NAR’s 2024 Sustainability Summit was held in Minneapolis

The annual Sustainability Summit, a National Association of Realtors® (NAR) event, provides insights, strategies, and networking opportunities to help attendees contribute to positive change, build resiliency in their businesses, and propel sustainable initiatives to new heights. Held recently on June 4-5 in Minneapolis, the event brought Realtors®, property managers, appraisers, brokers and other stakeholders together to learn about and discuss sustainability in housing and real estate.

The Saint Paul Area Association of Realtors® (SPAAR) was a major sponsor of the event.

This year's Sustainability Summit had a variety of offerings from a U.S. Bank stadium tour to a reception at Orchestra Hall. The bulk of the Summit took place at the Hilton in Downtown Minneapolis, where speakers shared their expertise in presentations, panel discussions and workshops. The American Planning Association shared their insights about forging future communities with sustainability in mind. The Ottawa Climate Action Fund spoke about getting on a path to low carbon, resilient housing. And the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance talked about building science solutions for climate resilience.

NAR coordinated the Summit and provided information about the fundamentals of sustainability and shared federal advocacy efforts to promote sustainability. State and local association members and staff contributed to the Summit’s offerings, too. Minnesota Realtors® CEO, Josh McFall, and Minneapolis Area Realtors® CEO, Carrie Chang, participated in a panel about trailblazing sustainability. Realtor® Rod Helm led a workshop on how to utilize NAR’s Sustainability Tool Kit to cultivate a culture of sustainability. Todd Shipman, broker and Realtor® shared with attendees how to use MLS home performance data to build better listings.

Amy Peterson, Realtor® and 2024 SPAAR President, hosted a panel titled From Grassroots to Green Roofs: Local Sustainability Efforts in The Heights. This panel focused on mixed use redevelopment at the former Hillcrest Golf Course in St. Paul, and how developers plan to reach goals to become one of the first Net Zero communities in the country with a Platinum LEED for Communities certification.

“Reducing the environmental impact of real estate through green building practices and incorporating energy-efficient technologies can help to reduce the overall cost of homeownership and increase property values," said SPAAR President Amy Peterson. "There are great incentives and tax credits available for residential and commercial properties, and Realtors® can provide value to our clients by sharing these options and connecting them to resources to help create a plan to reduce energy costs and create healthier living environments.”

NAR’s 2024 Sustainability Summit in Minneapolis was a great opportunity for Realtors® and other housing stakeholders to hear from experts about sustainability in housing, network with colleagues in their industry, and learn about tangible ways to incorporate sustainability to improve their businesses. The 2025 Sustainability Summit will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, with dates to be determined.

For more information on how SPAAR promotes sustainability in real estate, contact Government Affairs Directors Becky Wegscheid and Simon Opatz at bwegscheid@spaar.com or sopatz@spaar.com.