What is GS4?

In November of 2007 the Traverse Area Association of REALTORS® was approached by a couple of our Eco-Broker™ certified members with a request to collaborate with the regional Homebuilders Association to develop criteria for the Multiple Listing Service that would reflect green building efforts. To fulfill this request a cross-functional team was assembled to design the criteria fields for the MLS effort. Out of this exercise came the realization that in conjunction with this undertaking an educational effort needed to take place as well.  A focus group was convened to brainstorm a branding strategy for this combined effort that would appeal to the professional and public audiences. Green Solutions 4: Homebuilding, Commercial Construction, Remodel and Rehab and Real Estate Development program or the “GS4” was created to fulfill this education and outreach effort. Since June of 2008 this program has expanded to include many other areas of sustainable philosophies beyond the original scope and yet the decision was made to keep the GS4 (for) brand indicating an effort to develop more “green solutions for” living. This philosophical shift  is summed up in the four basic tenets of the GS4 mission statement, “Providing real solutions for people to live better healthier lives, save money, reduce their ecological impact, and save our precious resources”.