Project and Process: New Hawaiian Home

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii (BIA), the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), and the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) have teamed up to work on an awesome project to promote green building and living in Hawaii. Called the New Hawaiian Home, this project has gathered some of the leaders in Hawaii's building industry to design and build an energy-, water-, and resource-efficient residential home in Kaimuki, Oahu, all with the intention of educating local contractors and home owners about sustainable building. Amazingly, the home is designed to LEED Platinum and ANSI Silver National Green Building standards, and will also incorporate aquaponics and composting systems, edible/useful landscaping, and solar clothing dryers (aka Hawaiian clothes line).

A) Outdoor Dining, B) Solar Hot Water, C) Solar Photovoltaics, D) Energy Star Appliances, E) Ceiling Fans, F) Whole House Fan, G) Solar Attic Fan, H) Low Flow Water Sense Fixtures, I) Rain Water Harvesting, J) Low Voc Paints, K) Renewable Flooring, L) Low Voc Carpets and Pads, M) FSC Certified Cabinetry, N) Outdoor Covered Lanai, O) Permeable Landscape Swale. Image Source.

Landscape Master Plan | PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc.

This past Saturday, employees from landscape architecture and land planning firm PBR HAWAII gathered at the home to execute the landscape master plan designed by Native Creatives Stan Duncan, ASLA and Micah McMillen, LEED AP of the firm. The team got down and dirty, installing the sod grass panels, flowers, herbs, and other plants, and stone walkways around the home.

"There was a wonderful spirit of kokua prevalent throughout the collaboration and implementation of the project's landscape," says McMillen. "Several local contractors put the competitive edge aside and worked together to make this happen, along with many of the PBR HAWAII family that came out for a day of fun in the dirt! Their hard work and dedication provides a wonderful opportunity to share with Hawaii's homeowners and future homeowners how their landscape can incorporate many eco-friendly strategies that play a role in creating a more sustainable Hawaii."