Though Hawaii announced its goal of producing 70% of its total energy needs from renewable sources by 2030 back in January, the program got further support yesterday with the announcement that a “historic accord” has been reached between the current state government and the Hawaiian Electric Company.

Though the details of many of the agreements points have yet to be worked out, what is planned is certainly a step in the right direction. Here they are:

Ban on Coal Plants, Increased RPS, Feed-in-Tariff Creation, Biofuels
The Renewable Portfolio Standard for electricity is doubled to 40% by 2030.

A new feed-in-tariff system will be created to encourage renewable energy installation. Details on how much different renewable energy technologies will be receiving have not been disclosed. Conversion of existing fossil fuel generating plants to “renewable biofuels, ultimately using crops grown locally and in a sustainable manner.” Currently Hawaii generates about three-quarters of its electricity from oil-fired plants. A prohibition on construction of any new coal plants in Hawaii.

Solar Hot Water Program Expanded
In addtion to a mandatory installation of solar water heaters on all new developments by 2010, there wil be an expansion of the Pay-As-You-Save program, under which customers can install solar hot water systems with no money down.

Transmission Grid Integration
Construction on an undersea cable connecting Maui, Molokai and Lanai into one electric grid so that 400 MW of wind power generated on Maui can be transmitted to Oahu. Integration of 1100 MW of “already identified additional renewable energy” into the grid, 700 MW of which will be done within five years.

The complete list of items to be implemented under the agreement is available here: Hawaiian Electric Company

This brand new, never lived in, Kai Malu luxury townhome boasts one the very best views in the complex. Enjoy beautiful ocean and outer island views from the lower living area and both the Master and Guest bedrooms. This 3 bedroom 2.5 bathroom home offers privacy, luxury, and all the ammenities the world reknowned Wailea Development has to offer.

Upgrades include private spa, granite counter outdoor enertaining area with stainless steel BBQ and private lanai. Energy Star Air Conditioner and many other Ecofriendly features throughout. Additionally, the community pavilion, work out room, and large infinity edge pool has one of the best views in Wailea.

Kai Malu Pavilion Pool

Exterior of 61B Kai Malu

This is a great investment opportunity! Buyers can reap the cost savings benefits provided by energy efficent upgrades and design!!!

Green Features:
Smoke Free, Local Materials Used , Energy Star Air Conditioner, Programable Thermostat, Double Pane Windows, GE Monogram Appliances, Wall to wall Carpet, Granite Countertops, Tile throughout, Automatic lighting controls, Local Recycling Facility Nearby, With in 1 mile to Shops and Restaurants, Park and Public Lands Nearby, Natural Drainage Features, Native Landscaping, Roof Overhangs, Tile Roof, Wood Insulation, Passive Solar Design, Southern Exposure, Public Transport within 1 mile, On site Recycling Facilities

Visit EcoBroker Meghan Clair’s Website:www.LuxuryGreenRealEstateMaui.com

EcoBroker International Article
By Ryan Moehring

With just about a month to go before one of the most anticipated presidential elections in U.S. history, we thought that you might appreciate a non-partisan snapshot on where the candidates stand on climate and energy issues.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Both candidates support a cap-and-trade system. For the uninitiated, this type of system is designed to cut overall emissions by a predetermined, legally enforced percentage. Every large-scale carbon emitter has to obtain a permit for every ton of carbon dioxide it emits into the atmosphere. Over time, the limits become stricter until the ultimate reduction goal is met. This is the cap. The trade results when companies who do not use all of their permits sell them to companies who cannot make their reductions. In this way, overall reductions are assured and more efficient companies are rewarded. Under Barack Obama’s plan, U.S. emissions would be cut by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. John McCain proposes reducing emissions by 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. While Obama would auction off 100 percent of emission credits, McCain would initially give away credits then eventually phase in a similar auction structure. McCain would also allow companies to buy carbon offsets instead of reducing their emissions, a policy Obama opposes.

