Kauai Property: Considerations for Owning or Building a House in the Tropics
Pam Bertrand wrote:
Owning Kauai property opens up a whole new world of opportunities for living the island lifestyle that most people only dream of. When it comes to owning or building a home in this tropical area, however, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that your house is everything an island home should be.
Weather considerations for your Kauai property
There are only two main seasons in Hawaii, summer and winter. Instead of low temperatures, winter brings a substantial amount of rain (especially if you live on the windward side of the island!) Summer, of course, generally means lots of heat and sunlight.
What this means for your Kauai property is that you must ensure that your home has adequate ventilation in all rooms to prevent mold and is designed in such a way that is keeps itself naturally cool.
There’s another thing you need to keep in mind when owning property on Kauai, and that is the fact that you’re living on an island – which means that resources such as electricity and clean drinking water are in shorter supply and thus cost more to have.
Don’t worry though. There are ways to cut your costs and your impact on the environment, simply through the way you design your house!
How to build on your Kauai property to conserve resources
Rather than using or installing an air conditioner in your home, build a roof with wide eaves and canopies, utilize Kauai’s fertile soil to grow shading up, around and over your home naturally and install a lanai ( a Hawaiian style patio with a roof) where you can catch a breeze without getting wet.
Utilize what is known as “vertical ventilation”, which is where you have air intake through vents around the floor and air expulsion through vents in the ceiling, install roof apertures to let in natural light and invest in solar panels to generate your own electricity.
Finally, install water catchment systems to capitalize on Kauai’s abundant rainfall and plant gardens and foliage with low water requirements that are suited to the climate in which your property resides.
The possibilities for creating a resource-light, absolutely gorgeous home on your Kauai property are endless. The only thing it takes to make that dream a reality is a little creativity and the willingness to work with the environment you are now calling home.
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Owning Kauai property opens up a whole new world of opportunities for living the island lifestyle that most people only dream of. When it comes to owning or building a home in this tropical area, however, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that your house is everything an island home should be.
Weather considerations for your Kauai property
There are only two main seasons in Hawaii, summer and winter. Instead of low temperatures, winter brings a substantial amount of rain (especially if you live on the windward side of the island!) Summer, of course, generally means lots of heat and sunlight.
What this means for your Kauai property is that you must ensure that your home has adequate ventilation in all rooms to prevent mold and is designed in such a way that is keeps itself naturally cool.
There’s another thing you need to keep in mind when owning property on Kauai, and that is the fact that you’re living on an island – which means that resources such as electricity and clean drinking water are in shorter supply and thus cost more to have.
Don’t worry though. There are ways to cut your costs and your impact on the environment, simply through the way you design your house!
How to build on your Kauai property to conserve resources
Rather than using or installing an air conditioner in your home, build a roof with wide eaves and canopies, utilize Kauai’s fertile soil to grow shading up, around and over your home naturally and install a lanai ( a Hawaiian style patio with a roof) where you can catch a breeze without getting wet.
Utilize what is known as “vertical ventilation”, which is where you have air intake through vents around the floor and air expulsion through vents in the ceiling, install roof apertures to let in natural light and invest in solar panels to generate your own electricity.
Finally, install water catchment systems to capitalize on Kauai’s abundant rainfall and plant gardens and foliage with low water requirements that are suited to the climate in which your property resides.
The possibilities for creating a resource-light, absolutely gorgeous home on your Kauai property are endless. The only thing it takes to make that dream a reality is a little creativity and the willingness to work with the environment you are now calling home.