In the 53 years the BIA-Hawaii Parade of Homes has been running, no Grand Award winner has ever been as affordable as the Gentry Homes Puna Kea model. Part of the new Tides at Laulani residential development in Ewa Beach, the two-story plan features a solar-powered water-heating system, double-paned windows and foam-insulated walls and ceilings. The model also won a two-star Hawaii Built Green award for its eco-friendly featues.

Plan 3, Mahina, features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths for a total living area of 1,229 square feet.

“I think the main reason we won is because the market has changed,” says Rick Hobson, vice president of marketing at Gentry Homes, during a tour of the award-winning home. “People are more concerned about their carbon footprint, doing what’s right for the environment and purchasing something that will last. And they can manage without it costing them a lot of money.”

Hobson says Puna Kea’s sustainable features — along with those found in the other four models in Tides — are what set it apart from comparable affordable options. “The houses are like refrigerators,” he adds. “If people decide to turn on their air conditioners, there is less cool air escaping through windows and walls. It saves on energy.”

Motion-detection light sensors, another energy-saving feature, are also available. “The sensors detect movement in the house and will turn on the moment you enter your home, and turn off if there is no one in it,” says Hobson.

Click here for a photo gallery of this project,

including a bonus photo!

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