Cedar Shakes from Green River

When going green at home, start from the top—from the roof, to be exact. Cool roofs come in all materials, from aluminum shakes and steel tiles to cedar shingles. They can reflect the sun’s rays to reduce cooling needs indoors, or, better yet, they can use the sun to heat our water and power our homes. Here is the hottest in cool roofing technology, as well as the latest news from solar energy aficionados.

Shake or Shingle?

Green River, which even has that eco-minded buzz word in its name, is introducing a new line of cedar shakes, called Carbon Neutral Roofing. Warm, natural-looking cedar offers excellent insulation and is made from a renewable material.

Steel roofing from Macsteel

On the other hand, when thinking about going green overhead, it doesn’t get much easier than metal roofs. Macsteel manufactures its steel roofing right here in Hawaii, paying special attention to climate conditions by applying a corrosion-resistant coating. On top of that is the new ULTRA-Cool Kynar 500 coating, which consists of infrared-reflecting pigments. The coating actually reflects heat, not just the sunshine, reducing the home’s cooling needs. Plus, Macsteel’s roofs are partially made from recycled materials, and all are 100 percent recyclable when it’s time to replace them.

Aluminum is one of the easiest metals to recycle, and Aluminum Shake Roofing takes advantage of this green material. “Our roofs are made of 95 percent recycled material, and are 100 percent recyclable,” says company president Fred Rehm. Not that homeowners will need to replace them often—Rehm notes that aluminum roofs can last for years, even outlasting the house. Aluminum Shake supplies the time-tested Country Manor Shakes, with a 40-year warranty. Plus, heat-reflective paints, in several colors and finishes, cut 40 to 50 degrees from the roof’s temperature.

Cool Metal Roofing is Custom Metal Roofing’s venture into the green house-topper market. It boasts a minimum of 25 percent recycled content, which earns points for LEED certification. Cool Metal also takes advantage of the ULTRA-Cool reflective paints. Craig Woods, Custom Metal Roofing’s sales associate, adds, “The paint on the metal contains no lead or toxins, and has been used with water catchment systems for more than 50 years.” Custom Metal Roofing is going green on military bases, supplying its roofs to several military housing installations in the Islands. The roofs are lowering the homes’ cooling costs, as well as providing strong substructures for solar water-heating panels.

Tropical Roof Shield from All weather Surfaces

“Green is more than a buzz word. The concept is being adopted by more and more codes and standards,” says Terry Holman, Met-Tile president. His company offers the Cool Roof line, which meets ENERGY STAR standards and qualifies for federal tax credits. Cool Roofs are constructed of steel panels (partially recycled material) that appear as individual tiles. This system features Super Series 4800 Super Cool architectural coating, in 10 finishes and colors, which reflects the sun’s heat.

For roofs that are still in good condition, adding a protective or reflective coating can greatly cut energy costs. All Weather Surfaces, the company responsible for the Blaisdell Arena’s shiny white glaze, has brought Tropical Roof Shield to Hawaii’s homes. The coating contains ceramic and titanium pigments to reflect heat, with color options to match different homes’ styles.

Solar Power

While you are up there, why not turn your roof into an energy-making machine? More specifically, why not cover it with energy-producing photovoltaic or solar water heating panels? From professionally installed arrays to do-it-yourself kits, Oahu’s solar options have you covered.

Photovoltaic panels from Suntech

“Solar water heating is the most cost effective way to reduce energy needs. Ten percent of the roof [covered in panels] can reduce the electric bill by 40 percent,” says Ivan Gomez, president of Saving Oahu’s Solar (SOS). Federal and state tax credits, with a Hawaiian Electric Company rebate, add to the savings. Working in the industry for 12 years, SOS offers expertise in everything solar, with a specialty in water heating.

While seemingly complex, Gomez says these systems are actually pretty simple. “It’s just like making sun tea,” he says. The rooftop panels are copper, painted black, with copper tubing. These materials heat up, transferring heat to water that circulates through. The water is pumped into a regular electric holding tank. A simple gauge tells the system when to circulate more water for more heat. With regular maintenance, solar water-heating systems can last up to 25 years, paying for themselves over and over again in savings.

