hawaii renovation 27 march 2011

AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC.

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Mirrors are a trickything in feng shuiand in my experi-

ence qualify as the mostinquired-about subject.Proper usage depends oneach situation; however, ifyou first understand thefunction of a mirror, you canbetter understand its role infeng shui.

Mirrors can be used todraw in positive energy,expand an area to give it amore spacious feeling, ener-getically and visually “breakdown” wall blockage, bringthe essence of nature in, addlight, brighten up a room,redirect energy flow orstrengthen an image.

In feng shui, the intentionyou hold when placing a mir-ror is important. Be clear onwhat you are using the mir-ror for and why you are plac-ing it in a particular location.

Does my entrance need amirror?

If you are contemplatingwhether a mirror at theentrance is “right”, look atwhat the mirror reflects, andask yourself whether hangingthe mirror there brings beauty

into the space, orwhether, forexample, it reflectsthe messy neigh-bor’s yard. Youranswer will deter-mine whether amirror is right forthat wall.

If I look in amirror and feeldrawn into theroom, then Iknow the energyis being drawnin, as well. If Ilook in the mir-ror and want torun out, it is obvi-ous where theenergy is going.

What to doabout a “blocked” entrance

If you have a blockedentrance, where a wall isblocking your vision fromseeing the rest of the room,you could consider placing amirror to “unblock” it.Blocked entrances stop yourmovement, and consequent-ly the flow of energy. Puttinga mirror on that wall can“open up” the space and theflow of energy, but again, asmentioned above, look tosee what it is reflecting.

Is it “bad” to have mirrors ina bedroom?

There is no simple “yes”or “no” to this question. If aclient asks this, I ask howthey are sleeping. If theysleep fine and wake up feel-ing refreshed, then no mat-ter how many mirrors theyhave or where they areplaced, they are not beingadversely affected by them,and there is no need to takethe mirrors out.

If they have trouble sleep-ing and I notice a lot of mir-rors in the bedroom (oftenas mirrored closets), Iexplain that mirrors natural-ly increase photon activity,

which in turn increases thevibratory energy, bright-ness, and unseen movementin a room. Since rest andrejuvenation are the pur-pose of a bedroom, havingtoo many mirrors can createexcess “exciting” energy.

A good solution for cur-ing this, without having toremove the mirrors, is toinstall a simple curtain rodover the mirrors and hangsheer curtains that, whenclosed, will “quiet down”the mirror energy. Duringthe day, the curtains can bepushed open to convenient-ly reveal the mirrors for use.

When removing mirrorenergy, give it some time totake effect

If you decide to removemirror energy from yourbedroom because you sus-pect they are the reasonyour sleep has been dis-turbed, do not expectimmediate results. Yourbody is accustomed to“managing” the energy atnight and will continue todo so for a while. Give yourbody about 21 days toreadapt to the new, “qui-eter” environment, and beable to relax more deeply.

What about mirrors in chil-dren’s rooms?

Children naturally have ahigh level of energy and areeasily excited. My recom-mendation is to have nomirrors or only one in achild’s room, since it’senough to get them to calmdown each night as it is.

Basic mirror rulesUse high-quality mirrors.

A mirror that warps images(usually a low-quality mir-ror) sends warped energyinto the environment.Avoid mirrors that haveripples, distortions, cracksor flaws, are darkened,

smoked, crackled, or tilemirrors, as they can haveunpleasant subconsciouseffects. Since mirrors sym-bolize clarity and self-image, be conscious of themirror energy that youplace around you.

Feng shui expert and lifeguide Alice Inoue offersbooks, DVDs, workshopsand private consultations.For more information, visitwww.aliceinoue.com.

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2 | HAWAII RENOVATION | MARCH 27, 2011 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HAWAIIRENOVATION

Motivated

GOASK

ALICEby Alice Inoue

Aside from drawing positive energy into aroom, mirrors add light or redirect energy

flow. ©istockphoto.com/aliceinoue

by

Mirrors

The sun is definitelyshining on the solarenergy industry

these days. Here in the Islands,

where we have year-roundsunny weather combinedwith the highest electricityrates in the nation, plusattractive state and federaltax credits, it makes moresense to install a photo-voltaic system than everbefore. In fact, accordingto the Hawaii Solar EnergyAssociation, a record 7,300kilowatts of photovoltaicpower were installed inHawaii in 2009 — com-pared to only 167 kilowattsin 2005.But given the level of

interest and the financialincentives, there are a lotof new providers jumpingon the bandwagon. Fiveyears ago, there wereabout 20 companies pro-viding PV system designand installation in Hawaii.Today there are more than100. At Alternate Energy Inc.,

owner Bruce Ekimura andhis workers are in it for thelong haul. Ekimura and hisdad started out asplumbers. As solar waterheating became more pop-ular, they saw the evolu-tion that was destined totake place. Ekimura andhis family founded

