James L. Helsel, Jr., Treasurer NAR
By: Dennis Norman
This past Thursday, Jim Helsel, treasurer for the National Association of REALTORS(R), testified before a House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee about Green building reinforcing NAR’s support for energy efficiency tax credits, block grants and weatherization assistance investment.
Helsel showed NAR’s commitment to environmentally sustainable real estate development by using it’s office building in Washington D.C. as an example. NAR’s building was the first newly constructed, green certified building in the District of Columbia.
Helsel said further proof of NAR’s “green” support and commitment was the development of a Green designation program to offer advanced training and certification for real estate professionals, undertaking of pilot programs to “green” local MLSs, and partnering with federal agencies and other organizations to support green building.
NAR research shows there is a considerable and growing market for green buildings and that voluntary incentive-based approaches will do more to spur demand for energy efficiency than government mandates.
“The federal government plays an important role in the green effort, providing public research, as well as capital and economic incentives. It is NAR’s belief that the government should continue to have a limited role offering incentives and grants to encourage the movement toward energy efficiency. However we do believe it is important that the government’s role continue to be incentive-based only versus mandates and overly regulated processes,” said Helsel.
Helsel served as chairman of NAR’s Real Property Operations Committee in 2002-03 that oversaw creation and development of the REALTOR(R) building that was certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was awarded the Silver LEED rating by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2004 when the building opened.
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