"A green Vision in real estate."

Sherman Toppin Real Estate (STRE) proudly announces that effective July 1, 2008 our company will be implementing a Green Culture and Lifestyle Policy.  We do this in support and furtherance of various regional, national and international environmental initiatives to preserve the Earth’s natural resources, use clean and renewable energy, suppress waste and pollution, and promote a better quality of life for us and our future generations.  STRE participation in the “green movement” is not a marketing campaign, but a paradigm shift in the management of our offices and workforce towards an eco-friendly culture and lifestyle. 

I. Green Education:

a. Agents and Staff at STRE will be required to have a basic understanding of various environmental issues and problems that confront our world.
b. Agents and Staff at STRE will be required to have a basic understanding of global warming and the global supply crisis for energy and water.
c. Agents and Staff at STRE will be required to have a basic understanding of “green” construction practices that are used in the development of sustainable buildings.

NOTE:  To fulfill the Green Education requirement (a) and (b), Agents and Staff may watch, or read, “An Inconvenient Truth” released in 2006 by Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore.   To fulfill Green Education requirement (c), Agent and Staff may read “Green Building A to Z – Understanding the Language of Green Building,” written by Jerry Yudelson in 2007.

II. Green Agent Designation:

a. All STRE Agents will be required to sit for a “Green Agent” test which will administered by our office to gauge basic environmental competence and knowledge of Green Education subjects.
b. Upon passing the test, Agents will receive a Green Agent designation evidenced by a special logo visible to the public on our website.
c. Effective in January 1, 2009, all STRE Agents will be required to obtain the Green Agent designation.    

NOTE: Agents may sit for the test as many times as necessary in order to pass.  There will not be any costs associated with taking or retaking the test.

III. Green Office:

a. Website
i. STRE will dedicate a page on its website to publish its Green Culture and Lifestyle Policy and its designated Green agents.
ii. STRE will commit to educate the public through its website regarding the “Green” movement to encourage the preservation of natural resources, promote recycling and the use clean and renewable energy, suppress waste and pollution, and advocate the implementation of “green” building practices.

b. Email
i. Email will be the primary form of communication utilized in STRE offices.
ii. STRE Agents and Staff will include an eco-friendly message within the signature area of emails sent from their company email address.
iii. STRE Agents and Staff will refrain, whenever possible, from printing emails, website pages, or other electronic communications, and encourage others to do the same.

c. Paper
i. STRE will only purchase recycled paper goods for use in its office copiers, and restrooms.
ii. All STRE business cards, stationary, letterhead and mass-produced marketing materials will be printed at companies that use recycled paper.
iii. STRE will maintain a paper recycling bin in a convenient place within the office.

d. Paperless
i. In general, STRE will be “paperless” in that its first method of document distribution, or communication, to the public will be via email.
ii. STRE will not print any document for distribution to its Agents or Staff that can be emailed.
iii. Effective in 2009, STRE will not maintain any paper files in its office. All real estate files will be scanned or otherwise converted to electronic media and saved accordingly.  (NOTE: This will be done only in compliance with acceptable practices permitted by the PA Real Estate Commission.)  

e. Recycling
i. STRE offices will maintain convenient, well-marked recycling bins for the following materials: paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic and glass.
ii. STRE will recycle toner cartridges and electronic devices, if possible, or if not, dispose of them in the most eco-sensitive manner.

f. Light
i. STRE Agents and Staff will use natural light as much as possible within the offices, and only use electricity as needed.
ii. STRE Agents and Staff will habitually turn off lights in areas where no persons are working, or members of the public are present.
iii. STRE will use only “Energy Star” rated light bulbs and fluorescent lighting.

g. Water
i. STRE Agents and Staff will use water in the kitchen area and restrooms only as needed with a mindset to minimize wasteful use.

h. Electricity
i. STRE Agents and Staff will not keep cell phone chargers, laptops, musical devices, digital cameras or other electronics plugged into wall sockets when not in use.
ii. STRE Agents and Staff will not keep space heaters or fans in use when no person is occupying the area.

i. Transportation
i. STRE Agents and Staff are encouraged to obtain hybrid motor vehicles that operate on biofuels (i.e. diesel or ethanol) that do not emit environmentally harmful greenhouse gases (i.e. gasoline and oil).
ii. STRE Agents and Staff are encouraged to carpool with their clients during property showings and to minimize occurrences of showings by performing more advance property research. 
iii. STRE Agents and Staff are encouraged to walk or use public transportation as much as possible or feasible to effectively conduct business. 
iv. STRE Office maintains a PhillyCarShare Account for use by Staff as needed. 

j. Indoor Air Quality
i. STRE offices will continue to be “smoke-free” environments. 
ii. STRE will make no accommodations for tobacco smokers.

k. Green Property Sales
i. STRE Agents are required to educate consumers regarding the energy saving features of home or commercial property.
ii. STRE Agents are encouraged to show Buyers properties that have been developed using green building standards or have energy saving features. 
iii. STRE Agents are encouraged to advise Sellers to make energy saving improvements to their property in order to increase its value and marketability.

l. Green Visuals
i. STRE offices will display art and photographs that present the beauty of undisturbed nature and real estate with green improvements.
ii. STRE offices will maintain magazines that advocate “green” culture and lifestyle in its reception area.

m. Support of the Green Movement
i. STRE, along with its Agents and Staff, will support and join local, regional, national and international organizations and initiatives that advance public awareness of environmental issues, and champion solutions to end global warming and energy crisis.