Alternate EnergyInc. in 1993, andsince then, thecompany hasgrown steadily andbecome front-run-ners in Hawaii’s PVrevolution. What drives

them is the knowl-edge that moresolar installationsmeans lessdependenceon expensiveoil and elec-tricity, andmore Hawaiifamilies andbu s i n e s s e skeeping theirhard-earneddollars in thestate.That’s why

all of the com-pany’s installersare AlternateEnergy employ-ees, not subcontractors.Ekimura insists on this so hecan take full responsibility forevery single installation, nomatter how large or small.Alternate Energy purchasesthe highest-quality materialsand systems direct from themanufacturer, and distribu-tors aren’t used as middle-men, meaning that any sav-ings are passed along directlyto the customer.In fact, Alternate Energy

recently became an officialCertified MitsubishiInstaller and PremierDealer, and the onlyauthorized dealer based inHawaii to provideMitsubishi’s photovoltaicmodules, including thenew UJ6 Series. The new panels are engi-

neered to withstand toughoutdoor conditions includ-ing coastline corrosion.While all other manufac-turer warranties specify a500-meter minimum instal-lation distance from salt-water, Mitsubishi is theonly manufacturer toextend its warranty onmodules installed nearsalt-water, making the pan-els an ideal choice forHawaii. Additionally, whilestandard windload ratingfor PV panels is 50 poundsper square foot (ppsf),Mitsubishi panels arerated to withstand 112ppsf and winds up to 130miles per hour. Mitsubishialso is one of the onlyJapanese manufacturers toproduce 100 percent

made-in-Japan modules. That kind of quality

makes an important dif-ference especially inHawaii, where wind is aconstant factor and salt-water corrosion can be anissue even in Leewardcommunities.“In a market where new

solar product manufactur-ers are materializing virtu-ally overnight, Mitsubishiis a well-diversified, 150-year-old company with along history of excel-lence,” says Ekimura. “Bybringing our modules indirect from Japan, we canensure that our customersare getting the best quality

product available, and thatthe maker of their solarinvestment will be aroundto honor any warrantyissues for generations tocome.”Alternate Energy’s cus-

tomers say it gives thempeace of mind to know thatthey are working with alongtime, established localcompany and manufactur-ers when they make thisimportant environmentalinvestment for their homeor business. Today, Alternate Energy

is proud to be one ofHawaii’s oldest residentialand commercial solar ener-gy companies, locally

owned and operated fromday one. They have been aHawaii Energy conserva-tion and efficiency pro-gram approved independ-ent solar water heatingcontractor since the pro-gram’s inception. And likealways, they will continueto focus on what they dobest: design and installa-tion of photovoltaic sys-tems, solar water heatingsystems and solar atticfans. Alternate Energy is locat-

ed at 1111 Dillingham Blvd.,#H3, in Honolulu. Call 842-5853 or visit the companyonline at www.alternateenergyhawaii.com.

MARCH 27, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 3

HAWAIIRENOVATION

Energy:A family history of harnessing thesun for Hawaii

Alternate

It’s time to give thatkitchen a new looksince it is the most vis-

ited room in the house.Since you are spending somuch time there, don’tyou deserve a room that isefficient, modern and

pleasant? Undoubtedlyyou want to makeimprovements that makesense and fall within yourbudget. You also wantquality within a price youcan afford. Most of all, youneed an experienced

licensed contractor thathas proven time and againcapable of completing thejob at an affordable price. Essential Cabinet

