper (Domtar Earth Choice); and
• Promoting reducing, reusing and recycling.

Several of her clients have chosen her because of her environmental values and most recently she worked with a family whose daughter has Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Their search for a home with minimal renovations, low gassing off materials, was a learning experience and a challenge.

Ruth Bowes finds, many of Buyers are interested in energy efficiency and indoor air quality, while Sellers that have invested in "greener" technologies are looking to have these promoted. Eventually Bowes believes that homes will have to have an Energy Efficiency Audit before selling - similar to certifying your car!

She takes green several steps further, in 2008 Ruth and her husband built a Straw Bale home in Eden Mills. This is the first North America community striving to become Carbon Neutral. She believes they will fit right in to this community and it will give her the opportunity to learn first hand about selecting and buying greener building materials as well as living in a community striving to bring environmental issues to the forefront.