Jay Sklar of Common Ground, along with Chris Jaeb, its founder, are the visionaries behind The Garden Cafe in Kilauea, located on  the former Guava Kai plantation.

The Garden Cafe and outdoor dining lanai

The Garden Cafe offers healthy, high quality meals in a beautiful outdoor setting. The menu includes a variety of salads, fish dishes and local beef.  Some of the dishes I’ve enjoyed include a deep-green kale salad, savory grilled breadfruit, and for dessert, bananas with chocolate sauce.  Yum!

And, The Garden is more than a good restaurant — it is a working model of

View of sculptor garden and farm from the dining area

“sustainability”:

as you dine at the Garden Cafe, you look out onto the farm that is feeding you.  Jay has built his menu around what’s in season on the farm, and currently 70% of the veggies he serves comes from the property (and he anticipates 90% within a few months). Besides growing produce on the property, Jay also buys locally caught fish and island-raised beef.

Jay started out as a private chef, and was inspired to make available to everyone the clean, high quality food that his clients desired. He later opened a cafe on Bainbridge Island in Washington where 80% of what he served came from within 10 miles.

Jay Sklar, Chef and Co-founder

He’s applying that same model here on Kauai.  “My vision for the Garden is to offer high quality dishes for under $10, to source our food locally, and, in doing so, to support the community.  I’ve lived here a long time, and I see this as a gift back to the community.”

Jay uses a holistic model for his farm-restaurant.  The food scraps from the kitchen feed his chickens — or the farm’s soil, in the form of compost.  And soon, all of Common Ground will be powered by renewable solar and wind energy.  “We think of this as a place for conversation and a model of sustainable business – both for the environment and community, but also as a viable business”.

The farm at Common Ground

Common Ground and the Garden have some exciting plans for the near future, including

seminars and cooking classes, farm tours and educational programs, and several product lines.

The Garden Cafe at Common Ground is open weekdays from 11am-3pm.
4900 Kuawa Road
Kilauea, HI 96754
(808) 828-1041

http://commongroundkauai.net/thegarden/



A friend remarked to me the other day that she was outraged and deeply saddened by the devastation from the Gulf oil spill.  “Yet,” she said, “I feel like my hands are tied.  And many people I know feel the same way — we know that we are all part of the problem.”

It is true, the situation in the Gulf underscores that we have a large, systemic problem in our fossil fuel- dependent economy.  And, we do need to address it on that grand scale.

At the same time, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW that will have an immediate impact – and that will fuel the larger change we need to a local, clean energy economy.

Here are a few constructive ways to channel your anger at the Gulf Oil disaster:

#1  Reduce your electricity consumption!

According to the U.S. EPA, about 72% of the electricity in the United States is generated from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. So, one way to reduce your fossil fuel-footprint is to become more energy efficient: change out those incandescent lightbulbs, make sure your home is well insulated and sealed, and when it’s time to replace your appliances, make a commitment to purchase energy efficient ones. Click here to learn more about reducing your electricity consumption.

If you want a tailored understanding of the specific energy savings for your home or business, you can hire someone to do an Energy Audit.  There are many companies, such as The Building Doctors in Los Angeles, who will come to your home or business and perform comprehensive assessment of your home’s appliances, windows, doors, and insulation to help you get an idea of how much you can reduce your monthly energy consumption.

A quality audit will run about $500, and should include an infrared camera scan to isolate leaks in your home’s sealing.  Many auditors guarantee a certain percent of energy savings, and most will deduct the cost of the audit if you hire them to do any needed upgrades.  Just be sure that your audit is performed by a company that is certified through a recognized industry standard such as the Building Performance Institute (BPI) or RESNET.

And saving money on your energy bill isn’t the only incentive to have an energy audit on your home: YOU CAN RECEIVE UP TO $1,500 IN FEDERAL AND STATE TAX INCENTIVES for upgrading your home’s insulation, windows, sealing, and heating/cooling equipment.

#2 Purchase Green Power Through Your Electricity Provider

According to the U.S. EPA, about 84% of the energy in the United States is generated from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil.

Many utilities in California offer the option of purchasing “green” energy for your home.  For example, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Green Power Program allows customers to indicate a percentage of their electricity usage they would like to come from green energy.

Burbank, Pasadena and Anaheim all have similar programs, and most utilities are generating green energy from wind, solar — and even by capturing gases
being released from landfills!