Refacing Inc. is in its 22ndyear of business. For own-ers Ringo and Michele

Pauly, the firstadvice they gotas young entre-preneurs camefrom LexBrodie, whoe n c o u r a g e dthem to runtheir businesswith integrity.To them, thismeant listeningto their cus-tomers, sharingtheir remodel-ing expertisewith clients toensure the jobperformed wasthe right matchto the customer,

and doing thejob at a competi-tive, yet fairprice. Sincethen, their mis-sion has been tohave satisfiedcustomers at theend of everyproject. Over the years, materi-

als and remodeling meth-ods have changed a greatdeal. ECR has kept cur-rent in the industry andoffers up-to-date styles,designs and materials.ECR has offered refacingas an economical optionfor upgrading cabinetssince the beginning in1989. Refacing is themethod of giving cabinetsa “facelift” without goingthrough the time andexpense of ripping outexisting cabinets andinstalling new ones.Since the doors and draw-

ers are replaced, the exte-rior of the cabinets isbrand new and gives amodernized look. Theinterior remains the sameand a lot of money issaved. This gives cus-tomers the freedom toincrease their budget andadd features such as newcountertops, appliancesor special features likerolling pull-out drawers. As the needs of their cus-

tomers changed, ECR hascontinued to expand on itsscope of work to includenew custom-built cabinetsand countertops. Custom

cabinets are locally built inECR’s shop. Owners havetheir choice of materials inthe cabinet structure, hard-ware and exterior finish.Countertops come inalmost any material cus-tomers desire.ECR’s office and shop

is located at 212 MohonuaPlace. Showroom hoursare from 8 a.m. to 4:30p.m., Monday throughSaturday. For more infor-mation or to schedule afree, no obligation esti-mate, call 847-7835, orvisit the website, essentialcabinetrefacing.com.

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“experience”

BY KAREN NAKAMURA

America is more“connected” nowthan ever before,

with on-demand access toinformation and just aboutanything you want deliv-ered to your front doorovernight. But recent natu-ral disasters around theworld have shown thateven in this modern age,you and your family need tobe prepared to survive onyour own after an emer-gency.

It may take days or evenweeks for emergency andrelief workers to get toeveryone impacted by adisaster. And basic servicessuch as electricity, gas,water, sewage treatment,and telephones may not berestored for a lengthy peri-od of time.

Every family needs tokeep on hand enough food,water and other necessarysupplies to sustain them-selves until help arrives oryou can safely leave thearea and get to a shelter.

The Federal EmergencyManagement Agency(FEMA) has a website,www.ready.gov, with infor-mation on how to be pre-pared for both natural andman-made disasters.

FEMA recommends put-ting together a basic emer-gency supply kit and keep-ing it in your home in aneasily accessible location.The items that should beincluded in the kit are:

• Three-day supply offood and water, including at

least one gallon of waterper person per day andnon-perishable food items

• Hand-crank or battery-operated radio and aNational Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration(NOAA) Weather Radiowith tone alert

• First-aid kit • Cell phone with a

charger, an inverter or asolar charger

• Dust masks, plasticsheeting and duct tape incase of a chemical event

that contaminates the air• Items for personal sani-

tation such as moist tow-elettes, garbage bags andplastic ties

• Tools and suppliesincluding a flashlight, a canopener, a wrench or pliersto turn off utilities, extrabatteries and a whistle tosignal for help

• Maps of the local area

Other items you maywant to keep with your kitinclude prescription med-

ications, food or suppliesfor infants or pets, copies ofimportant family docu-ments such as insurancepolicies, medical histories,bank and financial records,and passports; cash and/ortraveler’s checks, extraclothing, blankets or tow-els; a fire extinguisher andmatches; and personalhygiene items.

A disaster can strikewithout warning, and thebest way to protect yourfamily is to be prepared.These tips, along with addi-tional information availableat www.ready.gov, are agood start to make sureyour family is safe follow-ing an emergency situation.

For more tips for yourhome, visit biahawaii.org orthe National Association ofHome Builders at www.nahb.org.

Karen Nakamura is execu-tive vice president/CEO ofBuilding Industry Associationof Hawaii.

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EmergencyPreparedness

at Home

As a large segment of ourHawaii population andyour families/relatives

enter the golden years, it is a wisemove to convert one of your bath-rooms to a walk-in shower andadd assist bars on the walls, saysGerry Peters, president of HPSConstruction Services.

Taking out and replacing oneof your tubs with a low or flatthreshold walk-in shower is muchmore usable than ordering one ofthe so-called walk-in tubs, whichusually cost more for the tub andshipping alone than the entire jobto convert from tub to walk-inshower. Furthermore, beyondunaffordable pricing, these tubs,according to reviews, are prob-lematic relative to the swing-in

hatches developing leaks.You can install a built-in bench

in the walk-in shower and also aconvenient sliding, adjustableshower head. This enables you totake comfortable, water-savingshowers and save money in theprocess. Most importantly, it issafer than a tub and roomier also.That’s because tubs have aninward slope, which takes upspace.

