The Cottages at Kulamalu is a new 40 unit development underway in the Upcountry Area of Maui. National homebuilder DR Horton has partnered with Maui Based Rising Sun Solar to give prospective homebuyers a number of green options. Buyers may opt to have net metered photo voltaic systems installed as well solar hot water heaters and solar powered attic fans. The builder is also offering buyers the option of including all energy star appliances. To my knowledge, this is the first Maui development where a menu of green options are available. Hopefully, we will see similar options available on other Maui developments.
For additional information, check out this article in the Maui Weekly. This development is being offered through DR Horton Schuler Homes. Contact me for more information or other green listings on Maui.
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Hi Pete - I heard recently that Hawaii mandated solar hot water on all new construction! What a great idea and this practice should be followed in all the states to help with the energy crisis we are facing!
Are these builders incorporating any green building practices like advanced framing techniques or low VOC paints? Love to hear more!
Aloha Mary,
The bill on the hot water heaters is sitting in front of the governor. She has until the second week of July to decide to sign off, reject or allow to pass without her signature. It was a pretty heated measure so there is some uncertainty. I would hope with our oil dependency, she would sign off. I am keepin an eye on this one closely.
Thus far, the energy efficiency options are all we have seen out of the builder. I think this is a case where the builder is seeing growing demand and responding to the market. This a new option that has been announced after the development has been on the market for half a year. We are seeing some advance framing techniques on individual homes, but I have yet to see it employed development wide in Maui.
Thanks for your comment.
Hi Pete - thanks for the update. I thought the gov had passed it! Keep writing to them and demanding smarter practices!
It would be great for this builder and the environment to make some advances toward the measures! It makes so much sense, provides for greater insulating properties and saves wood! I hope they get on the band wagon! Aloha!
Pete - those Rising Sun guys are making the news these days... good for them. This state should be a leader in the alternative energy field.
Mary-I agree with you. That being said, I think dollars and cents have been a constraint to more widespread green building practices. The return was such that builders and home buyers were having a tough time justifying the extra expense. Those that chose to go green were very conscientious consumers. There is a much larger pool that would like to go green, but have a tough time justifying the added expense. Now, with utility costs rising, the return is becoming more apparent to your average consumer. The added cost for PV is paid back quicker. The added cost green building with better insulation makes more sense with heating oil costs.
Georgie-I am pretty happy for the rising sun guys. They are doing pretty well for a bunch of surfer guys.