Halstead Property

Diane M. Ramirez
President
dramirez@halstead.com
(212) 381-3203

John Wollberg
Executive Director of Sales, Park Avenue Flagship
jwollberg@halstead.com
(212) 381-3300

Brokerages Embrace The Green

By Maggie Hawryluk

Just about everything is going green these days: food, clothing, cars, condos. And now brokers are getting into the mix, practicing what they preach when the tout the newest LEED certified projects by taking on a few green initiatives of their own.
Halstead Property and Platinum Properties are the two latest brokerage firms to jump on the environmental wagon, announcing ways that they’[re changing their day-to-day operations for the better. And they’re both in it for the long haul.

“This is not an ‘on/off’ switch – it’s impossible to ‘green’ fully 100% immediately. We are taking baby steps to furthering our initiative,” Diane Ramirez, president of Halstead, said.

“For example, we hope to have all of our stationery and business cards printed on recycled paper by the end of this year. This initiative is not one that will go away -- it will be a constant item on our goals for years to come.”

The first leg of Halstead’s initiative will involve printing all direct mailings on 100% recycled paper, using the most energy efficient process; reducing the print circulation of the bi-annual magazine The Halstead Portfolio, opting rather to promote the online version; a recycled, Halstead logo bag and a free closing gift of an Energy Star light bulb with a pamphlet of environmentally conscious tips for homeowners.  Halstead has already ordered 2,000 light bulbs and 2,000 tote bags to get the initiative rolling.

The plan was announced at Halstead’s Semi-Annual event last month to a resounding sound of approval, and began with the help of the firm’s marketing division.

“Together with our marketing division, we identified a number of ways that we could be friendlier to the environment and then implemented them company-wide,” added Ramirez. “It’s important to remember that something like this can never be done in a day – it’s an ongoing process and we are taking what steps we can.”

To further promote this plan, each Halstead office will launch “green” internal agent committees to raise awareness. The first committee will be out of their Eastside office and led by John Wollberg, director of sales.

Platinum Properties will also begin incorporating environmentally friendly initiatives within its recently expanded office space. The Financial District-based company has integrated a new database that will reduce printing and paper waste. Additionally, Platinum will equip the office with energy-efficient light bulbs and Energy Star appliances, and have guests sign in electronically.

“In making our office more green, we hope this will allow us to do our part and give back to the environment,” said Sang H. Oh, director of Marketing and sales for Platinum. “Hopefully these small changes may also inspire our brokers and other firms to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.”
 

Wednesday, August 06, 2008