Green Hawaii 2012 by Sabra Morris

Hawaiian Electric Company Presents

P R O D U C E D B Y H AWA I I H O M E + R E M O D E L I N G

A cleaner, greener future starts today. Here & Now: Electric Cars

100+ New Ideas

& How Your Keiki Can Help

A Clean Energy Update for Hawaii. Mountain View (solar) Kahuku Wind Kawailoa Wind

HC&S (biomass) Kapolei Sustainable Energy Park (solar) OTEC International (ocean) H-Power (waste-toenergy) Campbell Industrial Park (biofuels) Honua Power (biomass) IC Sunshine (solar)

Oceanlinx (wave) Actus SunPower PV Mililani South PV Kalaeloa Solar One Kalaeloa Solar Two Kalaeloa Home Lands (solar) Kalaeloa RE Park (solar) HCDA Projects (solar)

Hawi Renewable (wind) Tradewinds (biomass)

Lanai Wind

Hu Honua (biomass)

Makila Hydro Lanai Solar

Kaheawa I (wind) Kaheawa II (wind)

Wailuku River Hydroelectric

Sempra Auwahi (wind)

How is Hawaii doing in our pursuit of clean, renewable energy? This map shows clean energy projects currently producing, under construction, awaiting approval or in negotiation.*

Waiau Hydro Puueo Hydro

Keahole Solar

Puna Geothermal Venture Tawhiri (wind)

Currently producing: 401.24 megawatts

More than 12% of the state’s electricity needs are supplied by renewable energy. This includes solar photovoltaic, biofuels, wind, waste-to-energy, geothermal, biomass, hydro and concentrated solar. With our partners, the Hawaiian Electric companies are involved in the development of many different forms of renewable energy.

Under construction, awaiting approval, in negotiation: 604.09 megawatts As a state, we need to develop as much renewable energy as fast as possible. Many projects are in different stages of development: under construction, awaiting approval or in negotiation.*

Getting control of high energy bills

Clean local energy will reduce our dependence on imported oil. In many cases, renewable energy is already cheaper than oil-fired energy. In the long run, replacing oil with clean local energy at stable prices is the most effective way to hold down high electric bills. * Includes projects under negotiation as of 1/7/12 that have been publicly disclosed.

For more details, go to heco.com and click on the “Clean Energy” tab.

contents

Contents April 2012 / No.6

Moving Forward Together

Your Smarter Workday

Ever Green Goals

Work

Five Surprisingly Green Places

The Big Shrink

Land

Get Inspired

10 Small Ways to Save the World (and Your Wallet!)

The Growing Solution

Your Green Life

Energy

The Power of Clean

Transportation Charging Ahead

Food

Home

Green Space

Health

Thrive, Naturally

Schools

Sustainability Starts Here

➼ Written , designed and published by Hawaii Home + Remodeling

ART DIRECTOR

Mike Janowsky

E: mikeworldwide@gmail.com P: 551-4184

P U BLISH ER

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

E: terryr@hawaiihomemag.com P: 534-7506

E: michellem@hawaiihomemag.com P: 534-7576

Terry Rollman

Michelle McGuinness

W RITER / EDITOR

Sabra Morris

Sabra Morris Media mediamorris@gmail.com

Green Hawaii is published as a supplement to Hawaii Home + Remodeling magazine, April 2012. ©2012 by PacificBasin Communications. 1000 Bishop St., Suite 405, Honolulu, HI, 96813. hawaiihomemag.com. Presented by Hawaiian Electric Company. All photos from shutterstock.com unless otherwise noted. Cover illustration by Marcos Chin. HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

EVER GREEN goals

Moving Forward Together We’re on pace to reach our sustainability goals.

For the six th y ea r ,

Hawaii Home + Remodeling magazine, in partnership with Hawaiian Electric Company, is proud to bring you Green Hawaii, a 32-page guide to living a greener life. Hawaii continues its trek toward sustainability. As outlined in the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative established in 2008, Hawaii aims to derive 70 percent of total energy used for electricity and ground transportation from clean sources by 2030. In any long journey, it’s critical to keep the end goal in sight. It’s also important to recognize milestones as progress. Last year, we reached one important marker: In 2011 we derived 12 percent of our electricity from renewable energy, well on the way to Hawaii's 15-percent-by-2015 goal. This guide’s mission is to motivate and inspire you to continue your journey toward our collective objective. This year’s edition features updates on Hawaii’s efforts to promote 4

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

In any long journey, it’s critical to keep the end goal in sight. It’s also important to recognize milestones as progress. sustainability through the development of clean energy, the promotion of local food, the reduction in opala and the move toward smarter transportation. We also explore the green revolution taking place in Hawaii’s schools, homes and workplaces, and how we, our keiki and our co-workers can do our part to help the effort, through small but impactful changes every day. Hawaii can be proud of its mission. As the world’s most fossil-fuel dependent state, we also have one of the most aggressive clean energy programs in the nation. We’re together on

this. Our community leaders, local organizations and, most importantly, our people have signed on to the most critical expedition of Hawaii’s life: the one which brings us to the greater energy independence that will allow us to thrive more sustainably. The year 2030 and our 70-percent clean energy goal may seem like the end of the road. In reality, it’s only the beginning. What lies beyond is a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. Through large efforts and small everyday steps, we can keep moving toward that brighter future.

get inspired

Five Surprisingly Green Places San Francisco, Portland and New York continue to top the list of greenest U.S. cities, scoring high marks in land use, transportation and energy savings. But lesser-known places, large and small, are making their marks on the green map. Here are a few standouts that may surprise you. Madison, Wisconsin

1. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison started the nation’s first curbside newspaper-recycling program in 1968. The city has also hosted the weekly, year-round Dane County Farmers’ market since 1972. Madison has also adopted Natural Step, a program founded in Sweden, whose goal is to maintain thriving societies using sustainable principles.

2. Edison, New jersey

The township of Edison established the Clara Barton-Amboy Avenue Neighborhood Home Loan Program in 2009. It provides affordable homeequity loans to eligible residents of the historic neighborhood, to pay for substantial home more R ead s e and repairs that he t about t own s preserve green o t her t er c i t ie s . their exista t s mar c .org . ing homes nrd and create local jobs.

3. Denton, Texas

Denton protects its public green spaces and environmentally sensitive areas by carefully regulating development, preserving trees, facilitating native plant growth and avoiding the use of chemical pesticides. Denton even employs a full-time urban forester and an environmental crimes officer on its police force.

4. Greensburg, K ansas

After suffering a devastating tornado in May 2007, Greensburg rebuilt green. Today, all but one of the small town’s municipal buildings have the United States Green Building Council (USGBC’s) highest designation, LEED platinum; one is rated silver. Streetlights glow with light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The town’s new wind farm now generates more than enough electricity to power its homes and businesses. In addition, many city buildings feature geothermal heating and cooling while paints, finishes and sealants are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

5. Maui, Hawaii

Maui County made the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Smarter Cities to Watch list, thanks to its renewable energy efforts (7 percent of Maui’s total fuel comes from renewables) and water-saving initiatives. Residents can also get water-saving fixtures, such as low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and leakdetection tablets for free, through the county water department.

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

your green life

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10 Small Ways to Save the World (and Your Wallet!)

Check out some little steps to lighten your carbon footprint and leave more cash in your pocket. 1. Clean with less.

