Green Living In South Maui

The term "green living" almost seems like a silly thing to refer to when you speak of the beautiful island of Maui. It truly is a paradise of palm trees and ocean breezes...nature at its finest. But even in paradise energy efficiency and eco-friendly living is a concern. If you plan to live in South Maui, or you currently live in Kihei, Wailea or Makena, there are many things, from little to big, you can do to promote green living on a daily basis and ensure the preservation of this island nirvana.

1 - Reduce the carbons you emit by changing your regular light bulbs to the compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. Your typical incandescent bulb uses about 66% more energy than the CFL bulbs. The CFL bulbs are initially more costly and can't be found everywhere yet. But you will see the energy savings on your energy bill within a short amount of time.

2 - Recycle as much as possible and reduce the waste going to the landfill! On the Maui County website you can find 4 recycling centers in the Kihei area. These centers accept plastic containers, clean empty cans, cardboard, paper bags and more.

3 - Like plants? Start a small composting area where you can dump coffee grounds, egg shells and other food waste in a covered bin. Not only are you sparing the items from cluttering up the Maui County landfills, but you are also creating the base for some great soil for your vegetation.

4 - Use water wisely. Next time you brush your teeth or wash the dishes, pay attention to the faucet. Turn off the water when you can. You can find low-flow shower heads and newer toilets at the hardware store that use less water with each flush. On average, an adult uses 80 gallons of water before ever leaving the house in the morning! By keeping the water use in check, dollar savings can be seen over the long run.

5 - If walking or using a bike is out of the question, think about combining trips when you can and carpooling with others. But think about it - South Maui is so gorgeous, why not be outside enjoying the beauty of the island? A nice bike ride not only gets you from point A to point B, but also keeps you in shape and allows you to decompress with a scenic ride!

6 - Let your windows and ceiling fans cool your home on balmy days instead of air conditioning. The ocean winds are nature's cooling agents. And you can use them to your advantage! You use less energy and you save money. Also, seal cracks around windows up, as well as around doors and electrical outlets in order to keep any air conditioning you do use inside the house...instead of seeping out and wasting the air and the energy!

7 - Think about converting to solar energy. Harnessing the power of the sun might seem formidable, but it is truly a green living move and you can do it on a small scale if the need fits. For example, you can use a solar water heater. Why use energy and pay high energy costs to heat your shower water? Let the sun do it for you!

8 - "Green" your pets by buying them beds and toys made from recycled fibers and organic materials. And of course, get them spayed or neutered so you can help keep the unwanted pet population down.

9 - Need new appliances? Think Energy Star! Energy Star appliances are certified to be more energy efficient than their older counterparts. And when you use those appliances, make it "easy" on them! With washers, use cold water when possible, sparing the machine the energy to heat the water. Wash and dry full loads.

10 - One of the ultimate ways to live green? If you're in the market to build a home, or build an addition, think bamboo! Bamboo is considered a renewable resource. Did you know that it takes approximately an acre of trees to build your typical wood home? And those trees have to be 30-50 years old before they are harvested. Compare that to bamboo growing in about the same area as the footprint of your home and ready to harvest in about 5-7 years after planting.

Certainly not all of the green alternatives will fit your lifestyle, but many can be easily added to your life and before you know it, you'll hardly know the changes. They will just become your way of life. And yet you will be not only preserving the environment of South Maui but also of the world!

Seed Newsvine

Bookmark this article in your preferred program

Comments

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 at 7:42 PM, by Greg
With regards to low flow showerheads and toilets one should also install low flow faucet aerators. These range from 2.2 gallons per minute down to .5 gallons per minute. The link below will show examples of what to look for at the hardware store.
http://www.faucetaerators.com/faucet-aerators-c-21.html

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 at 8:36 AM, by sam small
Mahalo for mentioning bamboo as a sustainable building material. Everyone is welcome to see what bamboo houses look like at http://www.bambooliving.com/
There are several bamboo homes already built on Maui and folks can get a tour by calling the Bamboo Technologies office in Huelo at 808 572 1007, ask for Sam Small

Add Comment

Popular Articles in this cathegory

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.