Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency are presently the most powerful tools in our transition to a clean energy future. As depicted in the Energy Pyramid, renewable energy is an important piece of our energy future, but the largest opportunities are currently in energy conservation and efficiency. There are many excellent resources for those researching these options, and a very small list is presented here. Please make conservation and efficiency your top priority, as you work to move your community into our clean energy future.
Benefits of Community Energy
Renewable energy and energy efficiency investments carry remarkable benefits including lower environmental impact, greater price stability, and greater energy security, when compared to investments in fossil fuel generation. In addition to those substantial benefits common to all clean energy solutions, Community Energy has several distinct advantages including:
*Greater economic benefit to local communities
*Increased local awareness and involvement in clean energy
*Communities are strengthened through their collaborative efforts
Maui’s Kaheawa Wind Farm provides 9% of Maui’s Energy
Solar Panal Fields
To learn more about Community Energy visit http://www.nwcommunityenergy.org/
Test Yourself below to see how efficient you are with your own water use.
Follow the link to 100 Ways to Conserve Water
Here are a few samples
#1. Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
#2. Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
#3. Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
#4. Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
#5. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time.
#7. Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
#8. Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
#9. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
Sugar Cove Renovation in Spreckelsville
Dean Johnston
M.Arch., LEED AP
Principal: Johnston•Cassel Design Studio
Dean designed and built his first passive solar homes in Colombia County, New York, in 1980. Since then he has designed and built custom homes, cabinetry, furniture and sculpture using a wide variety of materials and styles in locations ranging from Vermont to Hawaii. His lifelong commitment to ecologically ethical design influences all aspects of his current work. Dean received the prestigious A.I.A.S. National Research Award in 2002 for his work testing structural bamboo, work that ultimately led to the first acceptance of a bamboo species, Bambusa stenostachya, into the United States building codes.
Johnston-Cassel Desing Studio offers a range of professional design services to meet the individual needs of each client’s project. In addition to complete start to finish design services they also offer their clients a range of specialized services that can be comissioned independently.
-Architectual design
-Master Planning
-Interior Design
-Project Budgeting
-Value Engineering
-Construction Scheduling
-Construction Administration
-LEED AP Sustainable Project Design
-Landscape Design and Farm Planning
-Project Observation/Owner’s Represenative
Johnston ● Cassel Design Studio
info@johnstoncassel.com
808.579.9778
Hawaii is an ideal candidate for alternative energy solutions. It’s an island, meaning any outside fuels must be shipped directly to the state (and each various island). Furthermore, it has an abundance of natural energy gifts – active geothermal energy, powerful wind cycles, easy access to tidal, and a whole lotta’ sun.
It’s no surprise then, that Hawaii has now created a new mandate for new homes built in the state – solar hot water heaters must now be included in any new home construction!
Solar water heaters can lower your Electric usage by up to 85%!!! Read below for costs and discounts for Solar Water Heater Technology
Solar Water Heater
120-gal Solar Water Heating System
System Cost: $5,100
MECO Rebate: $1,000
Fed Tax Credit: $1,230
HI Tax Credit: $1,004.50
NET COST: $1,865.50
Average Electric Bill Savings $75.00/Mo.
Yearly Savings: $ 900.00
Estimated Payback Period 2+ years
WWW.MAUISOLAR.COM for more information!
*Information for this blog provided by www.mauisolar.com *(this is one of many choices for solar technology installation on Maui)
EcoBrokers® In the News…
Here is a article about me from the EcoBroker International Newsletter: 12/22/08
EcoBroker Certified® agents are often recognized for their outstanding community work and no one epitomizes this EcoBroker spirit of involvement more than Meghan Clair of Windermere Real Estate Wailea, LLC in Maui, Hawaii. Clair, a Certified EcoBroker® since October 2007, lives, learns and teaches green building, real estate and sustainable living ideas throughout the community in many ways. She helps write articles for a variety of real estate trade and better living magazines in Hawaii. She has been a prime resource for a number of reports on incorporating green into personal and professional lives. Clair has organized the nationally accredited “Houses That Work” green building seminar on Maui and has volunteered as a team leader for Habitat for Humanity’s green building projects. She has even organized beach restoration and park clean-ups. Additionally, Clair is currently involved in the production of a web-based television show titled “EcoHome,” in which she explains green features in real estate and green remodeling and interviews established green business owners about products specific to the housing and construction industries on Maui. Clair was recently featured in the Maui Weekly, December 17, 2008 article Green House by reporter Jessica Baker. Nice work Meghan! Read the entire article here.