The same eco-friendly product that kills germs in the bathroom will pull double duty in the kitchen. Invest in one or two Earth-friendly products and leave the rest on the store shelf. Find lists of certified green products at epa.gov/dfe/ and greenseal.org.

Be a light saver.

Find out how much money you can save each year by switching to LED and CFL bulbs by visiting the light bulb savings calculator at nationalgeographic.com/environment/energy.

3. Turn off the vent fan.

Vent fans can suck a whole houseful of cool air outside in just one hour. As soon as kitchen, bath or other vent fans have done their job, flip them off to save on your cooling bill. Replace fans with ENERGY STAR® vent fans, which use 60 percent less energy than nonqualified models. Find out more at energystar.gov.

4. Wipe out paper towels.

Families spend as much as $260 per year on paper towels and napkins (source: earth911.org). Instead, invest in a set of cotton napkins for the table, rags for mild cleaning and old, recycled T-shirts and sweatshirts for heavy-duty jobs.

5. Borrow that power tool.

Studies show that a typical power tool is used for only one half hour in its lifespan! Find out if your neighbor can lend you a tool before shelling out for one at the home-improvement store.

6. Ditch plastic sandwich bags.

On average, each of us spends $50 to $70 annually on plastic sandwich bags (source: brightbin.com). Put that cash to better use by buying reusable lunch containers and save hundreds of dollars over the life of your career and your child’s education.

7. Be feather-light on the brake.

You could save as much as $.85 per gallon. Riding your car’s brake pedal brings down fuel economy and causes brakes to overheat and wear down more quickly, bringing you into the shop sooner for costly repairs.

8. Put your computer to sleep sooner.

You can save more than 400 kilowatt-hours annually ($40 to $80) by reducing the time set for the computer to switch into power-save or “sleep” mode. Visit thedailygreen.com/green-homes/blogs/ diy-hacks/ for instructions.

9. Know what “organics” to buy.

Find out which organic items are worth the money, and which items are relatively safe without the organic label. Download the Environmental Working Group's free “Dirty Dozen” app at foodnews.org or at the iTunes store.

10. Swap out something processed for something pure.

At your next grocery outing, replace one processed item with something unprocessed. Try brown rice instead of white, or whole-wheat pasta, for example. Processed foods generally are harder on the planet to produce and less healthy than local, whole foods.

Illustration by Marcos Chin

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

energy

The Power of Clean Clean energy is the right thing for us today and for future generations.

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

energy

In the past several years, Hawaii has moved well down the road to a clean energy future. Heading into 2012, Hawaii remains high among states with the most total solar installations and solar watts installed per person. Nearly one in three single-family homes now uses solar power to heat water.

here’s more. Oahu’s first wind farm came online in 2011 and construction started on a second one more than twice as large. With two additional wind farms being developed on Maui and a 25 percent boost in geothermal power on Hawaii Island, our state’s renewable energy* scorecard is looking good. In fact, all renewable energy projects in place or in the works on Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island grids total over 1,000 megawatts. That is a big chunk against today’s 2,400 megawatts total generation capacity. With more than 12 percent of total electricity supplied by the Hawaiian Electric utilities coming from renew-

able sources in 2011, Hawaii is on the way to the next milestone, 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2015. However, there’s more to be done. We cannot back off now! Hawaii remains the most oil dependent state in the nation. As oil prices rise, the cost of fueling our cars and powering our homes, schools and workplaces rises with it. And today’s prices are expected to stay high or rise. In 2012 and beyond, pursuing clean energy (efficiency and renewables) is the best long-term answer.

Renewable Energy = Energy from sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels, ocean, biomass and trash. Unlike fossil fuels (oil and coal), renewable sources don’t run out and they pollute less.

Renewables: Worth the Cost

Did you know: More than half your monthly electric bill pays for fuel, almost entirely imported oil? Of the $61 increase in a typical Oahu electric bill in 2011, $57 was to pay for oil, $4 for other costs. What that means: We have to cut our dependence on imported oil. The solution: Continue toward our “Less and Local” goal, seeking energy efficiency and renewable energy from sources right here in Hawaii. (Renewable energy prices, not tied to oil, are stable and predictable.) What about the upfront costs of renewables? New technology and infrastructure to reliably harness renewable energy have a cost. But even with the up-front investment, replacing oil with clean, local energy will be less expensive in the long run. Bottom line: Renewables are Hawaii’s long-term energy solution.

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

energy

How do we get there?

The goal of using cheaper, cleaner, more efficient energy starts with us. We all have the power to:

1. Conserve energy we use each day, using less to perform common tasks (this saves money, too). 2. Support conversion to local renewables right here at home.

Here’s how you can help: Simple Steps To Lowering Your Energy Bill

Today

1. Set your A/C above 75 degrees. Each degree above 75°

saves approximately 3 percent of the energy needed to cool your home. For more tips, check out Hawaiian Electric’s “Power to Save” and “101 Ways to Save” booklets as well as “Energy Tips and Choices.” Find them at heco.com.

2. Switch to CFLs. Replac-

ing 10 incandescent bulbs with CFLs can save up to $240 per year. Check out new LED (light emitting diode) bulbs that can save even more.

3. Audit your homeenergy use. Click on “My Home Energy Check” at heco.com for links to two step-by-step guides.

Next Month

1. Start an energy-savings account. Each month, auto-transfer a small sum. When you’ve saved enough, spend it on an energy-saving item: a new ENERGY STAR® fridge, washing machine, dishwasher or a solar water-heating system.

2. Create a family-energy checklist. Commit to energy

changes: Post a checklist on the fridge. Put each family member in charge of one daily energy-saving task (such as turning off unused lights or unplugging unused electronics). Treat the family to some fun with the money saved.

3. Get paid for your old appliance. Let Hawaii Energy

pick up your old-but-working appliance. In exchange, Hawaii Energy’s new Bounty Program will pay you $25 on Oahu and $65 on Maui and Hawaii Island. Find out more at hawaiienergy. com.

4. Visit a solar open house / attend a seminar.

4. Repair a leaky faucet. At one drop per second, a faucet leaking hot water can waste up to 1,661 gallons and $79 a year.

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

Blue Planet Foundation’s new Solar Portal (blueplanetfoundation.org/ hawaiisolarportal) lists upcoming solar seminars (to learn more from PV contractors) and open houses (to tour homes already outfitted with PV). It also features reviews of local solar contractors and info on available rebates and incentives.

Within the Year Choosing just one of these in the next year can mean major savings.

1. Install solar-water heating. Cut your water-heating

costs by up to 90 percent and receive a rebate from Hawaii Energy and state and federal tax incentives, worth as much as $4,552 toward the cost of a new system (which costs an average $6,600). Find details at hawaiienergy.com.

2. Replace your old fridge

with an ENERGY STAR ® model. Replacing a 10-year (or older) fridge can save up to $300 per year in energy costs. With your savings, that new fridge could pay for itself in as little as three years.

3. Improve your energy envelope. Cut an estimated 20 to

30 percent from your annual electricity bill by properly sealing and insulating your home, according to ENERGY STAR®. Ask a qualified contractor to find “leak spots” in your home, inefficient windows or insulation that needs to be replaced.

