About Me

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Honolulu ホノルル, Hawaii ハワイ, United States
ALOHA! I am a full-time real estate agent at List Sotheby's International Realty in Honolulu, Hawaii. Born and raised in Japan, Hawaii resident since 1990. Background in insurance, banking and tourism for Japanese market. Focus on condos (luxury apartments) in Waikiki, Ala Moana and Kaka'ako area. With this blog, I will share upcoming development and real estate topics unique to Hawaii. Feel free to contact me! こんにちわ。 リストサザビーズインターナショナルリアルティに所属、ハワイの不動産売買をお手伝いしていますミサです。1990年よりハワイ在住。好奇心・興味旺盛な性格から、日本と違う仕組みを知りたいと、保険(生保と損保)の資格取得、その後ネット銀行では全米からの電話問い合わせに英語対応を経験(汗)。度胸がついてハワイ法廷通訳者にも登録。不動産免許は2007年に取得。不動産に限らずご質問はいつでもお気軽にどうぞ。

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

"Buzz Words" in today's real estate

This year's Hawaii Build & Buy Green Conference is held May 20 and 21 at Hawaii Convention Center. I've been hearing "buzz words" for a while (Realtor Magazine featured Eco-friendly movement as a trend in May 2007 issue), and now it becomes daily topic - "how to save energy$".


With the boost with rebate and tax credit incentives, solar panel installer is working overtime to meet the demand. Some may consolidate the driving pattern to save gas.


For realtors, there is a new "Eco-Broker" certification program, a marketing specialization of this new trend. Becoming an "Eco-Broker" help homebuyers? when majority of properties in the market is not going to be adopted by this new trend? It may show that you care, but it doesn't change how properties are built.

I would think developers and architects are the visionary and take active role for future building to be LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environment Design) certified. Older existing building should improve its energy-efficiency at reasonable range by contractor and eco-friendly products on the market.


I renovated my condo in 2005 with my little effort to be eco-friendly:
*change all bulbs to CFL, *replace old water heater with tankless (on-demand), *replace old kitchen appliance with energy-star appliance, *replace toilet with ultra-low flush model, *Rip off old wall-to-wall carpet/pad with recyclable carpet-tile (FLOR*) and just open up the window instead of a/c. This is not much to change the world, but I'm glad I did. Be green!

*picture is for Wolf showroom on N. King St. Architecture incorporate some energy-efficient feature, but do you know Wolf appliance is energy-star?