The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance honored FOCUS ON ENERGY® with the 2021 Inspiring Efficiency Education Award for its Real Estate Ambassador Initiative. Real estate professionals across Wisconsin started partnering with Focus on Energy in 2019 providing existing home buyers energy efficiency education and more than $800,000 in exclusive, energy-saving perks.

Focus on Energy has more than 600 Real Estate Ambassadors offering energy efficiency expertise, resources including a helpful Home Maintenance & Energy Guide, and a homebuyer “Welcome Kit” with a $125 heating and cooling tune-up voucher.

“Who wouldn’t want a FREE tune-up voucher to maintain their HVAC, and save money?” Laura Lahti, REALTOR® said. “I believe that being a part of this amazing program, I am not only helping others save money and create smart energy decisions, but we’re making our world a better place!”

“The average homebuyer spends more than $8,000 on home improvements and furnishings in the first year of owning their new home,” Focus on Energy Managing Director Lisa Stefanik said. “Real estate agents are in a unique position as a trusted resource to help their clients save money on their energy-efficient home improvement projects.”

According to a 2018 study from the National Association of REALTORS®:

• 78% of agents said that a home’s utility bills are somewhat or very important to clients.
• 69% of agents stated a comfortable living space is by far the most important home feature.
• 71% of agents and brokers said that energy efficiency promotion in listings was very or somewhat valuable.