Windows & Window Treatments

Don’t overlook windows as a main source of temperature control for your home. Updating your home’s leaky windows with new energy-efficient ones can keep the hot air out, cool air in and energy bills down.

Polywood Shutter System

What It Is: High-quality, durable window coverings that come with limitless decorative possibilities 

Best For: Homeowners who want ventilation and privacy–always a nice feature in Hawaii where houses are often built close to one another

How You Save: The Polywood Shutter Insulating System blocks as much as 30 degrees of heat from coming through the window. That means your A/C doesn’t have to work as hard, and you’ll save money on your power bills.
 
Get It From: Sunburst Shutters

MAJESTIC Premium Security Doors & Windows

What It Is: Unbelievably strong stainless-steel mesh screens provide security without compromising your view or breeze.

Best For: Security-conscious homeowners

How You Save: Turn the A/C off at night, leave the windows open, and sleep with peace of mind. The mesh also does the job of fending off the sun during the day, filtering 60% of ultraviolet rays.

Get It from: Firstline Security Screens

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IOS Window Framing System

What It Is: An updated, super-strong and energy-efficient louvered window

Best For: Homeowners who love the look of louvers but depend on A/C

How You Save: The innovative design of the window system provides significant wind and water ratings. When closed, these louvered windows are shut tight. Cool air stays in. Hot air and rain stay out. “People really love that our windows are air tight when you close them,” says Breezway’s Shawn Moseley. 

Get It From: Breezway

Impervia® Energy-Efficient Windows

What It Is: High-quality, Energy-Star® rated
windows and doors

Best For: Savvy homeowners who want to make their homes energy efficient for years to come

How You Save: Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, these windows are nine times stronger than vinyl, twice as strong as aluminum and can even withstand temperatures of more than 200 degrees. It reduces air leaking in and out of your home. Plus, the glass has a coating that acts like sunscreen to protect your valuables from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light that can fade fabrics, wood floors and photographs.

Get It From: Pella Windows & Doors

Roofing & Insulation

The year-round, bountiful Hawaii sun can heat your house from the top down. That’s why choosing the right roof can provide significant savings for years to come.

Country Manor Shake Roof

What It Is: Durable, rust-free aluminum roofing guaranteed not to corrode

Best For: Homeowners looking for a long-term
cooling solution

How You Save: A Country Manor Shake roof can reflect up to 75% of all radiant heat while providing airspace beneath each panel to keep your home cooler throughout the year. “It’s the coolest roof you can buy,” said Fred Rehm, president of Aluminum Shake Roofing. “You probably won’t need air conditioning with our roof, especially if you have a ventilated attic space.”

Get It From: Aluminum Shake Roofing

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Hawaii Energy Quick Tip:

By selecting the right combination of color and materials for your roof, you can create a stylish, attractive look combined with a roofing system that has the ability to reflect certain wavelengths of the sun, thus lessening the amount of heat transferred to your home and reducing expenses related to cooling.

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Ventilation

During the hot summer months, the temperature in your attic can reach more than 160 degrees. That’s why ventilation is another crucial aspect of whole-home cooling. Proper venting will cool your roof, extending the material life and reducing the overall load on your A/C. Plus, it increases the circulation of fresh air.

Hunter & Litex Ceiling Fans

What It Is: For maximum energy-saving benefits, consider an Energy-StarTM rated Hunter or Litex ceiling fan from City Mill. Energy StarTM fans can be up to 50% more efficient than other units, plus you won’t have to sacrifice style or attractiveness.

Best For: Virtually all Hawaii homeowners. Even homes with A/C can benefit greatly from the improved circulation of multiple ceiling fans placed throughout the home.

How You Save: Effective circulation can make you feel up to eight degrees cooler and reduce A/C bills by up to 40%.
 
Get It From: City Mill

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Hawaii Energy Quick Tip:

If you use a ceiling fan while running your A/C, you can raise the temperature setting on the thermostat and save money while still feeling cool.

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Quiet, Cool Whole House Fan

What It Is: An innovative solution for cooling your home by pulling in cool air from open windows and exhausting hot air through the attic and roof

Best For: Homeowners looking for a quiet, energy-efficient way to use Hawaii’s naturally cool air to ventilate their homes

How You Save: Cool your whole house or just a room at a time for just pennies per use.
 
Get It From: Island Cooling Concepts

Air Conditioning

If A/C is what you need, look for the most energy-efficient models. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is the A/C equivalent of estimated miles per gallon for a car. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit will be. Look for a SEER of 13 or more.

Fujitsu Halcyon HFI System

What It Is: With two to eight indoor units connected to one outdoor unit, this system provides homeowners with just the right amount of comfort, allowing you to cool individual rooms, hallways and open spaces.

Best For: Perfect for Hawaii’s multigenerational ohana, Halcyon HFI’s zoning capability allows you to set each indoor unit to a different temperature. That means you can set up to eight different temperatures as needed throughout the home.

How You Save: No more wasting money cooling rooms that you aren’t actively using.

Get It From: Admor HVAC

LG Duct-free Split Systems

What It Is:  High-efficiency, energy-saving A/C units with SEER ratings of up to 20

Best For: Homeowners who live in Hawaii’s hotter areas who can’t take full advantage of island breezes

How You Save: Because they don’t require external air ducts, they can be professionally installed easily and economically. Plus, did you see that SEER rating?
 
Get It From: Carrier Hawaii

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COOL TIPS:

During the hottest months of the year, you can stay comfortable, conserve energy, manage your electricity use and protect the environment at home and at work. Follow these simple tips recommended by Hawaiian Electric Company.

1. Open the windows to let Hawaii’s trade winds cool your home instead of using A/C.
   
   
2. Replace old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs with cool and efficient CFL bulbs. CFLs use 75% less energy, last longer and produce less heat.
   
   
3. Use window treatments (shutters, tinting film, etc.) on south and west facing windows to block the afternoon sun. Solar window film or tint can reflect 80% or more of the incoming heat.
   
   
4. Use light-colored roofing material and exterior surface materials to stay cooler.
   
   
5. Check for drafts—maintaining proper sealing around windows and doors can reduce A/C
   usage by 10-20%.
   

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WHERE TO GET IT:

Admor HVAC
2225 Hoonee Place
841-7400
admorhvac.com

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

Breezway Louvre Windows
99-1451 Koaha Place, Suite 1, Aiea
484-5999
breezway.com

Carrier Hawaii
2060 Lauwiliwili St., Kapolei
677-6339
LGHawaii.com

City Mill
8 locations on Oahu
533-3811
citymill.com

Firstline Security Screens
675-1321

Hawaii Energy
1132 Bishop St., Suite 1800
537-5577
hawaiienergy.com

Hawaiian Electric Company
548-7311
heco.com

Island Cooling Concepts
672-2300
islandcooling.com

Island Shutters
1031 Lauia St., Kapolei
690-8182

Pella Windows & Doors
214-B Sand Island Access Road
841-3200
pella.com

Sunburst Shutters
1806 Homerule St.
851-7200
sunburstshutters.com