Real-estate moguls know there’s good money in environment-friendly buildings. Here’s how the little guy can play, too. So how do individual investors get in on this latest real-estate boom?
If the workplace is any indication, you could almost believe corporate America really cares about the environment. Goldman Sachs , Hearst, IBM Corp, JPMorgan Chase, and Toyota Motor all have made the move into “green” buildings. Bank of America plans to build a 52-story eco-skyscraper near New York’s Times Square, and Accenture has leased green office space throughout the country.
Sustainable construction is one of the fastest-growing segments of the already-red-hot commercial-building industry. An estimated 5% of all new U.S. commercial construction received the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification last year. And by 2010, 10% of all new commercial construction will be sustainable, according to McGraw-Hill’s 2006 Smart Market report: “The green trend in home construction is still in its infancy, although that’s bound to change.”
Existing construction is getting an eco-lift too. Developers such as Hines and the Durst Organization, and some real-estate investment trusts (REITs), are snapping up half-empty office buildings and renovating them according to green standards. That can often bring 3% higher rents and a 7.5% increase in a building’s value, according to the McGraw-Hill report.
Click here for full article and a video on the BEST GREEN STOCKS to invest in.
To see maui property visit: www.LuxuryGreenRealEstateMaui.com
IT PAYS TO THINK GREEN WHEN INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE!
Contact Meghan Clair, Maui’s First Female EcoBroker, for more information about the Green Building movement in the state of Hawaii!
MClair@Windermere.com
Here is an article written about me that printed in the Maui Weekly Newspaper Dec 11, 2008
PDF Version: maui-weekly-article.pdf
Online Version: Maui Weekly Online Article “Green House”
Real Estate Maui Style has a great Green Section this month.
Please check out my latest article in this December publication.
I explain why “It Pays to Think Green When Investing in Real Estate!”
PDF Version:rems-december-article.pdf
Here are a few examples of how Green Improvements offer owners not only monthly operational cost savings, but a return on investment for years to come…
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.
Contact Green Real Estate Specialist, Meghan Clair for advice on Green Remodeling Choices to prepare your home for resale!
IT PAYS TO THINK GREEN, WHEN INVESTING IN MAUI REAL ESTATE!
MClair@windermere.com
With talk of energy shortages, endangered species, and global warming dominating national headlines, it’s easy to forget that going green with home remodeling is as good for your wallet as it is for the rainforest. Here’s a list of 5 green remodeling projects that are good for the earth and save you cash at the same time.
#1—Install High Efficiency Replacement Windows
Modern energy efficient windows can reduce your home energy use by as much as 50% year round, and usually pay for themselves in just a few short years. If new windows are in your future, look for multiple paned windows, low e coatings, insulated frames, and gas fills.
#2—Install a High Efficiency Air Conditioner
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air conditioning accounts for 5% of the total energy use in the U.S., and costs American homeowners $11 billion annually. That said, upgrading to a high efficiency air conditioner can make a big difference when it comes to reducing your monthly utility bills. Energy Star rated units are required to have SEER ratings of 13 or higher, though the highest efficiency models on the market currently have SEER ratings of 20 and higher. As a rule, the higher the SEER rating, the more money you’ll save.
#3—New Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances are a major consumer of energy in your home. Thanks to the federal government’s Energy Star program, however, they’re also one of the easiest ways to improve the overall energy efficiency of your home. An Energy Star dishwasher or refrigerator, for example, can reduce energy use at those appliances by 40% or more, while an Energy Star rated clothes washer can save you over $500 over the life of the appliance!
#4—Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
High efficiency furnaces, air conditioners, and windows are all excellent ways to cut energy costs and save you money, but even the best windows and heating and cooling systems won’t do much if your home’s insulation isn’t up to speed. Leaky windows and doors, and poorly insulated attic spaces, are some of the most common culprits of energy inefficient homes, so those are good places to start.
#5-Native Landscaping
Drought resistant landscaping or folliage choosen to battle the elements of your respective area are a great Green Improvement. The right landscaping can save you money and improve the air quailty, wind patterns, and aesthetic appeal of your home. Another great Green idea is to also plant an organic garden on your property.
Remember, going green is a win-win proposition. Not only does it mean you’re doing everything you can to foster a better world for generations to come, but by making smart decisions on which projects you undertake, it can mean big monthly savings on your utility bills and a fuller bank account to boot.
Portions of this blog are taken from Matt Goering’s article *