Cool.
The
word is tossed around a lot. Cool can mean hot, as in trendy. Or cold,
as in temperature. For summer ’07, we’ve found ways to be both kinds of
cool. Screens, lanai doors and louver windows let the breezes in
without blocking beautiful ocean and mountain views. Decorative fans
revamp rooms and keep the air flowing. And the newest in
air-conditioning technology keeps electric bills as low as inside
temperatures.
The
ultimate goal of homeowners is a cool interior and luckily for them,
our cooling experts know how to bring the temperature down—in style.
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| The Phantom Screen, from Retractable Screen Solutions, doesn’t interrupt the view of the golf course outside. Photo by Mike Judd, of Retractable Screen Solutions. |
Air-Conditioned Bliss
Aldrin
Villahermosa, president of AMV Air Conditioning Inc., knows all about
the latest cooling technology. Having designed and installed
residential air conditioners since 1997, he has seen great advances in
air-conditioning technology during that time. AMV coordinates with
homeowners and architects to plan custom cooling systems, and utilizes
an AutoCADD design program that takes planning “to the next level,”
Villahermosa says.
AMV’s
newest products, he explains, are variable refrigerant compressors
(VRV) from Mitsubishi, Fujitsu and Dican. They make custom zone-cooling
plans the best home options. Zone control allows the temperature to be
balanced, room by room. VRV changes the refrigerant’s flow through the
cooling system, based on each room’s temperature, because “the sun hits
a house at different places during different times of the day,”
Villahermosa says. These new models can support up to eight zones of
cooling. Set up correctly, a zone system will maximize energy savings,
he adds.
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| An outdoor compressor, from Air Source Air Conditioning, utilizes a variable compressor-speed invertor which saves energy. Photo courtesy of Air Source. |
Sanyo
air conditioners have long been cooling staples in Hawaii, says Craig
Washofsky, of Servco Home & Appliance Showroom. The company is
currently featuring new split-duct models. They come in two parts: an
indoor cooling unit and an outdoor compressor. The indoor units are
installed in each room, instead of connected (via ducts to each room)
to a central air conditioner. Rooms are cooled only while in use. This
saves energy and lowers the electric bill. Plus, by splitting the unit,
heat and noise are kept outside and the outdoor unit’s excellent design
keeps it from being offensive to the neighbors, Washofsky adds.
Sanyo
also has a multi-zone unit, with one outdoor compressor serving several
indoor units. This simplifies cooling a large great room, says
Washofsky. Or, instead of one giant cooling unit, two smaller ones
create better coverage. Or, homeowners can pool the bedrooms of their
homes onto one Sanyo compressor. Don’t forget this tried-and-true
benefit of Sanyo air conditioners: The thermostat is installed right
into the remote control, so homeowners can easily read the temperature
right next to them—not up on the ceiling or across the room.
Air
conditioners are “affordable for everyone, thanks to improvements in
technology and energy efficiency. In the past, AC was more like a
luxury, but these days, it is becoming a necessity,” says Kristi
Nishimura, of Air Source Air Conditioners.
A
family-owned, air-conditioning design and installation company, Air
Source features Mitsubishi ductless, split-air conditioners. This
model’s outdoor unit utilizes a variable compressor-speed inverter,
which speeds up or slows down, depending on the cooling needs of the
room. The variable speed saves even more energy, compared to a
compressor that runs at a constant speed, Nishimura says. And the
Mitsubishi models utilize ozone-friendly R-410A refrigerant.
| HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF COOL INTERIORS:
• Caulk, weatherstrip and insulate (especially around windows and in the attic) to keep cold air in and hot air out.
• Close the shades on windows that face the sun.
• Clean or replace air filters on a regular basis.
• Keep outside units clean and free of leaves and debris.
• Plan hot housework, such as washing clothes and cooking, for early morning or evening.
• Set the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature.
• Have your air-conditioning unit serviced once a year to maintain high energy efficiency.
(compiled from the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute Web site, www.ari.org)
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Window to the World
There’s
nothing better than a cool breeze on a sweltering summer afternoon. It
drops the temperature and it’s free. Passive cooling systems (i.e.,
windows, doors and screens) make the most of tropical trade winds.
Several on-island suppliers are experts in passive cooling systems.
Island
Home Building Materials is rolling out window-manufacturer Kolbe’s new
folding and stacking doors. Perfect for lanai entrances, the doors
connect the home’s interior with the outdoor environment. These doors
have been called “opening glass walls,” and are very popular in Hawaii,
says Jim Cook, of Island Home Building Materials.
Kolbe
doors can be stacked when closed, or they can slide into a pocket in
the wall. Energy-efficient glass is an option and the door panels come
in several configurations. The door frames can be aluminum inside and
out, or aluminum outside with wood interiors. One model even hides the
door’s hinges for a cleaner look.