4. Inspect your air conditioner. As much as half the

electricity in the average home is used to heat and cool. Inspect your airconditioning systems annually. Visit energystar.gov and click on “Home Improvement,” then “Heat and Cool Efficiently” for a yearly maintenance checklist and other tips. 5. Save receipts. Tax breaks may be available for energy-saving items you buy this year. Remember to keep your paperwork safe until tax time.

energy

$3,611: 48:

Solar Water Heating, By the Numbers

Amount spent, per person, on energy in Hawaii in 2009 (about $150 higher than the national average) States that use more energy per person than Hawaii. (Only Rhode Islanders use less.) In Hawaii, we use less energy per person than 48 of the 50 states. Yet Hawaii has some of the highest energy prices in the country. Let’s reverse that trend together!

80,000+: Approximate number of solar water heaters in Hawaii (making Hawaii a per-capita leader)

90%:

Percentage of the cost homeowners can save after installing a solar-water heating system.

25% to 35%:

Percentage of the typical electric bill that goes to heating water. (Bring it down by installing solar-water heating.)

Source: Most recent state data, U.S. Department of Energy (energy.gov)

4: Average years to recoup 100 percent of the cost of installing solar-water heating.

Hot Water, Hot Savings Installing solar-water heating remains one of the best ways to save energy and money at home. Strong incentives make it an easier decision. Here’s a snapshot of the current benefits: 1. 30% Federal tax credit 2. 35% State tax credit 3. $750 Rebate from Hawaii Energy (hawaiienergy.com) These benefits could bring the typical cost of solar-water heating from $6,600 (average cost of system) to $2,048. Solar-water heating can pay for itself through lower electric bills in as little as four years.

Working Together

Hawaiian Electric is working hard to help home and business owners move toward cleaner energy use while bringing the cost of electricity down in the long run. Here’s what’s happening now:

1. Hawaiian Electric’s valuable “Power to Save” booklets are now available in Ilocano and Cantonese and “Power to Save for Business” is available in Korean. Visit heco.com or stop by the customer-service desk at your utility office.

Tiered Rates: Today, the utility’s goal is to get customers to use less electricity without giving up comfort, convenience or security. With tiered rates, you pay more with the more kilowatt hours you use. How it works: The first 300 kilowatt-hours cost less than kilowatt-hours from 301 to 999, with the highest price when you go over 1,000 kilowatt-hours. How it helps: Consult your bill to see your usual electricity use and think about how to keep it below the threshold. (A “typical” home on Oahu uses 600 kWh a month on average.) Where to find out more: Go to heco.com and check Residential Services. You do not need to do anything but use less electricity to take advantage of these rates.

3. Time-of-Use Rates: The greatest demand

for electricity is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Overnight, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., demand is lowest. Time-of-use rates let you pay less per kilowatt-hour for electricity used off-peak and slightly more for electricity during peak times. If you have an electric vehicle you can take advantage of a special discount rate which also costs less for electricity used from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. How it works: Hawaiian Electric will install a special meter able to record when electricity is used. Where to learn more: Go to heco.com and check under Residential Services or Electric Vehicles. You will need to sign up for these rates.

Making Solar Affordable

Interested in installing solarwater heating but unable to pay the upfront cost? Consider financing through Hawaii Energy’s “Hot Water, Cool Rates” program. It will pay your qualified lender up to $1,000 which may drop your interest rate to zero.

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

transportation

2012 Wheego LiFe, all-electric vehicle Photo: Courtesy of Wheego

Charging Ahead 12

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

transportation

2012 Chevy Volt Photo: Courtesy of Chevrolet

Clean transportation is our destination. Electric vehicles will get us there.

awaii is getting a new ride, and the excitement is electric. Last December, Mitsubishi delivered the first batch of its 2012 “i” car, a five-door hatchback and its first 100-percent electric vehicle (EV) made for the North America market (see photo on p.15). One year ago, the slightly smaller Mitsubishi iMiEV, as it’s known in Japan, made a big difference in the aftermath of that country's earthquake and tsunami. Gasoline was in short supply but some places had electricity. Mitsubishi provided a fleet of 90 electric vehicles to assist in recovery. These vehicles now join the Nissan Leaf (bottom right), Chevy Volt (above), Wheego LiFe (opposite page) and a handful of sleek Tesla roadsters on Hawaii streets. And the promised profusion of public charge spots, installed by companies like Better Place, AeroVironment and homegrown Volta Charging, are popping up across the Islands. Why so much effort to drive the electric vehicle into the mass market? The short answer is this: We need to do it. EVs are no longer a futuristic “someday” dream. Rather, they’re an integral part of Hawaii’s move to clean energy, part of meeting our state’s goal to reduce our dependence on oil for ground transportation by 385 million gallons per year by 2030. “Ground transportation accounts for one third of our energy picture,” says Mark Glick, Energy Office administrator in the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism. “We won’t reach our goal exclusively through

more fuel-efficient cars operating on gasoline or diesel. If we work with our electric utilities to install an island-wide fast charger network and the federal incentives continue, there’s no reason we can’t replace at least 10 percent of our passenger cars with EVs by 2020.”

What is an Electric Vehicle (EV)?

An Electric Vehicle (EV) runs entirely or partly on electricity. Examples, such as the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i and Wheego LiFe run exclusively on electricity imported through a plug from the electric grid; Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid that stores energy in its battery but has a gasoline engine that kicks in when needed. 2012 Nissan Leaf all-electric vehicle Photo: Courtesy of Nissan

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

transportation

How do plug-in vehicles differ from hybrids?

Hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid, have larger, more efficient batteries than conventional gas-burning vehicles. However, unlike plug-ins, hybrids use gasoline (plus stop-and-go generation) to make all their energy. The next generation of the Prius will include a plug-in hybrid as well. Bottom line: Electric vehicles (EVs) are the future. This time, they are here to stay. They’re our best solution to getting “off the gas” for good.

The State of Hawaii offers rebates of up to 30 percent of the cost of an at-home charging station, including installation, up to a maximum of $500. Visit electricvehicle.hawaii.gov for more information.

How far can I drive before I need to charge up?

How, when and where can I charge my EV?

It’s possible to charge an electric vehicle at home or on the road. There are three main ways to do it. Here are the options: 1. On the road, at public charging stations: By April 2012, approximately 120 charging stations at 100 locations funded by the state of Hawaii’s EV Ready grant program will be up and charging across the state. Locations will include shopping centers and other public spots, plus many local auto dealers and some rental-car locations. Chargers for corporation fleets will likely not be for public use, except for employees. Find an updated list and map of EV charging stations in Hawaii at electricvehicle.hawaii. gov. You can get iPhone and Android apps like PlugShare to locate charge spots. (Note: On-board and smart phone app finders are having some trouble keeping up with the rapid profusion of charge spots.) 2. At home: • From a level-1 (120-volt) outlet: Most new plug-in vehicles come with a cord, which plugs into a standard household 120-volt electrical outlet. • With a level-2 (240-volt) charger: EV owners who want a faster charge can purchase at-home EV charge systems. They can be ordered through the dealer (who may have preferred vendors they can recommend). Or, you can buy a level-2 charge kit online or in person through homeimprovement stores such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. Level-2 chargers can mount directly to the wall in your garage or carport. Consult a licensed electrician to assess your home’s electrical capacity and help with county building permits necessary for installation. 14

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

That depends on the EV and how you drive. As you might expect, hills take more out of the battery than the flats. A driver with a heavy foot on the “no-gas” pedal uses more juice than an eco-minded driver. A fully charged Nissan Leaf can travel an average 78 miles before requiring another charge. A Mitsubishi i boasts an average 99 miles on a full charge. The Chevy Volt can travel 74 miles on electricity before it shifts to the gasoline engine. Bottom line: When charged overnight to the recommended 80 percent of battery capacity, most EVs will average 70 miles before needing another charge.

transportation

Cheaper transportation: It costs, on average, 11 cents per mile to drive a Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt and just 9 cents per mile to drive the Mitsubishi i. Driving a gasoline-powered car costs about twice that: 20 cents per mile for the average Hawaii gasoline-powered car or 15 cents per mile for a fuel-efficient, gas-powered Nissan Versa*. * Estimates provided in the Hawaii Energy Office’s EV Ready Fact Sheet based on data from www.fueleconomy.gov

What are the perks for owning an EV?