Options to have a hatchet jobbeing offered by some places tomerely cut out a slice of your tuband use a shower curtain is aheartache waiting to happen. Notonly do they look awful, but theopen sections allow water to rotthe floors, rust the tubs, or createlarge amounts of mold. For a cou-

ple thousand dol-lars more, you canget it right andenhance yourdaily living expe-rience and theresale value ofyour home orcondo.

The secret tocos t -e f fec t ivekitchen and bathimprovements,according toPeters, is to rejectnotions that youhave to movedrains and otherplumbing or elec-

trical, suffer throughdrafting/plans and permit costsand time agony and frustration, toget a really nice-looking, modernand functional kitchen and bath.

HPS says that, depending onthe level of change and whetherthere is current water or otherdamage, these upgrades can behad for $3,500-$8,500 for baths,including tub-to-shower conver-sions, and $9,000-$15,000 forkitchens.

Another major area of concernon choosing the right bid is todetermine how detailed the pro-posal is, and whether it addressespotential unforeseen hiddenproblems, such as termite andwater damage.

Another warn-ing on upgrades,remodels, andrepairs and big-ger projects is towatch out for“low-ball” basepricing to get youhooked, but thenyou get add-onsfor things youthought wereincluded, Petersadds. Unforeseendamage, clearlyspelled out inadvance, is alegitimate add-on, but onlywhen it is reallynecessary. On theother hand, keepin mind that youcannot add thingsin that weren’tdiscussed.

Peters saysthat assuming ahandyman or so-called contractor(one without alicense) knowseverything aboutthe project or jobs you have forthem is foolish. Remember that astate General Excise Tax license isnot a contracting license.

Check and double checkwhom you choose to do business

with. HPS offers licensed handy-man services in addition tokitchen and bath upgrades andremodels, plus other generalcontracting services.

Call HPS at 847-4400 or sendyour email to [email protected].

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

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from the generationsbefore us, we’ve discov-ered new and innovativeways to making the cus-tomer experience withAtlas Construction anenjoyable and simplebuilding process.

As a design-build con-tractor, we offer the fullcomplement of servicesthat someone would needwhen taking on a buildingproject. We start with ourdesign services where wetake the time and effort to

create a design that fits afamily’s wants and needs.The emphasis is placedon a design that fits intothe family’s budget whileattaining the function anduse of the building proj-ect. Once the design isapproved by the family,we create a full set of per-mit-ready blueprints.Here, we start the build-ing permit process andfollow through with thebuilding permit.Although we are not a

finance company, we do

offer assistance in thisarea by providing all thenecessary documentationto satisfy the loanprocess. Necessary docu-mentation includes thebuilding permit andbonding certificates.Research into every

phase of this process isdone by our company toprovide the best value foryour building project. Wehave a weekly designmeeting where we notonly review every cur-rent design, but also

review products andservice for your project. The owner of our com-

pany is one of our projectmanagers; this affordsunmatched hands-onattention to your buildingproject. The customerservice is handled withutmost importance fromstart to finish of all proj-ects. This is our defini-tion of a full-servicedesign-build contractor.For more information

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

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There are manychoices to be madewhen considering

which manufacturers’ pho-tovoltaic (PV) modules togo with, and from PacificIslands Construction’s van-tagepoint, not all modulesare made the same. Sufficeto say, better made moduleswill last many more yearsand provide a higher ener-gy yield over time, thusbecoming the least expen-sive purchase. As a result of the many

changes in wafer produc-tion over the last few years,

Pacific Islands is con-cerned that the quality ofthe PV cells has been com-promised, as a push to cutcosts by making thinnerwafers has taken over theindustry.One of the most common

questions asked regardingphotovoltaic systems is,“Will the prices be comingdown next year?” For thisto happen, one of the costcomponents will have tocome down, lowering theprice paid for a PV module.The No. 1 cost componentof a PV module is the pho-

tovoltaic cell. Photovoltaiccells based on crystallinesilicon is the most commonmaterial used to make PVmodules. The process formaking a cell requires themanufacturing of wafersthat comprise the cell.Wafers are made by cuttingsilicon ingots, and it is inthe process of cutting thewafers out of the ingots thatwaste of the ingots takesplace, contributing to thecost of the wafers.Wire saw cutting of sili-

con ingots is a key step inthe production of photo-voltaic cells based on crys-talline silicon. For manyyears it has been a reliableapproach to providing thewafers used for the manu-

facturing of cells. Theprocess removes almost 50percent of the starting poly,which is not recoverable.As a result of manufactur-ing cost pressure, the PVwafers are getting thinnerand with that, qualityissues surface as manufac-turers attempt to competeon price. PV wafersdropped on average from200 millimeters down to150 millimeters in 2010, andsubsequently, are eventhinner now. This reduc-tion in thickness poses sig-nificant challenges for wiresaw wafering as materialsget thinner, consumersinherit any defects associ-ated.As the pursuit to lower

the production costs isactively pursued, there arefive areas or considerationsthat manufacturers dealwith:

1) cut thinner wafers 2)minimize kerf-loss

(wasted silicon ingot) 3) get a higher yield4) attain a high through-

put/quality5) achieve the lowest pro-

cessing cost

The thinner wafers aremore difficult to handleand the opportunity fordefects in the materialsincreases. There are toomany manufacturers will-ing today to compete onprice, and it is the con-

sumer who must be awareof how these lower costmodules are beingachieved. Our best adviceis if you are buying onprice, be careful what andwhom you are buying from.Pacific Islands Construction

believes that manufacturersthat have been producinghigh-quality PV modules for along time, such as Kyocera,have not lowered their stan-dards. They continue to pro-duce these wafers in a respon-sible way and continue to seethe long-term benefits in pro-ducing a product that pro-duces over the long haul. For more information on

Pacific Islands Construction,call 841-7756 or [email protected].

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

Examining the costsof photovoltaic modules

Aworldwide trendtoward environmen-tally friendly build-

ing is gaining popularityeach year as consumerswarm to the idea of greenhomes. Although there is avast amount of green build-ing material to choose from,no other commodity cancompete with the sustain-able benefits of wood. Withwood, there are opportuni-ties to reduce the immenseenvironmental impact ofbuilding and operatinghomes through constructionand building design.However, in order to beconsidered sustainable,wood must be certified andacquired through forestryand harvesting practicesthat ensure the long-termhealth and diversity offorests.Sustainable forestry prac-

tices, or certification sys-tems, are the management offorest resources to meet theneeds of today without com-promising the needs offuture generations. Thereare more than 50 differentforest certification systemsin the world today that rep-resent nearly 700 millionacres of forestland.Additionally, there are15,000 companies involvedin producing and marketingcertified wood products. According to Hawaii

Lumber Products Association’s(HLPA) new president, JeffBrowning of Sause Bros., theassociation’s purpose is to “pro-mote the use of forest productsin Hawaii through an informa-tional and educational cam-paign designed around the ben-efits of utilizing not only cost-effective but also ‘green’ andsustainable resources duringconstruction.” Natural wood uses less

energy and produces lessair and water pollution thanother major manufacturedbuilding materials. “Wood is a material that

can be used instantly andonly needs a few prepara-tory treatments,” saidBrowning. “It’s manufac-tured in the forest and onlyneeds to be shaped andsawed into the correctsizes.” Also, with continu-ous technological advance-ments, engineered woodsystems can maximize theuse of the material toreduce the use ofresources.Over the past decade, a

trend toward environ-mentally and climate-

friendly building isbecoming apparent inthe construction indus-try worldwide and willcontinue to grow in thefuture. With sustain-able qualities from pro-duction through con-struction, wood isundoubtedly leadingthe way in this greentrend.

HAWAIIRENOVATION

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Today manyhomeownersare discovering

a potential showpieceof any older home;beautiful hardwoodfloors. Questionsarise: How old arethese floors? Whatkind of wood is this?Can these floors berefurbished to theiroriginal appearance?Who can help?

Jewels Under That OldCarpet!

Imagine the look onthe faces of thosehomeowners whoremoved their carpetto find beautiful bor-der work on a floorthat had been coveredfor years with carpet.Older homes offered

higher quality hard-woods such as oldgrowth and quartersawn material.

Old growth was har-vested from trees mucholder than what they milltoday. These types offloors show a muchtighter grain patternbecause of their age andthe number of growthrings. Quarter sawn arestill available today atmuch higher prices thanpast years, offering aunique appearance.Homeowners also findred oak in homes less than50 years old. Do you haveone of these treasures?There’s only one way tofind out: Use a pair of pli-ers, grab a section of thecarpet in the corner andpull back.

How Do I Know If TheFloors Can Be Refinished?

To determine howmany times the floorhas been refinished,look at the wear layerleft on the flooring. Thisis the area above thetongue and groove.Different thicknesseshave been milled overthe years; wear layersare different. One placeto look for currentthickness would bearound removable heat-ing register vents.