For ambitious weekend warriors, Skylights of Hawaii offers the Fafco-brand Hot2O solar water-heating kit. The do-it-yourself kit has everything a homeowner needs to convert his electric water heater into a solar water heater. Installation includes attaching rooftop polymer panels, running PVC pipes to existing water tanks and configuring some small appliances. The Hot2O solar water heater can save up to 50 percent of a home’s energy needs for water heating. Plus, state and federal tax credits reduce the units’ costs. “As long as your hot-water heater is accessible, you can do this,” says David Kaahaaina, president of Skylights of Hawaii.

Photovoltaic array from Saving Oahu's Solar

Homeowners interested in powering their homes entirely with solar energy should learn one term: net metering. This concept means a house powered with solar energy is connected to the energy grid. During the day, solar panels generate energy from the sun. Thanks to our sunny climate, standard photovoltaic arrays produce way more energy than one house needs. The extra amount is sold back to Hawaiian Electric Company. At night, a home with net metering takes back the energy it needs to power lights, dishwashers and TiVO. Most homes with net metering break even on energy costs, and only owe the power company a small, monthly connection fee,

Hawaii Energy Connection has the perfect solution for getting started with photovoltaics (a fancy term for solar panels that convert the sun’s energy into electricity). The company offers the Kumu Kit, a five-panel PV system. The basic package can reduce a home’s energy bill by 20 percent, while upgraded packages will provide more power. While it may sound like another DIY project, the kit actually includes installation by a licensed contractor, permitting and net metering set up. Plus, it comes with a 25-year warranty.

Kumu kit from Hawaii Energy Connection.

Whether installing solar water heating or photovoltaics, homeowners can rest easy when they know professionals are at their service. Enter Suntech Hawaii. “We are a Hawaiian Electric Company approved renewable energy contractor that designs and installs photovoltaic solar electric (PV) and solar water heating systems throughout the state,” says company president Sean Mullins. The company also offers energy audits, which appraise a home’s energy consumption and provide ideas on where to cut back.

Suntech Hawaii is serious about solar. “We recommend first to start out with a solar water-heating system which can offset up to 40 percent of the customer’s electric bill. We then size the PV system to produce enough electricity to offset the remaining 60 percent of the electric bill,” Mullins says. He is proud to be Oahu’s premier distributor of SunPower panels. This brand of panel produces 30 percent more energy from the same amount of sun, he adds.

In the Garden

Rooftop landscaping is the newest in energy-saving technology. Greg Lee, of 1st Look Exteriors Design Center, is leading the charge. His company displays a prototype rooftop garden on its showroom building. Up there, Lee laid just two inches of dirt and planted grasses that he had grown at his nursery. His rooftop systems are modular, he notes, so installation is much simpler. Talk to an architect or engineer before starting a rooftop garden to discuss structural components, Lee adds.

The benefits of that unexpected green space are threefold. First, the garden works as insulation, reducing the cost for cooling the interior. Second, landscaping controls runoff wherever you plant, which is especially good for roofs and gutters. Finally, these spaces are aesthetically pleasing. “Green roofs can be simple. They cool everything down and give life to an area that normally doesn’t have any,” Lee says. 

Where to Get it

1st Look Exteriors Design Center,
a division of Landscapes by
Tropical Images
94-422 Ukee St., Suite #3, Waipio
678-8988
www.1stlookexteriors.com

All Weather Surfaces
99-890 Iwaena St.
487-3043
www.allweatherhawaii.com   

Aluminum Shake Roofing
5 Sand Island Access Road #108
847-8885
www.aluminumshakeroofing.com   

Custom Metal Roofing, a division of HPM Building Supply
1 location on Oahu and
1 location on the Big Island
1311 Kalani St., #104, Honolulu
841-7633
(800) 966-5660
www.custommetalroofing.us

Green River
1-800-663-8707
www.CarbonNeutralRoofing.com

Hawaii Energy Connection
352-7828
www.hawaiienergyconnection.com

Hawaiian Electric Company
94-POWER (947-6937)
www.heco.com   

Hawaiian Island Solar
261-9740
www.hawaiianislandsolar.com   

Macsteel Hawaii
91-104 Kalaeloa Blvd.
682-3000
www.macsteelusa.com   

Met-Tile Inc.
1-800-899-0311
www.met-tile.com/hawaii   

Pella Architectural Products
214-B Sand Island Access Road
841-3200
www.pella.com   

Saving Oahu’s Solar
2228 Kaala Way
372-6691
www.savingoahussolar.com   

Skylights of Hawaii
120 Sand Island Access Road
847-5500
www.skylightsofhawaii.com

Suntech Hawaii
262-6600
www.suntechhawaii.com