• More cash in your pocket: As part of its EV-Ready program, the State of Hawaii offers rebates up to 20 percent of the vehicle purchase price, up to a maximum of $4,500 per vehicle (more at electricvehicle.hawaii.gov). New EV buyers can also receive up to $7,500 in federal tax credits (find out more at fueleconomy.gov). Maintenance costs are lower too. Never an oil change! • Discount Electricity: Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light companies offer a discount rate for EV owners who charge their vehicles “off-peak,” that is, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays. When you sign up the utility provides a time-of-use meter. Go to heco.com and click on Electric Vehicles to learn more. • Easier commutes: Your EV license plate lets you cruise in the HOV lane even if you are the only occupant. • Free parking: EVs park for free at government facilities and City, County and State parking meters.

Clean-Burning Ambition:

As part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, our state hopes to get 10,000 Electric Vehicles (and the charging network to support them) on Hawaii’s roads by 2015.

Click and Zoom

Everything you ever wanted to know about becoming an EV owner is at Plug In America (pluginamerica.org). Learn about EV technology, get answers to frequently-asked questions, subscribe to the Plug In America Podcast, check out YouTube videos and more.

Photo: Dave Rezendes

Driving for Good

His car is his office. And his office is an EV. Chaplain William Crockett celebrated Earth Day 2011 in a big way: by putting down a deposit on a brand-new, allelectric Mitsubishi i. An eco-conscious person, Crockett had become frustrated with cost, financial and environmental, of fueling his fun-to-drive but not-so-efficient sports car. A hospice chaplain for Bristol Hospice Hawaii on Oahu, Crockett makes in-person visits to all his patients. Though his job requires driving up to 50 miles a day, he says he experiences no range anxiety. He charges his car overnight, usually for 7 to 8 hours, using a standard 110-volt (level 1) charger in his home. That gives him 70 to 80 miles of driving before he needs to plug in again. Today, he enjoys the same handling, pickup and overall Ready performance driving his to buy? new Mitsubishi i. He also Head to electricvehicle. hawaii.gov to read about enjoys the added benefit of rebates, incentives and tax no gasoline costs and the credits available for EV environmental peace of mind owners through the state’s that comes from owning a EV-Ready program. zero-emission vehicle. If he does need a charge away from home, he has options, including a charge spot set up especially for him in the garage of his Punchbowl St. “secondary” office. He also has permission to charge his vehicle using a 110-volt outlet at some buildings he visits. Outlets are usually found on loading docks or where heavy duty lawn equipment is kept. Crockett saves money by driving an EV. Hawaiian Electric installed a time-of-use meter for his home which gives him discount rates for charging during off-peak hours. “Our home electric bill has hardly gone up … maybe a 10 or 15 percent increase at most,” says Crockett. But that’s a small price to pay, considering he hasn’t paid for gas in almost a year. He also takes advantage of free parking at municipal meters and public garages. “I just tell the attendant it’s an electric vehicle. They write down the license number, say ‘thank you,’ and away we go.” HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

schools

Sustainability Starts Here

A cleaner, greener Hawaii takes more than changes today. It also means instilling sustainable values in our keiki.

Students at Ewa Makai middle school get a hands-on lesson in the value of recycling. Photo: Dave Rezendes

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

schools

“Children are the seeds of change. By providing hands-on learning opportunities through green initiatives, we are fostering in them a love for the environment.” - Kim Johnson, Kokua Hawaii Foundation

othing is more important to Hawaii’s sustainable future than the support of our keiki. “Children are the seeds of change. By providing handson learning opportunities through green initiatives, we are fostering in them a love for the environment that will empower them to preserve and protect our beautiful Islands for generations to come,” says Kim Johnson, co-founder and executive director of Kokua Hawaii Foundation. In schools, kids learn that caring for the aina is a collective value, an important part of community life. “School is a foundation for living our attitudes and beliefs,” says David Wong, science teacher at Ewa Makai middle school, Hawaii’s first public school to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold rating from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). “We want our students to take what they know about environmental stewardship and share it with their communities and families.”

Students in grades two and five receive nutrition lessons. Kindergarten, first and fifthgrade classes tend demonstration gardens. Their mini-plots produce salad greens, beans, sunflowers, herbs, corn and squash, and they attract butterflies, which the kids observe to learn about how insects affect plant growth. In addition, second-graders bury small bits of opala from the dining hall and observe it to learn if it breaks down. In Hawaiian studies, fourth graders study the ancient ahupuaa, the geographical wedge from the mountain to sea, that was precontact Hawaiians’ way of managing all the natural resources in one land division. Fifth-grade gardens reinforce the scientific process and provide context for learning early-American history through agriculture. If you want to make your child's school a greener place to learn, there's good news: Students and parents are key to the process. “Much of the success that Hawaii has had in greening our schools in the last decade has come from the local, personal level,” says Chris Parker, co-chair of the Green Schools Committee at the Hawaii chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Percent of new schools or school buildings in Hawaii required to be built to LEED silver certification.

"School is a foundation for living our attitudes and beliefs."

Educators and students at Waialae public charter school teach and learn with these values in mind. As one of the first five schools to adopt Kokua Hawaii Foundation’s “Aina IS” program, Waialae has introduced lessons to their curriculum focused on health, nutrition, waste management and connection to the aina. HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

schools

Become a plastic free school

Register your school for Kokua Hawaii Foundation’s plasticfree schools program. Fill out the online form, assemble a team of parents, teachers and administrators and start to eliminate plastic use altogether. Create a “plastic-free logo” for your school

and download a stepby-step startup guide and find lots of plasticeliminating ideas at kokuahawaii foundation.org.

Take the HomeEnergy Challenge

Enroll your child’s school in Hawaiian Electric’s 2012 / 2013 Home-Energy Challenge. Families compete for the greatest reduction in energy use during a year. Winning schools can earn up to $10,000! Congratulations to Pearl Ridge Elementary School, the winner for 2011 / 2012. Find out more at heco.com by clicking the “HomeEnergy Challenge” button.