What Happens WhenThey Refinish My Floors?Dust?

This depends largelyon who is doing thework. Professionalswho care more aboutindoor air quality have

invested in dust extrac-tion systems. Othersmay just have a bagattached to their sand-ing equipment which isnot a good way to avoidairborne dust.

Dust extraction sys-tems help to minimizean enormous amount ofdust and older finishmaterials that wouldhave lingered in yourhome for months afterthe floor finisher leaves.Without it, you’re likelyto incur extra costs byhaving to hire someoneto clean the home top tobottom. Labor costsfrom companies thathave this equipmentwill be a little higher.But what is more impor-tant than you and yourfamily’s health?

SEE PAGE 11


HAWAIIRENOVATION

Restoring OldHardwood Floors

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

Poor dust control couldhave an effect on every-day health and also onthe final appearance ofyour floor.

When Is It Safe To MoveFurniture Back In?Some finishes will take

longer to cure, but friend-lier water-based finisheswill take the least amountof time. Conditions canvary and depend on rela-tive humidity within thehome or conditions out-side. You can speed upodor removal with anopen house.

How Long Does It Take?Refinishing work for a

500 square-foot job, allfurniture and carpetingremoved and the areaready to go for the finish-er. Using a water-basedfinish should take two tothree days with minimalodors, while oil-based fin-ishes will take three tofour days with strongodors.

If you find that treasureunder your carpet, HawaiiHardwood Flooring wouldbe happy to help you witha clean and flawless refin-ishing job. Call 842-7755 orvisit the company show-room, located at 306 KalihiSt. in Honolulu.

FROM PAGE 10

Flawless floors fromHawaii Hardwood

Is it time to replace your worn-out windows with new Anlinwindows? If so, here are five

things to consider:

1. SecurityJalousie windows are the easi-

est to break into. It takes a matterof minutes for a thief to removethe glass and break into yourhome. Anlin windows have

passed the stringent CFE(California Forced Entry)requirements. They come with atamper-proof cam lock systemand with a locking system thatlets you lock windows in the openposition to allow ventilation andprevent access at the same time.

2. ComfortAnlin windows have a dual-

pane, infinite-energy barrier.They will keep heat and harmfulultraviolet light reflected awayfrom your home. If you have airconditioning, you can save up to35 percent of your energy billeach month.

3. Privacy/AppearanceNew Anlin windows give your

home a new-home look and

increase the value of your homethe day that they are installed.Available are six different typesof obscure/frosted glass that willgive your home a distinctive lookand afford you privacy withoutthe need for curtains or windowcovering.

4. Maintenance Anlin windows come with a

lifetime installation warranty.This covers not only the windowsthemselves, but the installation aswell. If one of Anlin’s windowsleaks in 15 years, call WindowsHawaii and our service depart-ment will repair or replace it at nocost. The marine-grade vinyl iseasy to clean, guaranteed not to

fade, crack or powder. Great forour salty air. And no need to paintagain. Also, the easy-clean glassreduces the need to clean yourwindows.

5. PriceWindows Hawaii has installed

more than 100,000 windows. Thecompany carries most majorbrands so that you can choose thewindow that is right for yourhome and budget. Our buyingpower and factory-direct pur-chasing get the best quality forthe lowest price.

Call Windows Hawaii today at671-0808 or 383-7233 for a freeconsultation.

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

5Reasons toyourReplace

Old Windows

The solar photovoltaic (PV) mar-ket has really started to take off,and the idea of generating your

own electricity for free is a great one.Did you know that it takes approximate-ly 18 solar PV panels to offset the costof heating hot water for a typical house-hold? By far, the most cost-effectiveway to take advantage of solar power isto install a solar hot water system.The return on investment (ROI) for a

typical residential solar hot water sys-tem is currently a little more than twoyears and two months, with existing taxcredits factored in. After that period,you will have paid for your system and

continue to savemoney for the life ofthe system. Even ifyou wanted to

install a solar PV system, 18 fewer pan-els would be needed if you had a solarhot water system.It was also just announced that

