Realtors presenting "Green Expo" on Friday

More builders, designers and consumers are embracing sustainability in housing, and now real estate agents are joining the green movement.
The Green Realtors Alliance of Sarasota will present its first event at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Sarasota Association of Realtors headquarters on Tuttle Avenue in Sarasota. The 2008 Green Home Expo will feature speakers on a variety of topics, with the goal of educating Realtors as to the realities of green building.
Lectures include "Florida Friendly Yards," with Annemarie Post of Sarasota County Extension; "The Air We Breathe" (indoor air pollution), by John Cozy of the Air and Water Team; "The Green Home," by Betty Alpaugh of the Florida House Learning Center; and "Getting the HERS Rating for Your Home," by Salena J. Wilson, Rate Division Manager of Calcs-Plus.
The Green Realtors Alliance of Sarasota (GRAS) is intended to be a "resource for the preservation of our environment and natural resources as it pertains toreal estate," according to a statement from GRAS.
Its goals are to:
-- "Practice and encourage preservation of our environment andnatural resources in our personal and professional lives."
-- "Stay informed and share information about local and relevantenvironmental issues."
-- "Educate other Realtors, clients and the public about sustainableliving as it pertains to real estate."
-- "Volunteer and participate in local sustainability projects and organizations."