How you can help

Volunteer. Parents at Waialae school are

trained by Kokua Hawaii Foundation to lead nutrition lessons. Find out what eco-friendly curriculum your child’s school uses and volunteer to help. Start programs. As part of a science class, students and faculty at Waialae school found plastics in the dissected stomach of an albatross. The impact of the investigation inspired a parent to begin collecting bottle caps after every assembly for recycling. “The kids get a tangible sense of what it means to keep plastics out of the ocean,” says Waialae principal Wendy Lagareta. “Part of our mission is that we are a community of learners. Everybody participates.” Seek help. The University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) donated an adult tilapia breeding population to Ewa Makai middle school’s aquaponics garden so the students could study the symbiotic relationship between plants

and animals in a closed system. Like-minded educational institutions and community organizations may be able to provide materials or to help develop the school's project-based learning initiatives. Form partnerships. Wonderful nonprofit groups such as Blue Planet Foundation (blueplanetfoundation.org), The Green House Hawaii (greenhousehawaii.org), The Hawaii Nature Center (hawaiinaturecenter.org), Kokua Hawaii Foundation (kokuahawaiifoundation.org) and others want to help parents, administrators and teachers find funding and implement green learning for schools. Talk with your principal or science teachers about reaching out to them. school buildings promote the physical, social, and environmental health and wellbeing that help kids learn. Work with your school administration to learn where you can make eco-friendly changes such as reducing artificial light in favor of daylighting. Prioritize classrooms or study areas such as libraries where children spend a large part of the school day. Discover the key components of a green school and find out how they affect learning at the U.S. Green Building Council’s centerforgreenschools. org. Click the “K-12” tab.

Sun Power for Schools Did you know: Hawaiian Electric Company has installed small demonstration photovoltaic systems on the roofs of more than 30 public schools across the state? Sun Power for Schools, a partnership of Hawaiian Electric Company and the Hawaii Department of Education, is designed to help educate students through hands-on examples of how clean energy can benefit Hawaii. Find out how to enroll your school at heco.com by clicking “Community.”

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

Improve the school environment. Greener

schools

“We want our students to take what they know about environmental stewardship and share it with their communities and families.”

- Vanessa Kealoha, Ewa Makai Middle School

Six Simple Steps … to promoting aina-based learning in schools

Learning with The Green House

Educators from The Green House Sustainable Learning Center offer turnkey courses in worm-bin composting, building and maintaining a compost pile, cooking healthy foods, water catchment and more. Find a full list of available classes at thegreenhousehawaii.com/ schoolclasses.html.

1. Stage a recycling fundraiser. Have

family, friends, and neighbors donate their recyclables to your school to redeem for Hi-5 cash for the next field trip or school event. Learn more at opala.org/services&programs/fundraisers. 2. Get free educational tools. Hawaiian Electric Company provides teachers in grades K through 12 with free energy-related educational videos and literature designed for classroom use. Go to heco.com, click on “Community” and “Teachers Resources” for more information. 3. Bring learning home. Support kids’ excitement for green learning. Recycling at school? Let kids sort the opala at home. Growing a class garden? Help start a windowsill garden in the kitchen. “We want our students to take what they know about environmental stewardship and share it with their communities and families,” says Vanessa Kealoha, “green teacher” at Ewa Makai middle school. 4. Ask for an eco-field trip. Ask the teacher to organize field trips that teach kids about their natural environment. They can tour an organic farm, visit The Hawaii Nature Center,

check out Hoomaluhia Gardens or spend some time at Kualoa Ranch. For more ideas, visit Hawaii Families for Educational Choice at hawaiiedchoice.org and click “Field Trips.” Need funds? Environmental Education Field Trip Grants are available through Kokua Hawaii Foundation for those who qualify. 5. Promote healthier snacks and lunches. Healthy, unprocessed foods provide kids with more brain power and are better for the environment. If your child’s school-lunch program allows, ask for more fresh fruits and vegetables on the lunch menu. Ask what's served at snack time and find out what's in the vending machines. Can the options be healthier?

6. Start a school garden.

School gardens are the ultimate hands-on learning centers. The Green House Hawaii offers excellent classes for starting up school gardens and lessons in sprouting, planting and harvesting.

Hey, kids!

Test oil, water and rubbing alcohol to find out how evaporation helps conserve or waste energy at home. This and other awesome Earth-minded science-fair project ideas are at: sciencebuddies.org.

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

work

Your Smarter Workday The workplace is a powerful space to reduce your carbon footprint. Our workspaces use a lot of resources. In fact, commercial buildings account for nearly half of the nation’s energy use, according to energystar.gov.

In addition, the amount of paper used in an office per person per day tops out at an average 1.5 pounds. As our workspaces grow in size and number, the amount of resources we consume will grow and the cost of doing business will go up. We can reverse this trend by changing how our buildings work and modifying our daily habits. Each of us can make a difference. It’s easy when you start small.

se s t hrow U .S . busine sugh pa p er away eno t o build a in one y ear- high wall 12 - f oo t York t o f rom Newisc o . L e t ’s San Franc t hat wall ! t ear down

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

Six Simple Steps … to a greener workplace

work

Write more, throw away less. Instead of buying bulk packages of disposable pens, invest in pens with replaceable cartridges.

1. Replace incandescent bulbs

with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. CFLs use about one fourth the energy of a standard bulb and last up to 10 times longer. 2. Time for a new monitor? Ask

for an LCD flat-screen monitor. Large, deep CRT monitors (commonly found with older computers) use three times the energy of their flat-screen counterparts. 3. Cut down on paper.

Instead of printing important emails or other documents, create folders on your computer desktop. Move important files into the folders for use at a later time. Reduce your line spacing, print on both sides of the page, and print in black and white or grayscale instead of in color. Scan and email documents instead of printing and snail mailing. Send drafts via email and enable editing features such as “track changes” instead of writing markups on paper.

Choose ecofriendly office supplies, such as planners or notebooks made from recycled paper. (Better yet, switch to an electronic calendar.)

5. Install an ENERGY STAR ®

programmable thermostat. Use automatic settings to cool your office optimally during times of day when you need it most. 6. Install motion sensors that kick

the lights off automatically when you’re out of the room, reducing the amount of potential wasted energy.

Cut down on “print-and-pass.”

Check out Dropbox, a “cloud” service that allows co-workers to save photos, videos and documents to one common area for sharing, reading and editing. Watch a demo and download it for free at dropbox.com.

More Bright Ideas

Light your space naturally. Working in natural daylight improves mood, motivation, health and productivity, and keeps stress low. If possible, rearrange your desk to take advantage of Hawaii’s daily rays. You’ll use less energy from artificial light inside the building and feel healthier, too.

Hey, you can reuse that!

4. Replace your standard power strip with a “green” strip. While

both types conserve more energy than the traditional outlet, only green power strips automatically stop the current drawn from the outlet when your electronics aren’t in use.

that allows users to edit down Web content before printing–at formatdynamics.com/bookmarklets/.

Discover more tips like these in Hawaiian Electric Company’s “Power to Save for Small Business,” and “Ways to Save at Work” booklets (now available in Korean, with more language versions on the way). Also, check out “Cool tips for Home and Work.” Find them at heco.com under the “energy savings toolkit” tab.

Reuse office supplies such as paper clips, thumbtacks, binders and binder dividers. Remove old labels from file folders and relabel them for your current project. Swap supplies with co-workers. Challenge yourself: How long can you go before ordering more?

Save More Paper

Every time you print from the Web, you grab lots of unnecessary items, such as links, advertisements and unwanted images, resulting in lots of wasted paper and higher paper costs. Check out CleanPrint–a free program HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

work

Retrofit ting Pays

“There are a lot of great federal, state and local rebate incentives to help building owners cover the cost of retrofits,” says Ryan Rutenschroer, co-chair of the U.S. Green Building Council Hawaii chapter’s existing buildings: operation and maintenance (EBOM) committee. “Now is the perfect time to set your building up for high-performance standards.” Learn about rebates available for businesses and download rebate forms at the Hawaii Energy website, hawaiienergy. com.

