Building Industry Magazine - October 2011 - (Page 25)

NewsBeat Armstrong Earns Eco-Award Armstrong Builders LLC was dual flush toilets, high-quality used to naturally cool and ventilate insulation, and low-VOC paints, the homes by exchanging hot air, presented recently with a prestigious flooring and carpet. The homes also moisture and odors with fresh air grand award in the 2011 EcoHome feature whole house fans, which are that is pulled in from the outside. All Design Awards for its work on five of the model homes in the Kumuhau, a sustainable Kumuhau community have been residential community on Oahu. certified as LEED (Leadership The awards recognize in Energy and Environmental homes that balance beauty and Design) gold. affordability. “Kumuhau is the Built in partnership with manifestation of our the Department of Hawaiian commitment to build ‘green’ Home Lands, Kumuhau is a homes,” comments James 45-home neighborhood located Keller, president of Armstrong in Waimanalo at the base of the Builders. “It’s an honor to be Koolau mountains. Homes range recognized for this project, from three to five bedrooms and which brings together two offer a number of green features, ideals in which we believe: such as solar photovoltaic panels, The five model homes at Kumuhau, one of which is shown here, each earned LEED-gold certification. sustainability and affordability.” rainwater harvesting systems, Sunetric Completes FIT PV Project Locally owned photovoltaic (PV) design and installation firm, Sunetric recently completed its first as well as Maui’s first feed-in tariff (FIT) project. Installed atop the ROIZ, LLC warehouse in Kahului, Maui, the project began in December 2010 and was completed in July this year. The 39.4 kilowatt (kW) system is comprised of 164 Trina Solar 240-watt multicrystalline high efficiency solar modules, with five SMA Sunnyboy commercial utility interactive inverters. It is estimated that the system will generate over $15,000 in revenue annually, with total return on investment expected by year four. The system is estimated to produce enough clean energy to prevent more than 1,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, off set 3,289 barrels of oil and preserve 26 acres of trees over 30 years. In October 2010, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved feed-in tariffs for the Hawaiian Electric Companies for renewable energy generators of up to 500 kW in size, intended to facilitate the acquisition and development of renewable energy in Hawaii. Under a FIT program, a utility company pays cash for the amount of energy a solar system produces on a property. Unlike a net energy metering system, which produces electricity to power the building, the building owner is simply utilizing roof space to sell solar power produced back to the utility at a fixed (and lower) rate for 20 years, according to Sunetric. “As one of the very first building owners to take advantage of the newly implemented feed-in tariff program, we knew there might be some interesting challenges associated with the project,” says Mark Rodden, owner of ROIZ, LLC. “Sunetric’s staff definitely stepped up to the plate and worked with us to make things go as smoothly as possible. Installing my system was a great investment, and I now have Building industry | OCTOBER 2011 | 25 Installed by Sunetric, this roof-mounted PV system is Maui’s and Sunetric’s first FIT solar project. two more feed-in tariff projects in process with Sunetric.” In addition Sunetric has helped more than 12 nonprofit organizations to date go solar through its Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program. This includes Hongwanji Mission School, St. Francis School, Kihei Baptist Church, Waipahu Free Baptist Church, Light House Outreach Church and Mililani Presbyterian.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Industry Magazine - October 2011

Cover October, 2011
Contents
Datebook
Aloha’s Convenience Store of the Future
BIA Expo Hits “Green” Mark
Construction Begins on Pilot Biomass Refinery
Campbell Helps West Oahu Schools
Senior Care Facility Opens in Kailua
Hawaiian Dredging to Build $52M BEQ
Contracts Awarded
Roofing
Sunetric Completes FIT PV Project
Best Practices
Pacific Building Trade Expo Program
Low Bids
Infrastructure
Spotlight on Success: New Youth Center, KMCBH
School Construction
New Products
News Makers

Building Industry Magazine - October 2011