HECO's Robbie Alm & Rhonda Goyke on NHH at KGMB
Hawaiian Electric Company's Robbie Alm and Green Sand Incorporated Rhonda Goyke were interviewed by Howard Dicus. The BIA Hawaii is inviting bids for a new Hawaiian home designed for energy efficiency in a Hawaiian style. To watch the KGMB Sept 20 segment, click here.
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Why is green construction important from the perspective of the BIA?
The Building Industry is experiencing a change in how business is done today and how this industry will be doing business in the future. The BIA takes a leadership role in advocating for the industry to enhance the quality of life for the people of Hawai`i. This is our mission and we are doing everything we can to bring the industry in-line with what is being asked by the market we serve.
We have come full circle and are going back to the roots of building like it was done by first generation builders. They were truly Green Builders and today we are going back to the practice of masters.
· We are conscientiously conserving the use of materials and the result is less waste going to the dump and lower cost for less materials.
· We are paying attention to how we position windows for natural lighting, for the reduction of heat gain, and to take advantage of our wonderful trade winds. We are maximizing natural ventilation by using insulation and radiant barriers to reduce the use of air conditioning. We lessen the need for lighting when the sun is out.
· We are reusing construction debris like concrete, wood, glass, and steel to lessen the amount of construction waste we create and the resources to mine more ore and we now growing forests to create more trees.
· We are paying attention to what we are buying, how we are buying and how we storing these materials so as not to create toxic air, or damage inventory before needed creating waste.
· We are now learning to conserve our resources, reuse our materials, and take responsibility for how we build responsibly because we care about our environment and it is the right thing to do.
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By Karen T. Nakamura
How does the design of the home impact how we live?
By: Ka`iulani K. Sodaro, AICP
Our homes, the most intimate of spaces in which we spend time, are more than places of sanctuary, retreat, and safety. They are spaces that reflect our values and priorities as individuals, families, and communities. A shared value and priority for us all is protecting the unique place we all call home – Hawai`i.
The New Hawaiian Home rises to this challenge: to move homeownership to a greener, more sustainable lifestyle thereby protecting the precious island environment we all share.
Through the design process, sustainable living can be translated into design elements that shape our behavior inside our homes as well as how we operate them.
For example, integrating the surrounding outdoor environment of the site with the home’s interior living spaces can create inviting gathering spaces. Providing for ample daylighting, increased natural ventilation and multiple access points to the yard creates a sense of openness and connectedness to our environment and neighbors. Further, “living outdoors” reduces the energy/electricity demands of “living indoors” by reducing the need for lighting and air-conditioning. Outside dining patio areas, open room views, and generous fenestration of rooms reinforce the connectedness of living beyond four walls.
In effort to reduce operating costs and the home’s energy load, the incorporation of Energy Star appliances, attic insulation and solar ventilation fans, solar hot water heating, and solar photovoltaic panels are all additional ways to design for a low energy impact home.
Lastly, a key sustainable design element is productive landscaping. Shade and fruit trees, raised and vertical garden beds, an aquaponic system, composting area, rainwater harvesting barrels, and plants with cultural use and value are all examples of living a sustainable lifestyle.
The New Hawaiian Home is striving to demonstrate that our homes can be places where we live responsibly and provide for a more sustainable future for our families, communities, and ultimately our Hawai`i.
Ka`iulani K. Sodaro, AICP
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Development & Support Division
Kamehameha Schools
Our homes, the most intimate of spaces in which we spend time, are more than places of sanctuary, retreat, and safety. They are spaces that reflect our values and priorities as individuals, families, and communities. A shared value and priority for us all is protecting the unique place we all call home – Hawai`i.
The New Hawaiian Home rises to this challenge: to move homeownership to a greener, more sustainable lifestyle thereby protecting the precious island environment we all share.
Through the design process, sustainable living can be translated into design elements that shape our behavior inside our homes as well as how we operate them.
For example, integrating the surrounding outdoor environment of the site with the home’s interior living spaces can create inviting gathering spaces. Providing for ample daylighting, increased natural ventilation and multiple access points to the yard creates a sense of openness and connectedness to our environment and neighbors. Further, “living outdoors” reduces the energy/electricity demands of “living indoors” by reducing the need for lighting and air-conditioning. Outside dining patio areas, open room views, and generous fenestration of rooms reinforce the connectedness of living beyond four walls.
In effort to reduce operating costs and the home’s energy load, the incorporation of Energy Star appliances, attic insulation and solar ventilation fans, solar hot water heating, and solar photovoltaic panels are all additional ways to design for a low energy impact home.
Lastly, a key sustainable design element is productive landscaping. Shade and fruit trees, raised and vertical garden beds, an aquaponic system, composting area, rainwater harvesting barrels, and plants with cultural use and value are all examples of living a sustainable lifestyle.