Scouting Out Savings

Honolulu’s Pacific Guardian Center uses less energy automatically, thanks to Hawaiian Electric’s Energy Scout for Business program. “With Energy Scout, our building communicates with the utility,” says Rutenschroer. When the building needs to use less energy for everyday function, it reduces the amount of power it takes from the electric grid. The best part? “The whole process happens behind the scenes,” he says.

Save Tho u s and s Per

Hawaiian Electric’s SmartBusiness Central helps business owners meet today’s energy challenges. It includes a monthly eNewsletter, advice from researchers, development experts, and engineers, and tools to assist in calculating energy costs and identifying ways to save. Anyone may register for access at http://cbms.heco.com Questions? Email cbms@heco.com

f i t t ing ro t e R s ! office W ork t d l o es PA’s

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

97 percent of Hawaii’s state employees agree they should, and can, do more to help Hawaii conserve. They’ve set a goal to save $100,000 in energy costs this year, by making smart, everyday choices at work. As part of the Capital 10 Energy Challenge, employees from Hawaii’s 10 Capitol District buildings will compete for the lowest energy usage in 2012. To help the effort, volunteers called “Green Champions” will help employees stay motivated to reduce energy use all year long. Track the program’s monthly progress at Hawaii.gov/green.

Year A business that volunteers to tu rn off 50 kilowat or more of elec ts trical equipmen t when the grid experiences an unexpected spik e in electricity use or a drop in generation can receive a bill credit of as muc h as or not the equipm $3,000 per year, whether ent is ever turn ed off. How? Visit heco .com and click B usiness Services to learn more ab out Fast Deman d Response (DR Hawaiian Elect ). ric engineers w ill work with yo to identify exce u ss elevators, som e lighting and other electric us e that can safely be turned off temporarily. In a DR event, you w ill get an automatic or semi-au tomatic notice (y ou can still opt at this point.) If out a DR event is tr iggered, particip receive an adde ants d credit of 50 ce nts per kilowatt hour for electric it y not used. A de mand response plan for business es with smaller electric demand being prepared is .

Get Smart

e the E of th One s to ea rn is the R® i ng build RGY STA ngs Ba nk E v EN idge Sa i s ., , Ma s br Ca m a mbridge 0. in C ilt in 182 bu

97%

Hawaii’s Employees Do More!

land

The Big Shrink

We all play a part in reducing Hawaii's opala. Hawaii’s Big Shrink, the effort to reduce our opala (trash), is underway. Our state’s

recycling rates remain above the national average and the City & County of Honolulu plans to add another 20,000 households to its curbside-recycling program in the near future. By 2013, Honolulu expects to increase the solid waste diverted from the landfill to 75 percent. There’s still much to be done. “Everything we use must be put somewhere when we no longer need it,” says Gary Gill, deputy director of environmental health administration for the Hawaii State Department of Health.

“On an island, there is no place 'away' to throw things away. We should all consume less, reduce the amount of waste we generate, and reuse and recycle everything else.”

Here’s how you can help : • Reduce. Start at the source and decrease the trash you

produce daily. • Go for reusable dishes, flatware, food and beverage containers and grocery bags. • Replace paper towels, plastic bags and other single-use items with reusable items. • Buy products with minimal packaging and buy in bulk.

• Cut down on waste by using just enough soap, detergent, cleaning supplies and other household items. This saves money, too. • Reuse. Use items such as gift packaging and scrap paper as many times as possible before recycling or tossing away. Donate clothing, accessories and household items to worthy causes or sell or swap unwanted items at consignment shops, garage sales or on websites such as freecycle. org or Craigslist.org. • Compost. Turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into rich planting material through vermicomposting (worm bins) or an at-home composting bin. For more information on vermicomposting or to pick up supplies, visit waikikiworm.com. If you have curbside recycling, throw waste from yard work into the “green bin” for pickup. No bin? Drop off your green waste at Hawaiian Earth Products at Campbell Industrial Park, where it will be composted. HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

land

• Recycle. Utilize your neighborhood’s curbside recycling program if possible. No curbside? Find a list of dropoff stations, community bins, Hi-5 redemption centers, and refuse and recycling convenience centers at opala.org. Once you’ve mastered the art of everyday reduction, add these items to your to-do list: • Just say “no” to plastics and Styrofoam.

Both are, for the most part, non-compostable and nonbiodegradable. Buy products with recycled packaging instead. • Dispose of chemicals properly. Find out how to dispose of common Household Hazardous Waste items at opala.org/solid_waste/Household_Hazardous_Waste.html. • Leave the e-waste to the experts. Take old phones, computers, portable hard drives, fax machines, rechargeable batteries, printers and the like to a designated e-waste drop-off site. Find out more at opala.org/solid_waste/eWaste.html.

• Don’t dump it! Set out large bulk items, such as old appliances, furniture and fixtures on the first morning of your neighborhood’s bulk-item pickup period. Missed it? Take items to one of Oahu’s six City Convenience Centers. Visit opala.org for Convenience Center locations and bulkitem pickup schedules.

Play it! “Where do things go?” is a fun, interactive game at opala.org. Click on an object and drag it to the proper recycling bin, rubbish bin or truck. Learn what can be recycled, what can be composted and what to do with really big things, like furniture. See it! The Lorax, a movie based on Dr. Seuss’s beloved children’s book, follows Ted, a young resident of

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

Six Simple Steps … to caring for the aina 1. Clean windows with newspaper. Newspa-

per is highly absorbent and prevents streaks. Somehow, it doesn’t transfer ink to your window surface. Mix two tablespoons of vinegar in a gallon of water, transfer to a reusable spray bottle and wipe to a shine. 2. Use a handkerchief. They’re back in! Plus, they’re washable, reusable, retro-chic and less expensive over time than pocket tissue packs. You can purchase multipacks for $12 or less at department stores. Or, find funky, fun patterns and homemade designs at etsy.com. 3. Go waste-free at lunch. Start by downloading Kokua Hawaii Foundation’s easy, one-page guide at kokuahawaiifoundation.org/wastefreelunches/. 4. Reuse to wrap. Use old magazine or newspaper pages and even old paper grocery bags to wrap gifts. (The Sunday comics are a classic choice.) Have the kids color and decorate brown-paper packages for fun. 5. Swap out your lint roller. With plastic frames and multiple sticky tear-off sheets, most lint rollers produce a lot of nonbiodegradable trash. Cut waste and save money by purchasing a reusable lint brush. Find options under $10 at amazon.com. 6. Buy recycled toilet paper. “If every household in the United States bought just one four-pack of 260-sheet recycled bath tissue, instead of the typical tissue made from virgin fiber, it would eliminate 60,600 pounds of chlorine pollution, preserve 356 million gallons (1.35 billion liters) of fresh water and save nearly 1 million trees,” according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Thneed-Ville on his quest for a real tree. On his journey, he meets the Lorax, who fights to save the last real trees left in the world. Find out more at theloraxmovie.com. Read it! 365 Ways to Live Green for Kids, by Sheri Amsel, is written for the young reader. Everyday projects, facts, stories, games and tips to help kids lead healthier, greener lives — and spread the word. Available on Barnes & Noble NOOK, Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks. Also available in paperback.

land

Hey, Condo Dwellers: Only 18 percent of an EPA-estimated 650,000 tons of phone books are recycled in the U.S. each year, according to treehugger.com. That’s a lot of paper waste heading straight to the landfill. Stop delivery of the big book at yellowpagesoptout.com.