Renewable Energy
John McCain recently unveiled his Lexicon Project, which is described on his web site as an “all of the above energy solution.” McCain supports renewable energy and concedes that “green jobs and green technology will be vital to our economic future,” but he has not offered a specific plan to date. He has said that he will “encourage the market for alternative, low carbon fuels such as wind, hydro, and solar power.” Obama supports a renewable portfolio standard. Under his plan, the U.S. would get 10 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2012. That number would increase to 25 percent by 2025. Over the next 10 years, Obama would invest $150 billion in renewables, biofuels, and efficiency, an endeavor he claims will create 5 million green jobs.

Nuclear Energy
John McCain is an ardent supporter of nuclear power and has pledged to build 45 new nuclear plants in the U.S. by 2030, eventually increasing that number to 100 new plants. Barack Obama has stated that nuclear power should “continue to be part of the energy mix,” but has also stated that it is “not a great option,” citing concerns with safety and storage of spent nuclear reactive fuel rods. Obama has opposed storage of such nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain storage facility.

Offshore Drilling
Both candidates have been accused of “flip-flopping” on the issue of offshore drilling. Historically, Barack Obama has opposed opening up our coastal waters to drilling. In August 2008, he conceded that he would consider “some” offshore drilling if doing so would ensure the passage of a comprehensive energy plan. John McCain also has strongly opposed domestic offshore drilling in the past. However, his stance has recently changed and he now supports drilling. According to his web site, “the current federal moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf stands in the way of energy exploration and production.”

Fuel Economy Standards
Both candidates have said that fuel economy standards for automobiles should be raised. While John McCain has not offered specific targets, he has said that he would more strictly enforce existing standards, as many auto manufacturers routinely ignore them and opt to pay a small fine for their noncompliance. Barack Obama has suggested spending $4 billion to help auto manufacturers update their plants to produce more efficient vehicles. He would also increase fuel efficiency standards by 4 percent, which equals roughly one mile per gallon, per year. Obama also supports putting one million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2012. McCain has pledged to give away a $300 million prize to the developer of a battery that significantly bolsters the storage capacity of plug-in and hybrid vehicles.

To learn more about the candidates’ positions on other critical energy and environmental issues, please visit the following websites:

http://www.grist.org/candidate_chart_08.html

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech
_080308.pdf

http://www.johnmccain.com//Informing/Issues/17671aa4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4.htm

Descriptions of the candidates and their policies are not and should not be perceived as endorsements. EcoBroker does not endorse political candidates. However, we do hope that the preceding paragraphs provide you with enough information to spark your interest and encourage you to learn more about the issues. Voting is an important right you hold as an American and we sincerely hope that you will exercise that right this November

The GREEN HOUSING MARKET is growing lush and luxurious…

According to the National Association of Home Builders, even as the housing market has moderated in many parts of the country, the demand for Green Homes is exceeding the available supply, despite the fact that green home building has risen 50% since 2004.

Why the growing appeal? People are drawn to making their homes healthier, living more lightly on the planet, and experiencing the economic benefits of saving energy.

IN A NATIONAL SURVEY 78% OF CONSUMERS SAID THEY WOULD CHOOSE ONE HOME OVER ANTOTHER BASED ON IT’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND THE MAJORITY WOULD PAY MORE FOR ENERGY-SAVING FEATURES.

Maui’s First Female EcoBroker: Meghan Clair of Windermere Real Estate Wailea, can strongly assist SELLERS by making their Home stand out amongst the crowded inventory. Meghan is professionally certified to highlight the eco-aspects of their property to potential buyers, market their property on a variety of GREEN specific websites, and overall earn them top dollar for their home.

Meghan Clair can also assist BUYERS in finding homes that are healthier to occupy, more energy efficient to operate, and that are potentially more valuable in a re-sale situation in the future.

IT PAYS TO THINK GREEN, WHEN INVESTING IN MAUI REAL ESTATE!

MClair@Windermere.com

w-premiere-mag-green-article.pdf

Real Estate
Millionaires’ Green Mansions
Lucy Maher

With 200-year-old Spanish roof tiles, 18th-century wood doors and flawless terracotta floors, the home developer Geoffrey de Sibert is building on a cul de sac in Monterey, Calif., certainly is a nod to the past.

But don’t let the Old World details fool you. The 11,000-square-foot Mediterranean-inspired manse also boasts cutting-edge, energy-efficient features such as concrete walls with four times the insulation of standard wood walls, solar-powered heating and a water filtration system that recycles rain water to hydrate the lawns.