Renewable energy still tends to be more costly to generate than fossil fuel electricity, so your utility may charge a premium.  For example, LADWP adds3 cents per kilowatt hour for green energy.  I receive 100% green electricity through LADWP for my apartment, and it costs only about $3.50 more per month — a small price for knowing that I am helping move my community to a clean energy economy.

As more people opt-in for green energy, the demand will grow, the infrastructure will be built, and energy from wind, solar and other renewable resources will be able to be competitively priced with fossil fuel-based electricity.

#3 Generate your own clean energy locally

There are exciting tax incentives to help you harness the power of the sun and the wind right on your own property:

Solar

• Federal tax credits for 30% of the cost of qualified solar water heating and photovoltaic systems.
• State Tax credits: California Solar Initiative offers a state property tax exclusion for solar systems, and cash rebates up to $1,875 for qualifying solar water heating systems (PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, SDG&E customers).
• California has $3billion budgeted to incentivize solar panel installation.  Most of the money has already been allocated, which means Californians are moving to solar quickly!
• Solar installation connected to the utility grid can take advantage of “net metering”, a credit for the electricity you generate.
• On the local level, some cities, like Santa Monica, will wave permitting fees and expedite the permitting process for the installation of solar systems.  Others, like Long Beach, will give up to $500 rebate for solar power water heaters, and waive the permit fees.

We were paddle boarding off of the Big Island, and there was a  large pod of dolphin, slicing through the water.  They were elegant, silent except for a soft rhythmic out-breath before they curved back under the surface.  They were spinner dolphin, so every once in awhile, one would twirl up out of the water and land with a big splash.

I was entranced by their beauty.  And at the same time, I couldn’t help but think of their counterparts in the Gulf of Mexico, and I wondered what horror and suffering they might be experiencing even at that moment.

We, in Hawaii, have a special connection to what is happening in the Gulf communities devastated by the oil spill.  We understand the deep connectionto a unique ecosystem.  Many of our families rely on fishing for their food or livelihood.  Our community includes surfers and paddlers, and wehave the privilege of seeing honu and dolphin as part of our everyday life.

All of this gives us a special capacity to understand the devastation happening in the Gulf of Mexico.

But Hawaii has another very powerful connection to the oil spill crisis: Hawai’i is the most oil-dependent state in the nation, and relies on petroleum for about 90% of its primary energy.

Petroleum Paradise?

Hawai’i relies on imported petroleum for about 90% of its primary energy.  This is equal to roughly 51 million barrels of oil annually, at a cost of nearly $7 billion each year.

About 30% of that oil is used to generate electricity. That means we are burning over 15 million barrels of oil each year to power our homes, businesses and industrial facilities.  Hawai’i residents pay among the nation’s highest prices for electricity and fuel.  And then there are the environmental costs of our fossil fuel system such as high carbon dioxide emissions and the risks of spills such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico.

That’s the bad news.

The good news?  Hawai‘i has plentiful sources of renewable energy such as sun, wind and water – and that gives Hawai’i the opportunity to be free
from our dependence on imported oil.

The Stage is Set

In 2008, Hawai’i formed the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), whose aim is “to help transform the way we meet our energy needs.”  The HCEI has set an ambitious and exciting goal: Hawai’i meets 70% of our energy needs with clean energy by 2030.  This includes producing 40% of the state’s electricity from renewable energy sources.

The plan includes two strategies: first, reduce our energy needs through conservation and efficiency; and second, generate energy locally by harnessing our renewable resources.

From Here to There

Currently, 89% of Hawai‘i’s electricity is generated with imported fossil fuels (76% from petroleum and 13% from coal).

In June 2009, Hawaii passed a law that requires each electric utility in the state to generate 10% of its net electricity sales from renewable sources by December 31, 2010; 15% by 2015; 25% by 2020; and 40% 2030. Utilities can meet these requirements by either actually replacing fossil fuel generation with renewables, or by helping customers lower energy use through efficiency.

So how will the most oil dependent state in the nation get to being powered by 40% local and renewable electricity?

One proposal is the construction of an undersea cable system to transmit electricity between several of the islands.  The plan is to build large wind generation facilities on Moloka`i and Lana`i, and transmit approximately 400 megawatts of electricity to O`ahu where electricity demand is high.

Map of proposed inter-island cable to carry electricity from Moloka`i and Lana`i to Oahu

O‘ahu is served by the Hawai‘ian Electric Company which has 1,670 megawatts of capacity, only 5% of which is renewable energy.