Wrap it with cloth. Forget single-use wrapping paper, tape and bows. Dish towels with cool patterns, such as those at Target, make fun, functional gift wraps.

The City & County of Honolulu has recycling programs for you. Get one going at your building. Visit opala.org and click on “Services & Programs,” then “Condo Recycling.”

Thank you very mulch.

Live Happily on Less

The average person uses 20 percent of the things they own 80 percent of the time. That means the other 80 percent just sits there, collecting dust, and eventually making its way to the landfill. The solution: Acquire and use less. You’ll enjoy a serene home with less clutter, spend less money and contribute less to our overall Opala problem. Get started with The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Living Guide, by Francine Jay, which features a room-by-room guide to paring down. More info at missminimalist.com. Available at amazon.com.

Find places to get free mulch for your yard or garden at opala.org by clicking on “Services & Programs,” then “Drop-off facilities.”

Rinse, crumple, repeat. Crumpled aluminum foil scrubs baked-on food residue off of dishes just as well as steel wool. Try it today!

Q: A:

What’s landfill diversion?

Keeping opala out of the landfill by recycling, composting or turning it into valuable energy.

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

FOOD

The Growing Solution

Photo: David Croxford

Eat healthy, buy local and help Hawaii thrive.

n the past several years, we’ve seen Hawaii’s local food movement jump from the roadside produce stand into the mainstream. We’re opening more farmers’

markets and purchasing more products there. Community supported agriculture programs (CSAs) are gaining traction. More boutique restaurants featuring local produce and seasonal items are appearing in our neighborhoods. Community leaders, local chefs, foodies and grocery shoppers applaud this shift. Yet with 85 to 90 percent of our food still coming from places other than our Islands, they also recognize the need to keep moving in the right direction.

The solution is to get even more local food into our farms, our grocery shelves and on to our plates and palates. For growers

and policy makers, this means resolving issues involving land and water use, cost of transportation, labor force and grower education, according to Dean Okimoto, president of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and Nalo Farms. The change won’t happen overnight. However, “the demand is there,” Okimoto says. "The consumer has a huge role. They determine the market," says Russell Kokubun, Chairman of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. Each of us has three meals a day (and some snacks) to promote Hawaii’s sustainable food movement and improve our health. It's a delicious job!

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

Here’s how you can help: • Shop farmers’ markets. Keep supporting your local

growers by buying directly from them. Visit the iconic farmers market at Kapiolani Community College. Or, find one in your area at the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation site, hfbf.org., or ediblecommunities.com/hawaiianislands/ by clicking on the “Resources” tab.

• Look for the labels. When shopping, check for the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Hawaii Seal of Quality which denotes a Hawaiigrown or Hawaii-made product. The Island Fresh label also indicates a local product.

FOOD

• Grow your own. It’s the most environmentally sound way to eat and it’s fun! For how-tos and plant info, pick up Growing Vegetables in Hawaii and Growing Fruits in Hawaii, both by Kathy Oshiro, available in paperback at besspress.com or amazon.com. • Subscribe to a CSA. Subscription-based community-supported agriculture programs deliver boxes of fresh produce to your home or office. On Oahu, check out Oahu Fresh at localharvest.org, Ma‘o Farms at maoorganicfarms. org or Just Add Water at just-add-water.biz. Find a statewide list at localharvest.org. • Buy responsibly-raised local meats. When beef is on the menu, choose local and grass-fed varieties. Choose local, organic, free-range chicken and eggs when possible, too.

GREAT READ:

The Hawaii Farmers Market Cookbook Vol. 2, by Joanne Namkoong, includes recipes made from local foods from renowned chefs including Sam Choy, Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi. Purchase information at bookshawaii.net

Six Simple Steps … to a greener plate 1. Keep to the perimeter. Troll the outer edges of

• Enjoy healthy seafood (local, if possible!).

Make sure you know where your fish came from and how it was caught. Visit nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch/ and look up the health benefits and “sustainability status” of just about any type of fish. Learn more about Hawaii’s bounty at hawaiiseafood.org.

Join the Fisher Family on a shopping trip, camping trip or sport-fishing trip, where you’ll learn about the healthiest fish to eat. Find it at the EPA’s “Fish Kids” website, epa.gov/ waterscience/ fish/kids.

grocery stores to find the freshest local produce, dairy, seafood and meats. 2. Plan your meals. Planning meals and cooking your own food saves money, controls portions and often yields higher nutritional benefits than fast food or frequent takeout. It helps the planet, too! 3. Get more protein from plants. Experiment with power grains like quinoa and millet at your next meal. They’re packed with nutrients and are usually raised with less impact on the environment than meat-based proteins. 4. Eat whole grains. They’re better for you and for the environment than processed counterparts. Experiment with delicious whole grains such as buckwheat (used to make soba noodles), spelt and amaranth. Save money by buying your grains in bulk. 5. Know your plate. The USDA’s new MyPlate guidelines recommend a diet roughly three-quarters vegetables, fruits and grains and one-quarter protein. Plantbased diets are a win-win for the environment and for your health. Find out more at myplate.gov. 6. Decode the messages. You know “grass-fed” and “cage-free.” But what does “pasture-raised” and “no nitrates” mean? Visit the Environmental Working Group’s Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change and Health at ewg. org/meateatersguide/ and learn what meat and dairy labels matter. HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

home

Green Space Looking to reduce your individual carbon footprint? Home improvements, large and small, can mean dramatic changes.

hen it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, home is where the power is. The average American household generates more than 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and uses more than 100,000 gallons of water in one year, according to lowimpactliving.com. When building, remodeling, or simply replacing and repairing parts of your home, doing it “green” can make a huge difference. Even if you make only one home improvement this year, do it with the environment in mind.

you can save, on average, annually at efficientwindows.org. Click on the “Window Selection Tool.”

5. Slipcover it. Before you toss old furniture pieces, consider covering them with slipcovers. They’ve come a long way in style and comfort, and can save more furniture from ending up in the landfill.

Make one or more of these improvements this year:

Here are five things you can do today:

Replacing / Repairing

1. Repair before you replace. Cut waste by repairing

Install a low-flow showerhead. Many are priced

items that work just fine, but need a little cosmetic lift (e.g.: stained or scratched porcelain bathtubs, toilets or sinks).

2. Swap out your ceiling fans. ENERGY STAR ®

models use half the electricity of no-star models and qualify for Hawaii Energy rebates. Visit hawaiienergy.com for details.

3. Practice “Akamai Appliance Use.” Wash full

loads, whether laundry or dishes, keep cook pots covered, and use your washer’s cold-water setting. Find more tips at hawaiienergy.com/27/ akamai-appliance-use.

4. Upgrade your windows,

doors or skylights. Replacing old windows with ENERGY STAR ® qualified windows lowers household energy bills. Find out how much 28

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

at $30 or less, and can save up to 35 gallons of water during a 10-minute shower.

Protect your roof. A low-VOC “cool roof” coating can

reflect large amounts of the sun’s heat, dramatically lowering the temperature inside your home. Talk to your contractor about ENERGY STAR® rated roofing products, which can reduce your peak cooling demand by as much as 10 to 15 percent.

