What made your hero take action?
25% OF GHGs come from homes, where you and I have complete control over whether we insulate, draft proof and turn down the thermostat, yet when you buy a house you rarely find information about energy consumption. This was the problem that Chris Chopik entered the Real Estate Marketplace to address. Today Chris is working with Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments and the Toronto Real Estate Board to make it easier for the Home Buying public to distinguish and understand the value of Green Real Estate. Chris Teaches his peers about Green Building, Energy and Climate and Renewable Energies. Chris believes that actions speak louder than words and his primary income comes from selling houses by bike; his slogan Real Estate Like Life is Better by Bike.

What were some of the challenges they faced?
Personal sustainability, dividing time between making a living and volunteering time to important projects that serve the greater good while achieving a work life balance. In working with large organizations and governments there are ongoing challenges that have halted momentum supporting Chris' efforts. As an example, the ecoEnergy program delivered by the federal government was creating marketplace infrastructure capacity and growing energy literacy among Canadians. The momentum was virtually haulted when the ecoEnrgy Programming funding was discontinued. Chris has a talent for working around problems and discovering new ways to achieve similar ends. This entrepreneurial creativity has allowed Chris to create successes and maintain momentum despite continually changing public policy.

What did they achieve?
Public Policy: Chris was a trusted adviser in the creation of the Home Energy Rating Act 2008. This Ontario private members bill was folded into the Green Energy Act and when presented to the Provincial Legislature it received all party support. Energy Literacy: Chris is a Real Estate Trainer having reached over 2500 Ontario Realtors(r) with his half day training session. Marketplace Development and Energy Literacy: Chris has also influenced his peers through published writings in the Real Estate Members Journal, Builder Architect, and training sessions at the Green Building Festival. Chris has invested in growing public awareness on issues through Television appearances on Breakfast Television, Global News, CH Hamilton, Daytime Toronto, Greening Greater Toronto, Daytime Toronto, CBC TV and Radio, and through his published writings. Volunteerism: In addition to all of this Chris has worked extensively with community groups on solar bulk purchases, home retrofit, local economy, and urban forestry issues. Chris is currently listed as a supporter of Green Enterprise Ontario, and is a Board member of LEAF.

What has happened since? How are they inspiring people today?
Chris continues is an adviser to the NRCan Energy Rating System Secretariat; he has recently developed a pilot collaboration between the City of Toronto and the Toronto Real Estate Board which will put home energy efficiency into the hands of home owners when they buy a new house. Chris continues to work with homeowners, governments and Realtors(r) to accelerate the energy literacy of the consuming public and to propel progressive building standards and building labeling.