It is still in the planning stages, but a feasibility study for the project has been performed, and just a few weeks ago, the State announced that it had chosen a firm to conduct the required Environmental Impact Statement.  There are questions about how this project will affect Moloka`i and Lana`i, and concerns about the under-water impacts of the cables.  According to one news report, local environmentalists said they will watch the project closely, but are glad the state is actively looking at alternatives to oil.  If approved, the entire project would cost from $800 million to $1 billion, and begin construction in 2014 or 2015.

The other strategies to meet the ambitious goals of the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative include giving rebates and tax incentives for energy efficiency upgrades, requiring solar water heaters on all new construction, and other aggressive financial incentives to install wind and solar on homes and businesses.  For instance, you can receive combined federal and state tax credits of up to 65% of the cost of installing solar and up to 50% of the cost of a small wind system.  Read more about available tax incentives here.

Daily Reminder

According to Ted Peck, administrator of the Hawaii State Energy Office, the amount of oil being released into the Gulf every day is about equivalent to the amount of petroleum we burn in Hawaii each day.

Hawai`i has a bold vision to move toward a sustainable energy economy. It certainly will not be easy to accomplish, with our aged aged infrastructure and the different challenges and potentials on each island. But at least we are in action: the state legislature is considering almost 100 bills this session related to energy, many of which are based on proposals
developed by the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative.  With enough awareness and citizen pressure, 2010 could be the year that propels Hawaii towards making its sustainable vision a reality.

Related Articles: “Show Me the Money $$: Financial Incentives for Hawaii Residents to Go Green”

For more information:

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/

Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program http://www.hawaiienergy.com/

About 30% of that oil is used to generate electricity. That means we are burning over 15 million barrels of oil each year to power our homes, businesses and industrial facilities.  Hawai’i residents pay among the nation’s highest prices for electricity and fuel.

In 2008, Hawai’i formed the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), whose aim is “to help transform the way we meet our energy needs.”  The HCEI has set an ambitious and exciting goal: Hawai’i meets 70% of our energy needs with clean energy by 2030.  This includes producing 40% of the state’s electricity from renewable energy sources.

The plan includes two strategies: first, reduce our energy needs through conservation and efficiency; and second, generate energy locally by harnessing our renewable resources.

And, the government is putting its money where its message is; there are numerous rebates and tax incentives to encourage Hawaii residents and businesses to upgrade to energy efficient appliances and solar water heaters, and to install wind, solar and other renewable energy systems.

Moving Us Towards Less and Local

Using Less

According to the Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program, an average Hawaii family can save about $80 to $240 each year on energy costs by using energy efficient appliances.

In addition to those savings, there are a bounty of rebate programs in place to help Hawai’i residents and businesses upgrade to energy efficient appliances:

• Residential:
  • For Kauai residents, KIUC offers $50 rebate incentive to members who retire older, less efficient refrigerators, clothes washers and dishwashers.
  • On all other islands, the Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program provides cash incentives for individuals to purchase and install ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. This applies to ceiling fans, clothes washers, dish washers, refrigerators, room air conditioners and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).

• For commercial customers,
  • On Kauai, the Energy Wise Commercial Program offers commercial customers financial incentives for installing energy efficient equipment.
  • On all other islands, Hawai’i’s Energy Solutions Business program provides rebates for purchases of individual energy-efficient appliances and upgrades such as:
    • Lighting controls/sensors, window tinting, adjustable speed drives, air conditioning system improvements, process heat recovery, booster pump, heat pump water heaters, and solar water heating.

You can also receive federal tax incentives of for 30% of the cost for upgrading your home’s insulation, windows, sealing, and heating/cooling equipment (up to $1,500).  Click here for more information.

Deep Green – Local Generation

There are also financial incentives to help Hawaii residents and businesses tap into the abundant renewable energy right on-site:

Solar

• Federal tax credits for 30% of the cost of qualified solar water heating and photovoltaic systems.
• State tax credit for 35% off the actual cost of PV solar installation for single-family ($5K cap) or multi-unit residences ($350/unit cap) and commercial property ($500K cap)
• State tax credit for 35% off the actual cost of solar water heater installation for single-family ($2,250 cap) or multi-unit residences ($350/unit cap) and commercial property ($250K cap)
• Solar water heater rebates from utilities:
  • On Kauai, KIUC provides an $800 rebate incentive for members who want to replace their existing electric or nonfunctioning water heater with a solar water heater.
  • On other islands, residential customers who install solar water heaters are eligible for a one-time rebate of $750. Commercial customers may receive custom incentives.
  • Loans for solar:
    • KIUC offers zero interest loans to members who want to upgrade to a solar water heating system.
    • The Honolulu Solar Roofs Loan Programs offers low-interest loans (0% or 2%) to income-qualified homeowners on Oahu for the installation of solar water heating systems
    • Maui Solar Roofs Loan Programs offers interest free loans for the installation of energy saving solar water heating. Payments are based on expected energy savings.

