A roof that utilizes rainwater for the yard. A water-catchment system. Runoff collection. Sustainably harvested ipe decking. A reinforced grasscrete driveway. These are some of the elements that comprise this truly green home and we haven’t even ventured in the front door.

Joe and Diane Van Ryzin’s home takes living green to the next level, with the simple intention of building intelligently. “I don’t know if we were thinking green,” says Diane. “We were thinking about what was best.” 

The couple wanted a home with a small carbon footprint in the old Manoa plantation style. It would need to be comfortable and low-maintenance. In the end, that also meant eco-friendly: set up for photovoltaic panels and solar hot-water heating, both from Sunetric, a Hawaii-based full-service solar home integration service. It would also need to be built with recycled or sustainable materials.

The walk-in pantry's motion-sensor light, natural ventilation and earth-friendly materials make it  as eco-friendly as the rest of the home­­­­—and so cute!

Step inside to see the stunning great room and feel the cool air. Yes, it actually feels cooler inside the home than out. An impressive ventilation system, designed by Alwyn Trigg-Smith, of Alwyn Trigg-Smith Architects, makes it possible.

Here’s how it works: First, the home is raised off the ground, so air flows beneath it. Next, the home’s orientation maximizes trade winds, with each window placed to maximize airflow, the sun, views and entry.

Trigg-Smith designed ledges in the dining area and great room for Diane to display items from her large group of collectibles, which includes carnival and Hawaiian chalk ware.

Next, the 14-foot-tall pyramid ceiling creates even more ventilation. “By making higher ceilings, you can create higher windows, and you can get better flow throughout the house,” sa ys Trigg-Smith.

Whimsical air screens, designed by the couple’s son Henrik, pull even more air in from around the home, while vents in the ceiling pull hot air into the attic. That hot air then goes up and out of the home through gables placed on the roof.
Finally, the enormous sliding glass doors leading to the lanai provide enough natural light for energy saving during daylight hours, and also slide into pockets to bring even more air in from the outdoors.


Even the building materials are eco-friendly, thanks to contractor and certified green professional Mike Fairall, of Mokulua Woodworking Ltd. Tongue-and-groove wall panels, made of recycled redwood and pine from the previous home (see "A Thoughtful Takedown," at right for more on the home's thoughtful demolition), grace the perimeter of the great room. The kitchen, a story in itself (see Just Plain Smart, also in this issue), sits perfectly in place, a seamless addition to the main living area.

A small Bosch washer and dryer combination is creatively hidden underneath the kitchen counter, which doubles as a folding area.

The heart of the home, the great room, stays visible to the rooms that branch off of it: the dining area, den, laundry room, extra bathroom, lanai and extraordinary pantry. Each room utilizes every square-inch of space, ensuring ultimate efficiency.

Adjacent to the kitchen, the circular dining room, which Diane and Joe refer to as “the round room,” isn’t an ordinary dining area. It’s complete with a laundry station.

A washer and dryer sit under cabinets that separate the kitchen and dining room. A cabinet Joe made from an antique armoire door opens up to a flip-down ironing board and sewing center.

Stroll back through the great room and into the master suite. You’ll immediately notice a closet system assembled by Joe (this creative couple loves to tackle home projects themselves). Farther back, his-and-her pedestal sinks are adorned with medicine cabinets Joe designed and built as well.

At the end of the hall is the private master bath, where textural glass tiles, selected by Joe and Diane, provide a sweet embellishment and nonslip surface. The open shower promotes airflow, keeping steam retention to a minimum and preventing mold and mildew growth. Both the master and guest baths incorporate low-flow plumbing to conserve water use.

Large, low-E glass windows and a slight build-out on the back wall make this bedroom feel larger. The space overlooks  the backyard, which will eventually become a garden.

Enter the 207-square-foot master bedroom, and you’ll notice it’s not very big as far as master bedrooms go. That’s just how the Van Ryzins wanted it. “We just sleep in our bedroom,” says Diane. “We wanted to put our money in the other rooms that we utilize.”

Like the rest of the windows in the home, the bedroom windows are ultra-efficient, low-E (low-emissivity) and dual-glazed, to prevent undue heat from entering the home.

Beyond energy efficiency, the group of windows also helps to open up the small space. They span the entire width of the bed-facing wall and overlook a garden Diane can’t wait to start planting.

In the end, this intelligently built, green home is a place Diane and Joe can enjoy forever. “I like the feeling it gives me. I feel good in it,” says Diane. “I’m really happy with how it came out.”