Hawaiian Electric has doubled the cashrebate of newly purchased solar hotwater installations to $1,500 cash back!Homeowners also will have the option

of the newly introduced $1,000 interest-free loan when choosing the standard$750 cash rebate. The increased rebateis a federally funded stimulus grantthat only will be offered now thoughMay 31.Several local banks and credit unions

are currently offering special financingfor solar waterheating systemsthrough theirEnergy Smart LoanProgram. This givesthe customer 5years of interestfree financing, aslong as a Hawaiienergy approvedcontractor is used.A 5-year loan at 0percent interestwould not onlyallow you to savemoney while payingfor your system, itallows one to takeadvantage of the

tax credits before the sys-tem is even fully paid for.EnergyPro Hawaii proud-

ly installs Heliodyne solarhot water systems, as wellas provides many otherenergy-efficient solutions,such as tank-less gas water

heaters and solar pool heatingsystems. The company also is capableof servicing all other brands of solarsystems. For more information on the company

or to receive a free quote on theHeliodyne system, call EnergyPro Hawaiitoday at 377-6686.

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

FreeHot Water:Too good to be true?

You can easily turnyour master bath-room into a green

retreat — withoutbreaking the bank. Bymaking smart, sustain-able updates, you cantransform your spaceinto one that’s botheco-friendly and stylish.

Save where — and what — you canThe ultimate green act

when remodeling is torepurpose materials youalready have, instead ofbuying new. Spruce upyour existing vanityinstead of purchasing anew one by refinishingcabinets and drawers with

a fresh coat of stainor paint. If you have aglass shower door,try to save the exist-ing structure andreinstall it once yournew tile is in place.By using what’salready in the space,you’ll help the envi-ronment and yourwallet, you’ll save alot of money and pre-vent those materialsfrom winding up inlandfills. The most impor-

tant type of “savings” inany eco-friendly makeoveris reducing the amount ofnatural resources used. Inorder to make an impact,replace the standard ele-ments in the space withsustainable ones: Switchincandescent light bulbsto compact fluorescents(CFLs), replace your cur-rent toilet with a high-effi-ciency model and installnew eco-performance fix-tures in the shower and atthe sink. The new Method bath-

room collection fromMoen is a stylish, eco-

friendly solution. Methodlavatory faucets featureclean lines and soft curvesand are certified to meetWaterSense criteria. Thatmeans the fixtures meetthe EPA’s guidelines asenvironmentally responsi-ble and efficient by reduc-ing water usage by up to32 percent, without sacri-ficing performance. AnEco-Performance shower-head that flows at 1.75 gal-lons per minute also isavailable within theMethod collection, allow-ing you to continue yourwater savings in the show-er.

Take a cue from the outdoorsBefore starting your

green updates in the mas-ter bath, gather someinspiration from the mostnatural space there is —the great outdoors. Try arus t i c -mee t s -mode rnstyle. Neutral colors arethe perfect backdrop forgraphic, contemporarylinens and sleek accents.Look for tiles in shades ofbrown and taupe, andinstall them around theentire surround of yourshower or tub for an airyand expansive feel.What’s more outdoorsy

and natural-looking thanrich wood floors? Sustain-able wood flooring is justas affordable, more eco-friendly and even easier toinstall than most tile. If youcan, run the flooringthrough the master bed-room right into the bath.Not only will it visuallyexpand the bathroom, butit also creates the feelingof a unified master suite.

For more information onthe latest eco-performanceproducts from Moen, visitmoen .com/eco -per formance or call (800) BUY-MOEN (800-289-6636).

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

Greenways to‘master’the bath

In today’s tight economy,freshening outdated homeinteriors can seem like a

daunting, budget-breakingtask. The good news is thatyou don’t have to spend a lotto remove eyesores such asunattractive paneling too-dark cabinets or that not-so-charming “retro” fireplacemantel and surround.

Instead of living withthese design disasters fromanother era, there’s an easyand inexpensive fix — paint.

Quality interi-or coatings,applied withthe properapplicators,can go a longway in givingthose designdebacles aquick and easyfacelift for hun-dreds of dol-lars less than afull-scale reno-vation.

But beforeyou start yourpaint project,it’s importantto know thatthe key to suc-

cess is selecting not only aquality coating, but apply-ing it with a quality paintingapplicator. If an inferiorapplicator is used, even themost outstanding paint maynot provide the smooth fin-ish you desire. Using superi-or applicators can stream-line a variety of interiorpainting projects, savingyou time and money, andultimately helping youachieve a fabulous endresult.

“Paint has long beenconsidered one of thegreat budget boosters fordecorating projects,” saysAndrew Marsden, productmanager for Purdy appli-cators. “When you com-bine a first-rate paint witha quality painting applica-tor, you can transform avariety of surfaces — fromoutdated cabinetry toknotty pine paneling —giving any room in thehouse a fresh look.”

