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activism, activist, agent, awareness, éducation, housing, industry, real estate

Eco Profile: Green Real Estate Agent Chris Chopik

Most of the year, Chris Chopik can be seen cruising around on his distinctive neon-green Strida, meeting clients at properties around Toronto. By going car-free, he says, he saves nearly five tonnes of CO2 a year. "It may seem weird, but…it's been very positive despite the logistical challenges. When you're in a car, you don't really experience neighbourhoods—the smell of the air and the demeanour of the people—in the same way. I say that house-hunting, like life, is better by bike, and I believe that. I love working with people in the context of real estate, but not if we have to do it in an SUV and drive up to [the distant suburbs].”

Chopik first identified as an environmentalist in the early 1990s, while studying philosophy and natural sciences at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont. “I attended a lecture by David Suzuki where he cited human beings as ants consuming without thought of consequence,” he says. “It struck me as universally true. When I looked around and applied it to the majority of human behaviour, it seemed undebatably accurate.”

Chopik did some fundraising for Earthroots and gave talks on environmental issues while working in various industries (including IT and publishing), but it wasn't until 2003 that he found a way to merge his environmentalism and entrepreneurial streak—real estate. “It offered a product people were used to buying, a product attached to 25% of our greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto,” he says, adding that few realtors were talking about home energy efficiency. “I came to the industry specifically to green the industry and be part of a market transformation.”

An instructor at the Toronto Real Estate Board, Chopik teaches realtors how to green their businesses and marketing. He encourages them to make eco-friendly changes, and then tell their clients—potentially hundreds per realtor—about those changes. “We have an incredible opportunity to help consumers understand it's in their interest—because the future value of their house is attached to energy consumption—and help them plug into [urban green organizations].”

Chopik encourages colleagues to find something they're passionate about—whether it's greener gardening, eco-technology or non-toxic playgrounds—and turning it into a vehicle for connecting with people. “Pick the thing you really like and use that as your wedge and go for it.”

When working with clients, Chopik seeks homes that reduce their transportation time. “Quality of life matters. If you're spending an hour each way commuting to work, that's 10 hours a week, or six weeks every year, spent sitting in your car, and in my view, that sucks.” (When snow forces him to leave his bike at home, Chopik depends on public transit and occasionally AutoShare, a car-sharing program.)

Chopik also points out that demand is rising for energy-efficient homes and environmentally friendly building materials, so going green when building or doing renovations is good for property value. “It's about making your home future-friendly. If you do the energy-performance renovations today, you won't miss the opportunity.”

Take advantage of renovations you already have planned, and take a green step. For example, Chopik says, if you're gutting your kitchen, insulate the walls. If you're replacing your furnace, choose a high-efficiency model. “When you sell in the future, when the market is more mature, it's going to be an asset you can expect the marketplace to pay for.”

He tells clients what rebates they may get for eco-friendly home renovations, and his website, evolutiongreen.com, offers green building news and sustainable-living tips. (He's listed as “Director of Evolution.”)

Chopik says his green business methods haven't hurt his revenue—he ranks among the top third of agents at his brokerage, Bosley Real Estate. “My prediction is that within three years, the idea that a ‘green realtor' is something special is going to be passé,” says Chopik. “It will hopefully be part of the mainstream realtor knowledge base, and its practices are going to be best practices.”