“We felt that, given that we are dealing with new construction, we should make this house as energy-efficient as possible,” de Sibert says. “If one is prepared to plan ahead and make some sensible decisions, you can be environmentally friendly. It doesn’t in any way interfere with a beautiful home.”

De Sibert is not alone. Hollywood, high-tech and high-powered types are becoming greener and more energy independent. The shift toward more environmentally friendly homes may be prompted by conscience or health concerns. And the 2001 California blackouts, the Northeast blackout of 2003 and the hurricanes that left some Florida residents without power for weeks last year have encouraged more non-tree-huggers to consider alternative power sources–or go off the grid entirely–for their residences.

Luxury Green Home Slide Show Forbes

Meghan Clair of Windermere Real Estate Wailea LLC is the First Female EcoBroker on the Island of Maui. In just this past year, Meghan’s Eco-Efforts have had an integral impact on the community. She has helped raise EcoAwareness through recycling charitys, sponsoring and organizing Green Building Seminars, implementing eco-pracitces in her office, beach clean ups, and assisting her clients with the lastest information on ecofriendly home choices. Look for Meghan’s “Green Home Listings” this fall.

IT PAYS TO THINK GREEN, WHEN INVESTING IN MAUI REAL ESTATE!

MClair@Windermere.com

Read Full Forbes Article Luxury Green Real Estate2006

One of the latest trends in home staging (preparing a property to get a quicker sale and the best possible price) is to include Eco-friendly practices. While in a market where there is a lot of similar inventory for sale, sellers have to make special incentives to differentiate their property…here are a few EcoFriendly staging ideas to make your home unique, justify pricing, and improve quailty of living!

Eco-Friendly Staging Tips

1. Flooring
Lots of buyers are concerned about allergies. Old carpets are full of chemicals, toxins, and allergens. The carpet should be removed and replaced with a natural carpet such as jute, bamboo, wool, or grasscloth (woven seagrass). Another option is to put down a natural wood floor made of bamboo or cork.

2. Walls
Old wallpaper and the paste must be removed. Moisture gets underneath, particularly in bathrooms, where mold is likely to develop. If there is a mold issue, it must be remedied. Paint the rooms using Non-VOC or Low-VOC(volatile organic compounds) paint brand such as Benjamin Moore Aura. If the seller insists on wallpapering, use recycled wallpaper or ecofreindly options

3. Furniture
Stage the home with furniture that incorporates ecofriendly materials, or stage with recycled and unique items. Also RECYCLE any furniture you want to get rid of at a consignment store, goodwill, or local recycle center. Any furniture surplus should not be thrown away. Donate any pieces that clutter your home.

4. Plants
Remove artificial plants and flowers replace with live plants. This can improve the air in a home and keep allergens from occuping the home. Also if you are improving the landscaping for Curb Appeal, why not use Native Landscaping options that will gorw naturally in the area and reduce water usage. Additionally if replanting, add some fruit trees! Buyers loves them and its ecofriendly to have food growing on the property.

5.Accessories
Any new bedding, towels, rugs, or curtains bought for green staging purposes should be made of natural fibers like cottons and silks. The cost is approximately ten to fifteen percent more than acrylics.

6. A Chemical Free Home is A Green Home
The garage, attic, storage closets and extra buildings on a property are often full of paints, garden sprays, and other chemical-laden products that need to be disposed of. You can also use EcoFriendly alternatives and leave them with the new buyer!

7. Squeaky Green Clean
You have to throughky clean your home when you sell it anyways…why not clean dirty surfaces, remove pet stains, as well as getting rid of odors with EcoFriendly cleaning supplies! Seventh Generation is a great established brand of green cleaning products tha is affordable and readily available in most stores.

8.The Little Things

Use Compact Flouresent Light Bulbs (CFLs) in all lamps and fixtures. RECYCLE!!!! Be aware of your energy and water use…you can report the utility savings that the staging has afforded you to a potential buyer!

****Most importantly use an EcoBroker like Meghan Clair who is professionally certified on how to highlight the EcoStaging to Prospective Buyers and market your home on a variety of EcoFreindly Home Search Websites!!!*****