finally going green: Hawaiian-style development
OK, so every other media outlet in the world is covering the green building thang. Why not our island newspapers?
Done. Today's Honolulu paper blares the 'going green' headline and leads with an off-grid estate on Hawaii Island (via star bulletin).
Yeah.
Never mind that the estate in question was built far from any community infrastructure...so the builder had no choice.
At least Bob McNatt at Maui Land & Pineapple got some justly deserved press.
Having had the pleasure of working with McNatt several years ago, I'm delighted he's getting noticed for his pace-setting work to build entire green communities.
Wudja believe hundreds of affordable homes tucked onto the hillside at Maui's Kapalua Airport in a 'green' community that handles its own energy, waste and water and minimizes the need for cars?
That's what ML&P's building at Pulelehua.
"It's taking the traditional town-design idea and applying it here, mixing the uses and creating places that are great to live in," says McNatt.
That's wot I'm talking about.
ML&P is the first major developer in the islands to build with low-emitting materials, use state-of-the-art sustainable land-use management plans, and create below-ground storm water retention ponds and photovoltaic power systems.
They are positioning the buildings at Pulelehua to make the most of Hawaii's breezes and they are stocking them with energy-star appliances and long-lasting fluorescent lighting systems.
McNatt brought in William McDonough to help with the design so that Maui will benefit from the latest thinking in green design.
We can only hope this will become standard practice.
Oh, and, dontcha love that green roof at the Kapalua clubhouse (pictured above). Thank McNatt for that, too.
"If you aren't doing green building in the future", says McNatt, "you won't be part of the mainstream".
Wot he said.
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