With gas pushing five dollars a gallon, energy-dollar aware consumers are looking at every possible way to save and conserve these days. All of a sudden green anything is "in," conspicuous consumption is "out" and buyers today want the home of tomorrow yesterday.
"Hawaii's resources are not infinite, and we need to take steps to ensure a sustainable future for the next generations," says Mike Jones, division president of D.R. Horton's Schuler Division.
Retrofitting your existing house with new solar panels, energy-efficient Low E windows and appliances, and dual-flush toilets, has been gaining popularity but it can get expensive when you opt to install these one at a time. That's why Hawaii's top homebuilders are building a new generation of green, ready-for-occupancy homes that will start saving money the very day you move in.
Homebuilders contend one of the perks to buying a new home — like buying a new car, a new cell phone or a new television set — is that you get the most advanced technology available. In the residential construction industry, that means your home will be built to conserve energy and water more efficiently, the indoor air quality will be better as well as the building materials and methods used take into consideration the environment and preserving Hawaii's natural resources. Your new home today will be more comfortable at the same time you're saving money. If that sounds like Disney's Tomorrowland, it really is.
D.R. Horton, Schuler Division will soon be using the sun to help provide electricity to the homes in its newest community of Kahiwelo, which means 'place of the setting sun' in Hawaiian.
Recently, the progressive homebuilder has partnered with clean energy specialists Hoku Solar to offer residents at Kahiwelo photovoltaic technology, allowing homeowners to individually convert solar energy into electricity with little impact on the environment.
What's most impressive is this advanced technology makes it possible for homeowners to not only produce all their own energy needs, but to also sell back any extra electricity produced. Hoku estimates that owners of the photovoltaic systems could potentially save as much as $25,000 over a 25 year period as the cost of electricity continues to increase.
"D.R. Horton, Schuler Division is excited and proud to enter into this arrangement with Hoku Solar — who like us is one of the state's home-grown success stories — and we hope this is the first of many communities in which we join forces," says Jones. "Both of our companies have a strong commitment to the islands. Offering our buyers this kind of innovation is part of our dedication to creating a long-term, sustainable future for Hawaii while delivering an immediate cost savings opportunity to local families."
Solar water heating systems will also be offered as options at Kahiwelo, along with standard energy-efficient air conditioning, ceiling fans, double-pane windows, insulation in the attic and exterior walls and low-flush toilets.
Matias Besasso, co-owner of Maui based Rising Sun Solar Electric who is partnering with D.R. Horton on Maui, says "By offering these options to homebuyers, D.R. Horton, Schuler Division is helping to lead the charge to a more sustainable future for Hawaii. Finally we have come to a point where solar green options make both financial and environmental sense."
Gentry Homes, also champion for Hawaii's environment, now includes many green products and amenities as standard features in the homes they build.
In this local, family-owned company's newest master-planned community, Latitudes, each of the 90 homes is Energy Star approved, which means the efficiency of the home is 30 percent greater than the local building codes require.
Solar hot-water heating systems are a "standard feature" in Latitudes homes, meaning there is no additional cost to the buyer. Other such features are dual-pane Low E windows to keep the home cooler, central air conditioning systems that are 25 to 30 percent more energy efficient, low-flow plumbing to conserve water, open cell insulation and a fluorescent lighting package.
"Building with green in mind saves the customer money every single month," says Rick Hobson, vice president of sales and marketing. "The buyer can be more comfortable knowing that the electric bill will be more manageable and the environment will be sustained for their children. Building green is good for the environment and the buyer."
Buyers at Latitudes will also have the option of purchasing a photovoltaic solar panels package to capture the sun and finance this as part of their mortgage. This sophisticated system makes the homeowner the owner of their very own mini power substation — able to produce usable power with the solar panels on their roof.
Architectural design at Latitudes includes specific environmental considerations as well.
Gentry Homes understands the value of green building and strives to keep up with industry trends using innovative solutions.
Homes at Hoakalei Resort, developed by Haseko, on the southwestern coastline of Oahu's Ewa Plain, appeal to the planet-conscious buyer as well. In April, 15 model homes were unveiled at Ka Makana, the first residential community in the highly anticipated Ewa Marina project. Each one is Energy Star qualified and received the highest Gold ranking from the National Association of Home Builders.
The homes in Ka Makana are sold with solar hot water systems and are pre-wired for a optional photovoltaic solar electric system.
Proving that protecting the environment and state-of-the-art green building techniques do not have to be expensive, Mark Development has incorporated energy efficiency into the homes its building at Ke Ola O Pokai Bay, which are priced from the low $400,000s.
Determined to keep the homes affordably priced as well as reducing the recurring monthly costs for buyers, Craig Watase, president of Mark Development, made sure homebuyers would benefit from the low monthly operating expenses associated with its value-added green components. Standard features include solar panels, double-paned windows and insulation all intended to keep the home cooler. In addition to low energy costs, these single-family homes have no maintenance fees or homeowner's association fees.
Homes at Ke Ola O Pokai Bay have received the HECO Energy Value Housing Award and the BuiltGreen 2-Star Award as well as the Housing and Urban Development's Affordable Housing Award.
Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii's efforts to construct solar and wind farms on neighbor islands has potential for ensuring our future is bright green as well.
In addition to building homes with optional solar hot water heaters in Waikoloa and Makakilo, Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii plans to include these as standard features in most of the homes it builds in Kapolei in the future.
And while many of Oahu's homebuilders are participating in varying degrees of ecofriendliness, it is Castle & Cooke's approach to ensuring that Hawaii explore alternative energy sources that makes it the most progressive in the industry to date.
Currently, the homebuilder has a 10-acre solar photovoltaic farm under construction on Lanai and is testing a solar photovoltaic system on the Big Island. Additionally, and perhaps most impressive, is Castle & Cooke's efforts to develop a 400 megawatt wind farm comprising of 10,000 acres on Lanai. Still in the planning stages, if successful this project could ultimately produce electricity to supplement Oahu's needs, create new jobs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 220,000 cars off the road.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, good wind areas — which cover 6 percent of the Mainland — have the potential to supply more than one and a half times the current electricity consumption of the United States. Wind energy is the fastest-growing energy generating technology, expanding by 30 to 40-percent annually. DOE predicts that with proper development, wind energy could provide 20 percent of the nation's energy needs.
Today it is estimated that wind energy accounts for about 1 percent of the nation's electricity, but the industry is growing. Commercial wind-energy systems are currently installed in 34 states.
As energy costs continue to rise, consumers are saving money by making sure their home uses less energy through increased efficiency. Hawaii is calling on everyone to do their part. Anything you can do to reduce energy expenses today will pay off in the future. And if you're shopping for a new home, ask your builder how you can reduce the impact of the construction and the operation on the environment.
NOTE: For more information on homes built by D.R. Horton, Schuler Homes, go to www.drhortonhawaii.com/; Gentry Homes, www.gentryhawaii.com/; Haseko, www.haseko.com/; Mark Development, www.pokaibay.com/; and Castle & Cooke Hawaii, www.castlecookehawaii.com/.
