Local realtor continues to work through company’s student housing portfolio to make properties more sustainable
RALEIGH, NC – August 31, 2010 – The Preiss Company (TPCO), specializing in the development, acquisition, and management of off-campus student housing, has announced that Kyle Barger has been awarded the National Association of REALTORS®’(NAR) Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR. Barger achieved this prestigious designation after completing a course designed specifically for REALTORS®.
Barger has been with TPCO since 2007 and is currently the company’s Director of Construction Management responsible for managing capital improvement projects and overseeing TPCO’s “Green Initiative”, which focuses on making properties more environmentally friendly while helping to reduce costs. Since 2008, Barger has worked across the company’s student housing properties in Austin, TX; Raleigh, NC; Myrtle Beach, SC; Charlotte, NC; Auburn, AL; and Statesboro, GA to make the properties more sustainable.
“For the last two years, The Preiss Company has invested over $500,000 in green improvements,” says Barger. “We’ve installed new flooring, lighting, and water-saving devices throughout our properties. Over the next several years, we will continue to help set the standard in off-campus student housing green efforts by possibly developing a LEED Certified Student Housing Development Project in Raleigh, NC, as well as continuing to green our portfolio with more sustainable products.”
The NAR Green Designation courses were created in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of industry experts from across the country to ensure designees gain comprehensive knowledge of green homes and buildings and issues of sustainability in relation to real estate. More specifically, designees are trained in understanding what makes a property green, helping clients evaluate the cost/benefits of green building features and practices, distinguishing between industry rating and classification systems, listing and marketing green homes and buildings, discussing the financial grants and incentives available to homeowners and helping consumers see a property’s green potential.
NAR’s Green Designation was developed in response to growing consumer awareness of the benefits of resource-efficient homes and buildings. The designation helps consumers who care about energy efficiency and sustainable building practices identify REALTORS® who can help them realize their green real estate and lifestyle goals. “Living green is about making healthy choices that are also easy on your wallet,” says Al Medina, Director of NAR’s Green Designation.
Throughout 2009 and 2010, TPCO has continued installing and replacing compact fluorescents (CFC) lighting where possible, using low or no VOC paint, regularly replacing filters to increase efficiency, and replacing existing toilets with high-efficiency flapperless toilets to conserve water. Barger also is working to reduce the company’s yearly expenditures by establishing several strategic contracts with national vendors.
“The goal of The Preiss Company is to show that you don’t have to sacrifice personal comfort for global cause,” adds Barger. “Not only are we creating a first-class living experience for our residents, but we’re also taking the initiative to ensure that all of our properties are more efficient and help us continue to preserve our natural resources. We’re proud of our efforts and our tenants have responded favorably to our environmental commitment.”
For more information about NAR’s Green Designation, visit www.greenresourcecouncil.org.
About The Preiss Company
Founded in 1987 by Donna Preiss, The Preiss Company employs over 240 team members and is one of the largest and fastest growing providers of off-campus student housing in the United States. TPCO is the leader in the development of new technologies, tools, and strategies for the student housing industry and also acts as a receiver for several national banks. In its 23rd year, the company is the 11th largest off-campus student housing provider in the nation—having formed over 50 partnerships and developed over 20 projects stretching from Maryland to Texas. For more information, visit www.tpco.com.