Neal Communities.com Blue Sky Model welcomes Green Alliance Seminar and Tour. Over 40 attended.

PR Log (Press Release) – Jul 27, 2009 – Manatee County, Florida real estate agents learned the benefits of “green living” recently and saw firsthand how eco-friendly building can boost healthy lifestyles as well as enhance the consumer appeal of a home. More than 40 real estate and business professionals recently attended a “Green Kick Start” seminar given by Steve Wooster National Director of the  Green Real Estate Alliance at the Lakewood Ranch headquarters of the Manatee Association of Realtors® (MAR).  Sponsored by Neal Communities, the event was designed to establish the new “Green Real Estate Alliance Committee” and increase understanding of the benefits of green. The seminar was designed to educate the Realtors® and the public about this complex and evolving technology, as well as track and publish the sales data. According to a 2008 Harris Interactive Survey commissioned by Move Inc. and published in the March 2009 Florida Realtor Magazine, more buyers (49%) consider “green features” as important compared to (31%) “luxury features.”

After the seminar, attendees were invited to tour the Neal Communities’ Blue Sky model home, located in Valderrama at Country Club East, in order to explore for themselves the many eco-friendly features of a green certified home. Steve Wooster, who was also the Founding Chairman of the Green Realtors® Alliance of Sarasota, gave a tour and pointed out the model’s many hidden efficiencies, such as a floor plan design to take advantage of natural lighting and flooring made from recycled products. Energy-saving features were abundant throughout the model, including Energy Star appliances, water conserving toilets, insulated walls and ceilings, radiant barrier roof deck, leak tested and mastic-sealed ductwork.  Also worthy of commendation are the many features that promote healthy living, such as carbon water filters to remove odors and harmful chlorine, electrostatic air filters, a HEPA filtration system and low-fume paints to minimize respiratory issues, high efficiency impact glass to withstand hurricane force winds, and a carbon monoxide detector.

“There are so many options today when it comes to creating a home that is truly energy efficient and a haven for healthy living,” said Pat Neal, president of Neal Communities and a noted devotee of eco-friendly building practices. “By making a few key choices, people can save themselves significant dollars with energy efficiencies and make the best use of our natural resources. Neal Communities is pleased to partner with the Green Alliance of Manatee County to help spread the word about the benefits of green living and how they can enhance the value and livability of real estate for everyone’s benefit.”

Neal Communities was instrumental in bringing the Green Alliance program to Manatee County. Green certification has been an area of interest for many local real estate professionals. The Green Real Estate Alliance is headquartered in Sarasota and recently opened a chapter in Venice. With the help of Peggy Christ, Broker and one of the few locally National Green Certified agent through NAR, Manatee County is following in those steps, with this seminar being the first of a potential series of “green” educational program offered to MAR members.

As the company celebrates its 40th year, Neal Communities has reinforced its reputation as Southwest Florida’s largest, locally owned and operated, private builder.  Neal Communities touts large unused credit lines, debt free land, with long range plans to purchase additional property for building. Neal Communities has a long history of responsible land development, natural habitat preservation, innovative home building, and unsurpassed customer service, which has been a benchmark of the company’s success. Forty-one Aurora Awards, twenty-six 2008 Parade of Homes Awards, five Best in American Living Awards and hundreds of local and regional industry awards attest to a reputation that is without equal.  For more information, visit nealcommunities.com.