That "new-house smell," the residential equivalent of the better-known "new-car smell," could be hazardous to one's health.
Often, the scent's sources are powerful glues or other toxic building materials. Proud new homeowners should not be so eager to inhale so deeply.
"When someone moves into a new home, you don't want them to get sick," says Rick Hobson, principal broker for Gentry Homes, Ltd. "That new-car smell or that new-house smell, that's all bad stuff, so you shouldn't have too much of that. If you do, you might want to check into it."
One of the glue's uses is to secure carpeting and other flooring, but in recent years Gentry Homes has moved away from the practice as part or its mission to go "green." Its "floating" wood-laminate flooring requires no adhesives, and its carpets are installed with nonvolatile glue.
The homebuilder, responsible for much of the growth of the Ewa region for almost a quarter of a century, has built more than 500 homes that stress energy efficiency and other environmentally friendly methods. Hobson says Gentry began building the homes about three years ago as a way to differentiate itself in the market place and add more value to the homes.
"We've been building homes here since 1985, and every time we come out with a new product we try to make it better," he says. "It's been an evolution process for Gentry Homes. It made sense to move toward open-cell insulation, dual-pane windows, fluorescent light packages, solar water heaters. We don't need an agency or somebody else to tell us we should be doing this. It just makes sense." Hobson is hesitant to use the word "green" because he says it means different things to different people. For Gentry it means abiding by - and often exceeding - the Hawaii Built Green standards set by the local Building Industry Association.
One of Gentry Homes' newest communities is Haleakea, located by the Arnold Palmer-designed Hawaii Prince Golf Course and featuring six floor plans that merges technology with craftsman finishes "that consider our environment and its limited resources."
The Nuuanu plan, for example, features four bedrooms, three baths and a 2,718-square-foot living area. Its four covered lanais, including a 182-square-footer beside the master bedroom, set it apart.
"The one by the master bedroom is the size of a bedroom," says Hobson. "Lanais allow you to bring the outside inside and enjoy the weather, the trades. It also protects you from the elements when it's hot. Having them strategically placed around the house offers protection from the sun, which in turn helps keep the home cooler. In Hawaii, everything is geared toward keeping things cool."
Many other design elements strive toward that end, including the extra-long overhangs. The industry standard is 24 inches, says Hobson, but the overhangs in Haleakea homes extend to 36 inches to provide extra shade.
A Rheem 16-SEER central air conditioning system provides up to 30 percent more energy efficiency and features a programmable humidistat that controls the humidity inside the home for maximum temperature control and superior air purification.
"Its tier-stage handler allows the machine, once it's up and running, to kick on in little intervals to maintain the coolness of the home," says Hobson. "It operates on the same idea as the sleep function in computers. You don't have to reboot it all over again."
Once the interior is cooled, the Icynene open cell foam insulation placed on all exterior walls and roof areas keeps it that way, in addition to sealing the entire home from outside noise, air infiltration, and dust pollens and allergens.
Another energy-saving feature is the Hawaiian Electric Company-approved 120-gallon solar water heater with automatic timer, which can save up to $30 per month on electricity bills.
"Solar water heaters have been around for decades," says Hobson. "We offered them as options in the past, but it's very difficult for homebuyers to come up with extra money after they've just purchased a home. It's much easier and much more responsible on our part to include it in every home. It's no longer optional, and really building homes that aren't energy efficient is no longer an option."
Also standard at Haleakea homes are dual glaze/Low E performance vinyl windows that are extremely durable and provide superior UV protection; General Electric Profile appliances that exceeds Energy Star standards of 30 percent more efficiency; and low-flow showerheads and toilets.
Exterior sustainable products include Borate-treated termite-resistant framing lumber, which has better thermal qualities than steel, transfer less noise and will not rust in the island's coastal environment. The exterior Hardi cement siding provides superior durability and is not prone to termites.
Gentry Homes also constructs with materials and products that contain no ozone-depleting chemicals.
Green homes are still in their early stages, and most homebuyers are still unfamiliar with the features now available to them. Upon finding out about them, however, they recognize the potential savings offered by the energy-minded residences.
"Most of the people who come to Haleakea are not first-time homebuyers," Hobson says. "They've been paying energy bills for a while and aware of the costs of owning a home. They realize that moving into a bigger home means more financial responsibility.
"Everybody is bottom-line oriented," he continues, "and the bottom line is energy prices are going up and most likely will continue to go up. If we can save people money on a monthly basis and allow them to live comfortably in their home, that's a good thing. It just makes sense."
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