NAR report: Consumer interest in sustainable development growing

​​​WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over half of Realtors find that consumers are interested in real estate sustainability issues and practices, according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) recent Realtors and Sustainability report.

Generally speaking, sustainable properties are those that use natural resources responsibly.

The report, stemming from NAR’s new Sustainability Program, surveyed Realtors about sustainability issues facing consumers in the real estate market and ways Realtors are setting their own goals to reduce energy usage.

Home features that Realtors said clients consider to be very or somewhat important include:

• efficient use of lighting (50 percent),
• ​a smart/connected home (40 percent),
• green community features such as bike lanes and green spaces (37 percent),
• landscaping for water conservation (32 percent), and
• renewable energy systems such as solar and geothermal (23 percent).

Sustainable neighborhood features clients are looking for were:

• parks and outdoor recreation (60 percent),
• access to local food (37 percent), and
• recycling (9 percent).

Transportation and commuting features that Realtors listed as very or somewhat important to their clients included:

• walkability (51 percent),
• public transportation (31 percent), and
• bike lanes/paths (39 percent).