When to use a mini roller Premium applicators

come in a number ofshapes and sizes; howeverone of today’s most popu-

lar choices is the miniroller. Purdy has a varietyof innovative mini rollerchoices that are versatile,lightweight, can quicklyand easily deliver a perfectfinish with smooth rollingaction and have the abilityto reach tight spaces.These combined featuresmake them the ideal appli-cator for an endless num-ber of projects, from paint-ing walls, doors and cabi-nets, to freshening uptables, chairs and evenbedroom furniture.

When to use a brushEven with all the advan-

tages the mini roller offers, a

paint brush is still the herofor most projects especiallywhen trim work is needed.A quality brush is a mustwhen you’re aiming to endup with a professional-look-ing appearance. Most con-sumers might not know it’salso important to use abrush that’s the appropriatesize for your painting proj-ect. So, be certain to keep

these tips in mind:

• Use 1- and 2-inchbrushes for trim work,touch-ups and smallerprojects such as windowframes and moldings.Angular 1- and 2-inchbrushes are great forpainting around windows.

• Choose brushes meas-uring 2 1/2 and 3 inchesfor medium-size surfacessuch as cabinets, base-boards, doors or steps.

• Paint larger surfaces,like walls, ceilings, andfloors with brushes rang-ing in size from 3 1/2 inch-es to 6 inches.

“Whether you’re using abrush or mini roller, theright applicator can make orbreak any painting project,”Marsden says. “By payingas much attention to thesize and quality of applica-tor used, in addition to thepaint, you’re guaranteed toend up with a fantastic fin-ished project that you’ll beable to admire and enjoy foryears to come.”

Rollerorbrush?

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HAWAIIRENOVATION

With so much informa-tion about solar inthe news, homeown-

ers often wonder, “Would solarbe right for my family?” Theeasiest way to find out is to talkto one of the solar profession-als at Poncho’s Solar Service.The following case concerns

a family of three with an aver-age of $160-$170 electric billper month. They had an elec-tric hot water system and elec-tric dryer and stove. Beforethey could determine if solarwas right for this family, how-ever, Poncho’s Solar Servicelooked at several factors:

• Would the homeownerbenefit from a solar hot watersystem, a photovoltaic systemor both?• Discussed the family’s cur-

rent energy use to determine iftheir power usage wouldincrease or decrease in thecoming years.• Check the age/condition of

the roof and for any shadingissues• Taking these things into

consideration, size the systemfor a kW average per day

The Poncho’s Solar Serviceteam member determined thefamily was using an average of16-19 kW per day and would forthe foreseeable future. Afterreviewing the options the fami-ly decided to have Poncho’sSolar Service install an 80 gal-lon hot water system and a 10

panel photovoltaic system thatwould reduce their averagemonthly power bill to the elec-tric company’s minimumcharge.For this family, switching to

solar appealed to their sense ofgoing green and made goodfinancial sense. The cost fortheir hot water system andphotovoltaic system was:

• 80 gallon solar hot water“B” package with a five-yearwarranty.• $6,000 purchase price• $ 282.72 Tax• $6,282.75 price before

HECO rebate• $(1,500) HECO rebate• $5,532.72• $(1,936.45) 35 percent state

tax credit• $(1,659.82) 30 percent feder-

al tax credit• $1,936.45 total cost after

rebate and tax credits

10 Panel Photovoltaic Systemwith 10 Micro-Inverteres• 245-watt Solar World• $14,500 purchase price• $683.24 tax• $15,183.24 total cost

• $(5,000.00) 35 percent state

tax credit• $(4,554.97) 30 per-

cent federal tax credit• $5,628.27 total cost

after tax credits

When you buy fromlocally owned compa-nies like Poncho’sSolar Service andWalter’s Electric Inc.rather than nationallyowned businesses,much more of yourmoney stays local tomake purchases fromother local businessesand strengthens theeconomic base of ourcommunity.Buying local keeps

Hawaii unique —where we shop, wherewe eat and have fun allmake Hawaii our homeand keep our distinc-tive local character.Buying local gets

you better customerservice — local busi-nesses hire people whounderstand their com-

munity and take more time toget to know their customers.Investment in the community

— local businesses are ownedby people who live in our com-munity, raise their families hereand are more invested in ourcommunity’s future.Buying local supports your

family and neighbors businesses.Think local. Buy local. Call

422-4266.


HAWAIIRENOVATION

Solarfor you?Is

hawaii renovation 27 march 2011

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