According to the HCEI, solar water heaters have been installed in some 80,000 homes and institutions throughout Hawaii. This is partly due to the the Solar Roofs Act, a law passed in 2008 that requires most new homes in Hawai‘i to be equipped with solar water heaters.

Wind

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Program and NREL have published a wind resource map for the state of Hawai‘i.  This map is posted on the HCEI website, and indicates that Hawai‘i has wind resources that will support utility-scale production. According to HCEI, “Good-to-excellent wind resource areas are fairly evenly distributed throughout the islands.”

The tax incentives include:

• Federal tax credit for 30% of the total installed cost of small wind systems.
• State tax credit for 20% off the actual cost of installing a wind system for single family ($1,500 cap) or multi-unit residences ($200/unit cap) and commercial property ($500K cap)

Other Measures

Honolulu Real Property Tax Exemption for Alternative Energy Improvements: The alternative energy property installed on a building, property, or land is exempt from property taxes for 25 years. For the purposes of this property tax exemption, alternative energy sources include solar, wind, hydropower, tidal, wave, solid waste and increased efficiency in fossil-fuel burning facilities.

Also, the state requires each county to provide priority processing, at no additional cost, of permit applications for construction projects incorporating energy and environmental design building standards.  Such standards include the U.S. Green Building Councils LEED system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or the Green Globes rating system.

For more information:

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/

Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program http://www.hawaiienergy.com/

Solar Energy Industries Association http://www.seia.org/

Tax Incentives Assistance Project http://energytaxincentives.org

American Wind Energy Association  http://www.awea.org/smallwind/ and http://www.awea.org/faq/rsdntqa.html

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium  http://www.geoexchange.org/

Gatherings of the Green Ladies

I first became aware of this focus on women in the green world when I was contacted by Rebecca Harrell Tickell who was writing a book about it.  Rebecca interviewed several hundred women around the world (includingme!) who are working in some way in eco-sustainability.  Rebecca’s book, Hot, Rich & Green: The secret formula women are using to get rich and save the planet is the outcome of that research, and lays out a 10-step guide for women to get into the business of being green.

Kris Willey

Next, I met Kris Willey in Los Angeles, who founded Women of the Green Generation, an organization dedicated to “create[ing] a space where women can share their ideas and passions for solving environmental and social problems with economically viable eco-solutions.”   This weekend, on June 12, 2010, WOTGG is hosting its First All Day Women’s Interactive Eco Lifestyle Event at EVO, the only LEED silver certified (leadership in energy efficiency and design) eco luxury high-rise in down town Los Angeles.  Check out the fun and information filled schedule at http://www.womenofthegreengenerationconference.com/ .

Another organization focused on women in eco-sustainability is the Women in Green Forum, founded by actor and activist Gloria Rueben (“ER” and “Raising the Bar”).  Women in Green will be hosting a 2-day conference September 1-2, 2010 at the Pasadena Convention Center to “recognize the achievements of women across the vast range of environmental industrysectors while encouraging others to take the step toward a greener career path.”  The conference will feature panels of women speaking on topicslike greening corporate America and how women trailblazers have transformed industry norms in the areas of Green Events, Eco Fashion, Media and Entertainment, Waste Diversion and Recycling, Health and Beauty, and Education.

Why the focus on women and eco-sustainability now?

Why the focus on women and eco-sustainability now?  One reason is that women account for 85% of all consumer purchases in the United States.  According to M2W, the conference focused on Marketing to Women, American women spend about $5 trillion annually — over half the U.S. GDP.  So women’s awareness and preferences about eco-sustainability is a key concern for both environmentalists and businesses.

Women’s “purse power” as it has been called, can focus businesses in a greener direction: Nearly 50% of women say they want more green choices, 37% are more likely to pay attention to brands that are committed to environmental causes and 25% of all products in a woman’s shopping cart nowadays are environmentally friendly. (M2W).

Beyond the Purse

But besides women’s purchasing power, is there something deeper that is informing this strong tie between women and eco-sustainability?

My sister recently received her degree in eco-psychology, and
sheshared with me that the word “eco” comes from the Greek “oikos” which means homeor dwelling place.

