By Ruth Briggs King

They are terms still very foreign to many of us - green energy, "geothermal," "photovoltaic."

Yet they are terms that are becoming more and more a part of everyday life in Sussex County, in Delaware and across the country. It seems the hip thing to do today is to use some form of renewable energy in your business, or even in your primary residence.

And why not? With tax benefits and rebates offered by our state and federal governments, today truly is the best time to convert to renewable energy.

Leading the charge into this new, environmentally-friendly approach to energy usage is the nation's community of REALTORS^®, hard-working professionals who are diligently educating themselves on the various forms of green energy.

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, who has long championed the idea of renewable energy, was quoted last year as saying: "As the price of energy continues to rise and technology for solar and wind power continues to improve, we're going to see more people looking into these sources of energy."

Couple Carper's prediction with President-elect Barack Obama's announcement recently that he plans on creating up to five million new green jobs over the next 10 years, it seems the country will be taking giant steps into utilizing alternative forms of energy.

Which means there will be more homeowners - both current and future - who will also be on the cutting edge of the phenomenon.

It's one of our major goals here at the Sussex County Association of REALTORS^® - if there is an issue that impacts the housing market here in our county, we will see to it that our REALTORS^® are educated on the subject.

Such is the case with renewable energy. Delaware currently ranks sixth in the nation in the number of renewable energy installations per capita, trailing California, New Jersey, Arizona, New Mexico and Hawaii, according to data from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

It's quite apparent that Delaware is gradually going green, following a similar trend across the nation. As an organization of REALTORS^®, we will strive to stay at the forefront of the issue, one that promises to be an important part of the Obama administration.

"REALTORS^® build communities and are taking leading roles in promoting and encouraging green building practices," National Association of REALTORS^® President Richard Gaylord said recently. "Green homes and commercial buildings are our future; REALTORS^® realize that environmentally sensitive building practices and home features are a good investment for both their clients and the planet."

"REALTORS^® with green knowledge are valuable resources for environmentally conscious home buyers and sellers."

A recent survey conducted by NAR^® revealed that nine out of 10 REALTORS^® said their clients were interested in energy efficient features of green homes and the potential cost savings of such features. The same percentage agreed there will be even more interest in green building practices a year from now.

That growing interest has become apparent as well right here in Delaware.

In 2002, the first year of Delaware's green energy program, there were only four renewable energy installations statewide. That number has now hit the century mark for the first time, with 108 home and business owners installing renewable energy systems in Delaware last year.

The one thing that has held many homeowners back is the initial cost of such a system, which can be burdensome. However, more people are beginning to inquire about new technologies in the hope of including those upfront costs in new home mortgages, according to renewable energy contractors in Delaware.

It's inevitable that costs will eventually drop as technology develops - and we here at SCAOR, where one of our chief responsibilities is to be legislative watchdogs, will continue to monitor any new developments in green energy legislation on the state and federal levels.

The one thing that has become crystal clear in recent years, however, is that the move toward cleaner energy options is something that will continue to intensify over the weeks, months and years ahead.

Be it solar, wind power, geothermal or another form entirely, we will strive to remain on top of the issue as it evolves.

It's our privilege, as well as our responsibility, to do so.