No-Sweat Cooling
Blazing tropical heat is no match for these air conditioners, windows and fans.
Article by Merideth Kimble
Issue Date: May 2007
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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