Info for HECO/MECO/HELCO Customers
Hawaii residents, here's the text of the article Landscaping for energy and water savings as included in the "Consumer Lines" newsletter in your August or September 2003 electric bill from your electric company, along with some additional online resources regarding information about responsible landscaping.
Landscaping for energy and water savings
Proper landscaping can save energy and add beauty, comfort and value to your home.
Consider these suggestions:
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In Hawaii, plant trees to shade the sunnier east, west and south facing walls and roofs.
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Shading an air conditioner can increase its efficiency.
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Trees also lower the ambient temperature around them as moisture is released through the leaves, adding to the cooling effectiveness of shade trees.
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Use trees and shrubs near windows and paved areas to reduce heat radiation into the living area.
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Trellises for climbing vines can provide attractive shade structures where trees are not practical. Be sure that mature trees will still allow sunlight to reach your solar water or solar electric system, and avoid proximity to both overhead and underground utility lines.
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Consider limiting your lawn area. Grass requires more water than shrubs or other groundcovers and many native species are beautiful, resilient, disease resistant and drought and salt tolerant.
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Drought tolerant native plants include:
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Trees: wiliwili, kou, milo, ma'o hau hele (the endangered state flower)
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Shrubs: a'ali'i, 'akia, kulu'i, naupaka, ma'o, pohinahina
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Groundcovers: naio, 'ilima, 'akulikuli, 'ilie'e, 'ulei
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Be careful to avoid invasive species that can damage Hawaii's ecosystems and watershed areas.
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For more information on landscaping with appropriate plants, visit the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project website (www.hear.org) or contact:
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All islands:
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Oahu:
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Maui:
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Hawaii (Big Island):
[
Consumer Lines newsletter
]
[
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. home
]
[ HEAR home ]
Comments? Questions? Send e-mail to: webmaster@hear.org
This page was created on 01 August 2003 by PT, and was last updated on
13 August 2003
by PT.