The New Hawaiian Home is striving to demonstrate that our homes can be places where we live responsibly and provide for a more sustainable future for our families, communities, and ultimately our Hawai`i.
Ka`iulani K. Sodaro, AICP
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Development & Support Division
Kamehameha Schools
New Hawaiian Home - view from street
Rendering of view from the street, image courtesy of Jeff Brink Inc.
New Hawaiian Home - Landscape Plan
Conceptual landscape plan for the New Hawaiian Home, courtesy of PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc.
What is green building really?
There is a lot of confusion about what is a green or sustainable home. The confusion is understandable because this is a highly complex question and topic and there is not one right answer. There is instead an “it depends” answer that so many of us find frustrating.
What I mean is that true green building practices cover many topics, strategies, and technologies and can be pushed to an almost infinite level. I like to call this “shades of green” because the spectrum of green design is so broad.
There are shades of green for:
- Energy: How much energy are you saving and what is the source of the energy? I.e. are you generating the energy you consume or does your energy source come from the burning of imported fossil fuels?
- Water: How much water are you saving and what is the source of that water? Are you using potable water for landscaping when you could be using harvested rainwater?
- Rainwater management: Are you collecting and using rain on the property or is this precious resource running off your property, down the storm drain and carrying pollutants to our near shore resources?
- Landscaping: Are you using native and adaptive species appropriate for your neighborhood?
- What materials are used in your home: Are there materials that could be used that are healthier?
These topics are some of the most commonly discussed and each has a scale for implementation or “greenness”. For example, are you generating 5% of the energy that you are using or 100%? 5% is good but 100% is great, so you see it “all depends”. Factors that influence the shade of green on any project include the goals, the needs, the site, and the budget. So we are left with shades of green.
The ultimate goal is what I call Dark Green projects. That is when all the strategies and technologies come together is a significant manner which results in a much lower footprint, higher quality of life, and importantly the life cycle analysis (life cost) is lower than conventional construction. That is the goal. Everyone wins
What I mean is that true green building practices cover many topics, strategies, and technologies and can be pushed to an almost infinite level. I like to call this “shades of green” because the spectrum of green design is so broad.
There are shades of green for:
- Energy: How much energy are you saving and what is the source of the energy? I.e. are you generating the energy you consume or does your energy source come from the burning of imported fossil fuels?
- Water: How much water are you saving and what is the source of that water? Are you using potable water for landscaping when you could be using harvested rainwater?
- Rainwater management: Are you collecting and using rain on the property or is this precious resource running off your property, down the storm drain and carrying pollutants to our near shore resources?
- Landscaping: Are you using native and adaptive species appropriate for your neighborhood?
- What materials are used in your home: Are there materials that could be used that are healthier?
These topics are some of the most commonly discussed and each has a scale for implementation or “greenness”. For example, are you generating 5% of the energy that you are using or 100%? 5% is good but 100% is great, so you see it “all depends”. Factors that influence the shade of green on any project include the goals, the needs, the site, and the budget. So we are left with shades of green.
The ultimate goal is what I call Dark Green projects. That is when all the strategies and technologies come together is a significant manner which results in a much lower footprint, higher quality of life, and importantly the life cycle analysis (life cost) is lower than conventional construction. That is the goal. Everyone wins
Welcome to the blog for the New Hawaiian Home.
This blog has been set up as a forum to share ideas and details about the New Hawaiian Home and initiate a dialogue about green or sustainable design in an open practical application for Hawaii. This project is intended to be a learning classroom; we invite you to our classroom and to be an active participant. Please submit questions or topics that you would like us to discuss.
We will begin with new topics for information and dialogue. Topics may change as interests come to light in the weeks ahead.
- What is green building really?
- How does the design of the home impact how we live?
- Why is green construction important from the perspective of the BIA?
- Do you foresee an increase in the demand for green homes? Why do you think there is this interest?
- How is passive design different than standard home design?
- Why is up front planning and design critical to successful green design?
- What classes can individuals take to learn more about sustainable homes building practices? (CGP class)
- How can planning for the project upfront reduce waste?
- How does a whole house fan work?
- What are aquaponics?
- How does light fixture selection impact energy efficiency.
We will begin with new topics for information and dialogue. Topics may change as interests come to light in the weeks ahead.
- What is green building really?
- How does the design of the home impact how we live?
- Why is green construction important from the perspective of the BIA?
- Do you foresee an increase in the demand for green homes? Why do you think there is this interest?
- How is passive design different than standard home design?
- Why is up front planning and design critical to successful green design?
- What classes can individuals take to learn more about sustainable homes building practices? (CGP class)
- How can planning for the project upfront reduce waste?
- How does a whole house fan work?
- What are aquaponics?
- How does light fixture selection impact energy efficiency.
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