Install a whole-house or solar-at tic fan.

Whole-house fans pull air in from open windows and release it through the attic or roof vent, reducing your home’s overall temperature and the need for A/C. Solar attic fans ventilate with power generated from solar panels on the roof, keeping the attic cool, thereby bringing the entire home’s temperature down. Hawaii Energy provides rebate incentives for solar attic fans and whole-house fans. You can also qualify for 30 percent in federal tax credits*. *Consult your tax preparer for an individual assessment.

home

Replace old insulation. Proper insulation in walls and on the roof keeps your home cool and reduces the need for A/C, thereby lowering your energy bills.

Remodeling / Building

Hire a certified architect and contractor.

Look for a contractor who has earned certification from the United States Green Building Council through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or the National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Green Professional (CGP) program.

Six Simple Steps … to a more efficient home 1. Use a soaker hose when watering steep slopes to prevent excess runoff and save water. 2. Rearrange furniture to keep valuable fabrics out of the sun. The more quickly fabrics fade, the sooner they have to be replaced. Prevention is key. 3. Meet your ecofriendly retailer. Know which ecofriendly product lines your hardware store carries. Unsure about a product? Ask! 4. Modify your toilet to use less water.

Drop a brick or half-gallon plastic jug filled with water (cap-on) into your toilet tank. This tricks your toilet tank into thinking it’s full all the time, when it’s really only partially full. 5. Fix air leaks. Sealing air leaks around doors, windows and other vulnerable parts of your home reduces air-conditioning use by 10 to 20 percent, according to heco.com. Check out the DIY Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR ® at energystar.gov under the “Home Improvement” tab. 6. Calculate your home’s impact. Visit myfootprint.org and enter information about how and where you live. Discover your home’s carbon footprint and compare it to the national average. Find your food, goods and services, and overall carbon footprints, too.

Use reclaimed materials. When replacing flooring,

countertops, cabinet faces, even exterior shutters or doors, consider reclaimed objects. Find fantastic reclaimed items at reusehawaii.org.

Use ecofriendly building products. Make sure wood products like flooring, doors and cabinetry are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and thus guaranteed to be sustainably harvested. Or, choose a rapidly renewable material such as bamboo or cork or products made from recycled glass or resin.

Great Read Restore. Recycle. Repurpose: Create a Beautiful Home, by Randy Florke and Nancy J. Becker, is a room-by-room guide to decorating with sustainability in mind. Available in hardback from amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com

Hey, weekend warriors: Be sure to landscape with native plants. Invasive plants can spread rapidly, reducing the ability of native species and ecosystems to thrive. Call the University of Hawaii Master Gardener Helpline (ctahr.hawaii.edu/uhmg/helpline.asp) to discover the best plants to use in your area. HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012

health

Thrive, Naturally Live your healthiest life with the environment in mind. Fewer chemicals and additives, cleaner air and more outdoor activity are key. Thrive naturally with these tips: 1. Clear the air.

Vacuum, dust and sweep often to remove pollutants tracked from outside, pet hair, dust mites and other irritants. Ventilate bathrooms to prevent mold growth, which can trigger allergic reactions and other health problems. (If you suspect mold growth, consult an expert to inspect your home and recommend cleanup procedures.) When remodeling or redecorating, choose cabinetry, flooring, furniture and other products that contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can release harmful chemicals into the air. Deter pests by keeping food and garbage areas clean and contained. If you must use pesticides, do so sparingly. Find a comprehensive guide to controlling everyday pests naturally at eartheasy.com/live_natpest_ control.htm. Of course, open the windows! Nothing’s better than Hawaii’s fresh trade winds on a beautiful day.

2. Get outside.

Step outside, smell the clean air, take a hike or hit the beach. Get some exercise, breathe and remind yourself just how amazing the world really is. 30

GREEN HAWAII 2012 | HAWAII HOME + REMODELING

3. Look for the seal.

Buy certified green products. Look for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment (DfE) label, the Green Seal or the EcoLogo. Products that carry these seals have been tested and are proven to be the least harmful to you and to the environment.

4. Use natural products.

“Pure, natural ingredients are not only safer for our skin and the air we breathe, they contribute to our overall wellbeing,” says Lindsey Noelani Fritz, of Kauai-based Malie Organics. Find a comprehensive list (more than 69,000 items) at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database (ewg.org/skindeep).

5. Clear the clutter.

Purging unwanted junk makes you feel more peaceful, and shrinks your carbon footprint. Get started with “Clear Your Clutter in Six Steps.” Find it at care2.com by searching “Clear Your Clutter.”

health

Hundreds of Healthy-Home Tips. Pitch a tent outside!

Have mom and dad pitch a tent for you in the backyard (you can help!) and spend the day there. Invite your friends. Bring toys, books and healthy snacks. Then, share your story at backyardcampout.org.

Check out Planet Home, by Jeffrey Hollender. It features a complete guide (and lots of helpful checklists) for keeping your home environment healthy, purifying your air and finding abundance by living with less. Purchase information at amazon.com

Cool App: GoodGuide

Use this app’s barcode scanner to check the environmental impact of items in your shopping cart. The database holds reviews for more than 120,000 items ranging from personal care to toys. (free, iPhone and android)

Such soaps and hand sanitizers are often laden with chemicals such as triclosan that do more harm than good. Plain old soap and water and a few seconds of scrubbing does the trick just as well.

THE CLEAN

Choose 5 servings per day of the conventionally-grown (non-organic) veggies and fruits from this list, and you’ll consume fewer than 2 pesticides per day, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Find out more at ewg.org/foodnews/.

Six Simple Steps … to a healthier life 1. Create an eco-friendly cleaning kit. Make

homemade oven cleaner with just one cup of baking soda, a squirt or two of liquid detergent and water. For more on this recipe and others like it visit care2.com; search: “Non-toxic Cleaning.” 2. Invest in a drain snake and say “goodbye” to chemical drain cleaners. Drain snakes are inexpensive plastic wands that catch pipe-clogging materials. Find them at City Mill, or Long’s. 3. Buy “smarter” sunscreen. Choose a cream-based formula with SPF of 30+ and broad-spectrum protection. For a list of what to look for and what to avoid, visit ewg.org/skindeep/ and click on the “Sun” tab. 4. Buy natural and ecofriendly fabrics. Choose organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, soy and even polyester made from recycled materials. For more info on what to look for, visit greenlivingonline.com and click on the “Fashion & Gear” tab. 5. Stay away from BPA. BPA stands for bisphenol-A, an industrial chemical found in many plastic items, including toys, water bottles and even baby bottles. The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding products made with BPA, as the FDA maintains it could have possible negative health effects. Look for products labeled “BPA-free.” 6. Naturalize your pet. Processed foods and treats, chemical-laden toys and harsh care products can irritate your pet. Choose natural products whenever possible. Find pet-food labeling guidelines and other natural pet-care tips at ewg.org/PetsfortheEnvironment.

Be Anti-Antibacterial:

Pick up an areca palm.

As potted plants go, it’s one of the best choices for home-air purification.

• Onions • Sweet Corn • Pineapples • Avocado • Asparagus • Sweet Peas • Mangoes • Eggplant • Cantaloupe (domestic) • Kiwi • Cabbage • Watermelon • Sweet Potatoes • Grapefruit • Mushrooms

HAWAII HOME + REMODELING | GREEN HAWAII 2012