Contributed to the Telegram

Michael L. Allen of Boone, Hill, Allen & Ricks Real Estate has earned the EcoBroker Certified designation, having successfully completed a unique and informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions. Allen joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design features in homes and buildings. The "performance home" movement is getting a boost thanks to this type of high quality real estate professional earning the EcoBroker designation.

EcoBrokers, like Allen, throughout the country are forging this market and creating competitive advantages for their customers. With national surveys indicating that 80 percent of consumers consider themselves "green-minded," real estate professionals with the EcoBroker designation are in a better position to serve the real estate consumer.

"The EcoBroker designation doesn't make me an energy and environmental expert, but it allows me to better understand the issues and to convey this understanding to my buyers and sellers," Allen said.

EcoBroker International's education and designation program is designed exclusively for real estate professionals who care about the environment and want to help their clients benefit from the energy-efficiency, "green," and healthier features of homes and buildings.EcoBroker provides a complete curriculum of energy and environmental training to licensed real estate agents.

Real estate professionals must complete the extensive EcoBroker curriculum and training and fulfill additional program requirements to become Certified EcoBrokers.

"Michael, is an example of the quality real estate professional the EcoBroker designation continues to attract," explains EcoBroker International's Chief Executive Officer Dr. John Beldock. "These real estate professionals are not only distinguishing themselves in a competitive market place, but they are really giving back to the community in very constructive and meaningful ways. Rocky Mount needs more contributors like Michael. The planet and our grandchildren need them too."

There are over 3000 EcoBroker Certified Realtors nationwide. Michael is the 31st Realtor in North Carolina to have earned the EcoBroker Designation and the 1st in the Rocky Mount area.

For additional information, call Allen at 266-9900 or go to his Web site at mikeallenhomes@earthlink.net.

EcoBroker International provides a unique energy and environmental curriculum to licensed real estate professionals, leading to the EcoBroker Designation. EcoBroker's mission is to broaden and improve the base of training and continuing education for real estate professionals and in doing so, encourage improvements to the quality of buildings, while reducing their impact on natural resources and the environment. EcoBroker is a BuildingÒ America and Built GreenÒ Colorado Education Partner; the most successful green-building program in the United States.