This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
REAL estate agents are renowned for blowing hot air but at least Sydney's McGrath Estate Agents is looking to offset its emissions.
McGrath’s chief executive John McGrath said the agency has become the world’s first residential real estate group to offset their operations by embedding carbon credits into each and every property sale transaction.
McGrath will make their carbon program sustainable by collecting a $50 contribution upon each property sale which will be used to purchase the corresponding amount of carbon credits, sourced from Forests NSW, to counter the emissions used during the sale process.
McGrath said the agency is also developing operational procedures to create a green office culture. Steps such as efficient lighting, further waste recycling and use of recycled suppliers and products are being introduced throughout the business to further reduce their carbon footprint.
Carbon Planet’s executive chairman Jim Johnson said there have been a couple of small real estate offices trying to achieve this status but McGrath is the first large group to effectively offset its emissions through every transaction.
Australian Property Journal