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| Kolbe stacking doors, from Island Home Building Materials. Photo courtesy of Island Home Building Materials. |
In
addition to its extensive Kolbe line, Island Home Building Materials is
a home building and remodeling one-stop shop. The showroom stocks
appliances, countertops and kitchen designs.
Hawaii
Glass Block is the state’s exclusive supplier of Pittsburgh Corning
Glass Block. Glass block windows and enclosures offer more security and
beauty, with less sound and light transmission than traditional windows.
“Glass
blocks are the perfect fit for Hawaii homes because we are close to our
neighbors, and we don’t want them to see in, but still want to have
windows,” says Mark Brower, company manager.
He
suggests enclosing a shower in glass blocks. Pittsburgh Corning offers
vent options, so homeowners can enjoy natural light in a bathroom,
without overheating in shower steam. These vent options are also
popular in tight spaces, such as stairwells which need more air flow.
Of course, Hawaii Glass Block will be there to fabricate and install
all configurations.
If
outside pests have too much access to inside the home, Mike Judd, of
Retractable Screen Solutions, has a solution to the problem. His
company features the Executive Screen, a retractable, motorized option
that welcomes in every cool breeze and doesn’t obstruct the view. The
Executive Screen relies on a fiberglass solar mesh, which blocks up to
90 percent of the sun’s heat and glare. Each of 30 screen options
covers an area up to 25 feet wide by 16 feet high.
These
screens are the perfect answer for stacking doors, where a screen isn’t
always necessary, Judd notes. “Whether it is a new home or a remodel,
Executive Screens cover large openings in the home—keeping the bugs and
the sun out.”
Thanks
to the Viewguard security screen door, leaving your home open to trade
winds doesn’t also invite intruders. Available exclusively from Screens
& Things, Viewguard matches a heavy-duty frame and a grilled, metal
screen pattern to deter break-ins, while the stainless-steel mesh
resists corrosion. Says Screens & Things’ Sophia Gallegos,
“Security Screens are virtually impenetrable.”
Louver
windows are a classic Island tradition. Louvers provide a connection to
the outside with a sense of privacy. Local companies, such as Island
Shutters and Sunburst Shutters, have created a niche product: durable
louvers with a distinctly Hawaiian feel.
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| This Black Point home features air conditioning by AMV Air Conditioning, with a fan from Pacific Ceiling Fans & Lighting. Photo courtesy of interior designer, Cathy Lee, of RSVP Style. |
Get
an electrical update to the traditional window treatment with Altair
Powerlouvres from Breezway, an Australian louver manufacturer and
newcomer to Hawaii. Altair louvers feature a hidden motor and
circuitry, which have undergone extensive testing. They’re guaranteed
to open and close up to 30,000 times. Plus, screens are available,
which make the most of air flow without bugs. Maximizing the flow of
cool breezes through the home is the “most essential component of
passive design,” says Aaron Dillaway, of Breezway. A flick of the
switch opens slats to bring cool air inside. Out-of-reach areas can now
be used to cool a room.
Looking
for jalousie and casement windows to ventilate in some cool air?
Coastal Windows has a full line of products built to withstand Hawaii’s
sun, wind and salt air.
Photovoltaic cells convert the sun’s rays into electricity, which powers the fan.
Installed inside the roof, a fan sucks hot air out of the house.
Tubing, hidden within the ceiling, brings hot air to the fan.
On the ceiling, a simple grate disguises the mechanics of this sophisticated system.
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Cyclone Solar Fan, from Skylights of Hawaii. photo: Tomas Del Amo
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Our Biggest Fans
During
the daytime, attic temperatures can rise to almost 160 degrees,
especially if the attic is unvented. When hot air expands, it forces
heat into the living areas below. The result is a hot house that needs
much more electricity to cool down.
Skylights
of Hawaii has an Island-perfect solution: Cyclone solar-powered venting
fans. Installed into the roof and powered by the sun, these fans suck
hot air out, forcing cool air in throughout the house. The all-in-one
units are easily installed, and come with a five-year warranty. So say
goodbye to that 160-degree attic: Cyclone fans can drop the temperature
by some 50 degrees, no sweat.
Some
Island homes don’t benefit from trade winds or cool ocean gusts, and
homeowners need to create their own air flow. Ceiling fans move air
from room to room, and add to the cooling affect of air conditioners.
Three Oahu companies have beautiful ceiling-fan fixtures that fit into
any home décor. Pacific Ceiling Fans & Lighting, Dial Electric and
Lighting Concepts all feature distinct pieces—yet each showroom offers
something unique.
