ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY
All aspects of The Breakers incorporate Energy Effi ciency and Sustainability best practices. The site selection, design and
construction have reduced the environmental footprint of this community. The high density, "infill" project allowed for efficient utilization
of existing utilities and transportation infrastructure, while maintaining a sense of privacy and individuality.
The buildings were designed to use dimensional materials to limit cuts and waste. The residences were “stacked” to reduce the
requirement for additional foundation and roofi ng materials and enhance effi ciency for plumbing, electrical and structural components.
To limit demolition and unnecessary waste the existing pool has been restored and refurbished, instead of demolished and replaced.
The shade structure and open walls of the exercise and pool cabana provide shade and maximum natural ventilation to eliminate the
need for air conditioning.
The site is landscaped with water conservation, water quality control and minimum maintenance in mind. Limited use of non-native
plantings along with the incorporation of extensive drip irrigation for shrub beds and ground cover will result in efficient use of natural
resources. Drainage flows to planted bioswales to preserve water quality and reduce runoff. Existing natural resources were
protected during construction or returned to a natural state and incorporated into the design.
The Breakers “Building Envelope” is 1.5 times more effi cient than recommended by the American Society of Heating Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and includes:
• Double Glazed Windows with Thermal Break Vinyl Frames;
• Sto Gold Coat System (building wrap system) to reduce air and moisture infi ltration;
• Sto Next exterior insulation and Finish System to channel condensation away from walls to reduce the possibility of
mold and mildew;
• The combined exterior system results in R-23.4 living unit exterior walls; the higher the R-value, the thicker and more
effective the insulation – The Breakers signifi cantly exceeds the R-11 that is recommended for Hawaii
• The roof and attic insulation is R-19 roof which is recommended for Hawaii
• Five foot deep roof/corridor overhangs were used over all of the primary south facing (subject to solar heat gain) exterior
walls of the residences, providing cooling shade to reduce air conditioning load requirements; and
• The building assembly was evaluated by RES CHECK software and exceeds the required minimum standards by
more than 50%
The Model Energy Code is the basis for the “Energy Star” rating. In 1995, the first year that the Energy Star® ranking was introduced
for overall building energy use, the requirement for an “Energy Star” rating was to exceed the Model Energy Code by 30%. By 2002
there were only 110,000 units built to Energy Star® requirements. The buildings at The Breakers exceed requirements of the Model
Energy Code by 50.9 to 58%.
The Breakers building design and construction exceed the standards set forth by the Model Energy Code and the Maui County
Building Department. The residences include super insulation, efficient ventilation, natural light, and ENERGY STAR® appliances.
Specific elements of the energy efficiency and sustainability efforts include:
1. An effi cient central hot water system provides hot water for each building. The system includes a pump that continually
circulates the hot water for immediate delivery rather than “running” the faucet until the water heats up. This will
conserve thousands of gallons of water every year and reduce the sewage treatment needs
2. The hot water heaters are commercial, heavily insulated 120-gallon units with over 3” of external polyurethane rigid
insulation over the jacket. This results in less heat loss than that produced by a 100-watt light bulb in 48 hours.
These units exceed the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 90.1b-2001 (the Federal Energy Policy Act), as well as
the energy effi ciency codes of all states, including the stringent California Energy Commission. All of the supply lines are
also insulated. Maui County Building Department waived their typical requirement for solar collector fueled hot water
heaters because these units far exceeded their mandated energy requirements.
3. Air Conditioning is provided only on the top floors in Buildings Dahlia and Echinacea and all residences in Fuschia. Air conditioning air
handlers have a Rheem 13 SEER “seasonal energy efficiency ratio” condensing unit representing a 30% increase in
energy efficiency over older 10 SEER units.
4. The Breakers second and third floors residences rely on naturally provided air circulation. These residences include
jalousie transom windows above the doors, and screens on the doors and windows on the opposite side of the
residences for natural cross ventilation/cooling. Hawaii BUILTGREEN™ strongly encourages well designed, Naturally
Ventilated (NV), energy-effi cient homes.
5. ENERGY STAR® Appliances are included in all residences.
6. Ultra low flow, 1.6 liter per flush toilets are installed in all bathrooms
7. Water-efficient sink faucets and showerheads are provided throughout
Thanks to careful selection of interior materials, each home will be more comfortable and healthy. The buildings incorporate high
quality green materials that are designed to last, while minimizing costs for ongoing maintenance. These new energy efficient homes
will use less energy and water resulting in lower monthly utility bills.
The Breakers location, within a short walk or bike ride to recreation amenities, services and retails shops, will significantly reduce the
need to use a car.
So you see, The Breakers isn’t just friendly.
It’s eco-friendly.
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