EcoBroker flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Advocacy ladder

A four-step sequence for influencing a client: inform with data, interpret the impact, recommend a specific action, then secure a written commitment. Skipping steps yields interest without follow-through.

Triple bottom line

A screening framework that scores a recommendation on environmental, social, and financial return. A measure strong on only one axis is a talking point, not an advocacy position.

Simple payback period

Upfront cost divided by annual savings, expressed in years. Always state the utility rate, usage, and escalation assumptions, because a payback without assumptions cannot be audited.

Avoided-cost valuation

Annual savings divided by a capitalization rate, used to estimate the value a buyer might assign to an efficiency upgrade. Disclose the rate and label the result an estimate, not an appraisal.

Greenwashing four-part test

Check whether a claim is specific, third-party substantiated, free of omitted material trade-offs, and paired with a disclosed baseline. Failing two or more means the claim should not be repeated.

ENERGY STAR

A voluntary U.S. program labeling appliances, equipment, and buildings that meet specified efficiency thresholds. Cite it for energy performance, not for water, materials, or indoor air quality.

WaterSense

A voluntary EPA labeling program for fixtures and appliances meeting water-efficiency criteria. Use it when advising on toilets, showerheads, faucets, or irrigation rather than on energy performance.

LEED certification

A voluntary green building rating system covering design, construction, and operations across categories such as energy, water, materials, and site. It is not a legal requirement unless a jurisdiction adopts it.

Mandatory code versus voluntary standard

A code is adopted and enforced by a jurisdiction; a standard such as LEED or passive house is voluntary unless referenced. Presenting a voluntary certification as legally required misleads the client.

Stakeholder veto map

A list of parties who can block a measure: owner, occupant, lender, insurer, contractor, and local authority. Identify who must say yes before proposing the upgrade.

Measure bundling rule

Pair short-payback measures such as lighting and controls with long-payback measures such as envelope and HVAC replacement, so the combined package produces positive cash flow.

Visible-benefit prioritization

Favor measures with short payback, occupant-visible results, and low installation disruption. Visible benefits sustain client engagement through the longer, less visible projects.

Baseline disclosure

Stating the comparison point for any performance claim, such as code-minimum construction or prior-year usage. A savings percentage without a baseline is unverifiable and should be withheld.

Third-party substantiation

Verification of a green claim by an independent certifier, lab, or program rather than the seller alone. It converts a marketing statement into evidence a client can rely on.

Occupant behavior factor

The gap between modeled and actual performance caused by how people use a building. Advocacy should include commissioning and occupant education, not just equipment specification.

Advocacy message structure

Lead with the client's stated goal, follow with one supporting data point, then a single recommended action and the cost. Multiple recommendations in one message dilute commitment.

Plain-language rule

Explain to the least-informed party in the room without condescension. Jargon used to display expertise reads as pressure and lowers trust, especially with first-time buyers.

Compensation disclosure

Stating who pays you and how before giving a recommendation. Undisclosed compensation is the most common source of perceived betrayal in advisory relationships.

Client capacity check

Confirming budget, timeline, health, and household situation before recommending an upgrade. A technically correct recommendation the client cannot absorb is not a caring one.

Confidentiality boundary

Client financial and personal details stay out of marketing, case studies, and casual conversation unless written permission is obtained. Assume no implied consent to share.

Conflict-of-interest rule

If a recommendation benefits you, a related business, or a family member, disclose it in writing and offer at least one alternative you do not profit from.

Competence-based referral

Referring to a qualified third party when an issue exceeds your expertise, such as structural, legal, tax, or medical matters. Overreaching is a care failure even when well-intentioned.

Teach-back confirmation

Asking the client to restate what they understood and what concerns remain. Silence is not agreement, and unasked questions surface later as complaints.

Vulnerable-client protocol

For elderly, ill, or financially stressed clients: slow the pace, invite a trusted third party, and document that the decision was the client's own and freely made.

Error repair script

Acknowledge the specific mistake, state the remedy and timeline, and omit excuses. Fast honest correction preserves trust better than an unblemished record.

Informed consent

The client understands the recommendation, its cost, its risks, and the alternatives before agreeing. Consent obtained without comprehension is not consent.

Non-judgmental framing

Presenting options without shaming a client's past choices or budget limits. Shame produces withdrawal, and a withdrawn client makes no improvements at all.

Documented advice trail

Written records of what was recommended, what was declined, and why. It protects the client's ability to revisit options and protects you if memory or personnel changes.

Accessible communication

Adapting format for language, literacy, vision, or hearing needs, such as translated summaries, large print, or spoken walkthroughs. Access is a precondition for informed consent.

Reasonable expectation setting

Stating realistic timelines, savings ranges, and disruption before work begins. Overpromising produces disappointment that clients experience as having been misled.

Duty to warn

Telling the client promptly about a discovered hazard such as mold, asbestos, or a safety defect, even when it complicates the transaction or delays your fee.

Culturally responsive care

Adapting recommendations to household practices, customs, and decision structures rather than assuming a single standard of living. Efficiency advice that ignores use patterns fails in practice.