The feminine has traditionally been associated with nurturing and the home.  Marianne Williamson recently put on a conference called Sister Giant: Rousing the Sleeping Giant of American Womanhood.  The conference “speaks to the role of women at this pivotal moment in history. It’s a critically important time to transition from disastrous probabilities to fantastic possibilities, and women can lead the way.”

During a conference call about Sister Giant, Marianne used this home analogy: “As a parent, there are times when I have to say ‘This will NOT happen in my home.’ Now is the time for American women to stand up and say about poverty and environmental destruction ‘This shall NOT happen in my home.’”

I was deeply moved by that image . . . and inspired at the thought of women’s collective power to address the threats facing humanity at this time in history. Whether it is true or not, I think there is a tremendous power in women considering themselves as keepers of the natural world, our home.

So, whether it is through purchasing choices, leading environmental initiatives in corporate America, or starting sustainable businesses, may the power couple of Women and Green reign for many years to come.

Please share your thoughts on this issue by leaving a comment below!  I’d love to have your feedback!

As of today, BP has given up the idea of plugging up the leak, and has shifted to a plan to siphon and direct the leaking oil up to ships on the surface. This will go on at least until August, when a replacement well can be installed.

According to the New York Times, the government estimates that between 12,000 and 25,000 barrels/day oil are escaping. That means that in the month after the blast, more than twice as much oil had been released than from the wreck of the Exxon Valdez in 1989. The oil has already reached the shores of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, and seems to be imminent upon Florida’s shores.

At these times, I take to heart the words that we cannot go “from denial to despair.” I know that it is important to take the opportunities for corrective action. While volunteers are working to save oil covered birds and turtles, for example, we can use the spotlight to push for more aggressive development of a renewable, clean energy economy.

I also take to heart stories of people who are contributing in surprising and moving ways to the cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico. My friend Essly Yeo, a hairstylist at the Parlour on 3rd in West Hollywood, told me that her salon is gathering hair clippings for the effort. How do hair clippings in Hollywood relate to the Gulf Spill? Essly explained that hair is a natural oil collector (which we all experience if we go too long without shampooing!). That conversation piqued my interest, and with a little research I learned that this is a really important initiative.

According to the non-profit, A Matter of Trust, who collects hair and fur clippings and stuffs them into oil “booms”, 300,000 pounds of hair and fur are clipped each day in the U.S. Booms are being used to block and soak up oil in the Gulf, and several experiments have shown that booms made from natural hair are more effective then booms made from synthetic fibers.

Stories like these give me hope, not only for the difference being made in the Gulf of Mexico, but also for how they express our human ingenuity and generosity.

Update June 10, 2010: Sounds like BP and the coast guard are not yet using the hair booms that have been sent and are being stored in warehouses in the area. I will keep checking in on the issue, and once they are being used and need more, I will let you know!

Rebecca and her husband, Josh Tickell, produced the award winning film “Fuel” which highlights sustainable technologies and outlines a vision for a sustainable future.  While touring the country to promote “Fuel”, women often approached Rebecca and asked her how she found her passion and how they could become a successful part of the green movement. That led Rebecca to study women who are part of the “green” economy and turn her findings into a book aimed at encouraging and empowering women to become leaders in the movement.

I have the honor of being one of the women that Rebecca interviewed and featured in book.  When she first contacted me, it was to be called “The 100 Most Influential Green Women” — which I thought would look great on my resume(!).  So, it’s taken some time to adjust to the new title, but I do admit “Hot, Rich and Green” is more catchy and probably more marketable.  In any event, the book is all about empowering women and the Green Revolution.

The book launch party was at the Residences at the W Hotel in Hollywood, a LEED certified building.  One of my favorite moments of the evening was when I pulled into the motor court at the W and saw Rebecca and Josh’s algae fueled vehicle, ALGAEUS, in the VIP parking next to the Ferrari and Bentley!

The party was in a suite at GREEN + VINE, an example of urban eco-sustainability.  Everything within the walls of the suite was sourced within 500 miles (with the exception of the TV and light bulbs).  There was biodynamic wine and local, organic food.  And there were many beautiful, inspired, and inspiring women! I felt very honored to be included in such a group of dynamic and passionate women.

Check out this video at Whitney Lauritsen’s blog, Eco-Vegan Gal.  Whitney is a master blogger and a great filmmaker, so you should enjoy the video she compiled of last night’s party.  I’m in it, almost near the end when all of the women are introducing themselves: Eco Vegan Gal’s Video of “Hot, Rich, and Green” Book Launch.

Enjoy, and let me know your thoughts!

Elif