In the 1970s, long before sustainability became a modern buzzword, the University of Hawai'i at M?noa's School of Architecture built a model home where people could learn about sustainable living, local style.  The Energy House, located at the end of East-West Road on the M?noa campus, included elements that would help reduce or minimize the need for energy use and promote an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Its sustainable features were decades ahead of their time. They included durable materials used to build the house, notably redwood; solar panels; a rainwater collection, filtering and pumping system; a septic tank to utilize grey water for irrigation; a wind turbine to generate electricity for an electric car; and an energy monitoring system.  The Energy House was not only a model of energy conservation and production, but also featured landscaping that consisted entirely of edible or usable plants.

More than three decades from their implementation, these features are now in need of updating with newer, energy-efficient technologies and sustainable systems that would signal a new era in sustainable building.  Mary Martini, psychologist and professor of Family and Consumer Sciences at UH M?noa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), licensed carpenter James Estrella, and a team of dedicated volunteers have been spearheading efforts to restore and revitalize the old Energy House.  "I'd like to see it become a model house and urban garden highlighting the sustainable practices of today," said Martini.

A psychologist running a sustainability program?  Martini embraced a subsistence lifestyle while conducting anthropological fieldwork in the Marquesas, where she consumed mainly fish, breadfruit and citrus fruit.  Her passion for hands-on, outdoor education naturally attracted her to the campus project. "Sustainability taps several of my passions," she explained. "I was taught to build energy-efficient houses from an early age, and gardened and preserved foods throughout my childhood."

Martini headed a National Science Foundation group to plan a center for research on experiential learning.  Now she wants to apply those concepts to help youth learn science while building and running sustainable gardens and mini-farms.  She also directs the Family Education Training Center that provides services to families and youth, and trains University students in counseling.

In addition to financial support and the hundreds of hours of donated labor from Martini and Estrella, donations to help with the renovations came from Andrew Hashimoto and Linda Cox of CTAHR; the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Operations; the Sustainability Corps; and community members James Deutch, Senior Counselor, Family Education Training Center, Gary Heusel, Head of Hawaii State 4H, and John Kirkpatrick, LEED certified advisor. Thomas Lim and Bobbie Yee, chair of Family and Consumer Sciences, provided administrative support.

Since February 2010, Martini and her team have made significant progress at the Energy House.  Their work has included restoring 1) the natural conditioning of the inside air; 2) original, natural, building materials; 3) rain-water harvesting system; 4) pv solar electricity system; 5) sustainable gardens with help from staff and youth groups; and 6) the use of edible and useful plants as borders and wind diverters.

New features promoting sustainable food choices have also been introduced.  Working with CTAHR faculty, a sustainable urban garden featuring hydroponic and aquaponic systems was installed.  It includes a 500-gallon fish tank, an aquarium for rooting plants, and a fish nursery and two hydroponic grow tables for tomatoes and lettuce.

Aquaculture Specialist Clyde Tamaru was part of the team that provided technical expertise on the aquaponic and hydroponic systems.  Just recently, Tamaru and his colleagues at CTAHR's aquaculture research and extension program began to include aquaponic technologies, integrating aquaculture and hydroponic food production methods.  "It's important to address and raise awareness as to what it would take for our island state to become self-reliant in producing its own food," Tamaru said.

A curriculum in hydroponics and aquaponics has been developed for the Energy House to train youth groups, such as teen 4-H summer apprentices and young adult family members, in these emerging sustainable trade areas.  Martini and her team have also partnered with Ted Radovich with the Tropical Plant and Soil Science Program at UH M?noa on sustainable and organic gardening.  Radovich will help provide guidance on basic gardening and food production skills with members of the Sustainable and Organic Farm Training group (SOFT). 

The SOFT contingent includes undergraduate and graduate students, UH faculty, and community members who are eager to learn and share information about sustainable and organic farming practices. "The training directly engages our youth in food production, and provides a fun hands-on opportunity to develop STEM skills in these young children through gardening," said Radovich.

Added Martini, "Our goal is to disseminate this information to the public in the form of a sustainable lifestyle plan that includes instructions on how to install these features, plant and harvest the gardens, set up hydroponic and aquaponic systems, and to prepare meals using food from the yard that provide the needed nutrients while appealing to both children and adults."

The Energy House also offers a cooking program featuring child-friendly recipes for garden produce.  Menu items featuring breadfruit, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, eggplant and other harvested goods are prepared every Friday as part of the Family Education Training Center of Hawai'i's parenting and youth group programs, where Martini serves as director.  Children assist in cooking meals using a "Kids' Kitchen," with child-sized appliances set up on the lanai.  "So far, we've served nine meals using ingredients from our gardens for about 50 family members and staff," shared Martini.

In addition to setting the example for sustainable living for future generations, the Energy House aims to prepare youth in Hawai'i for admission to college, particularly those looking to major in the sustainable life-sciences, and pursuing occupations that further sustainable lifestyles.  "By developing and providing these training programs at the Energy House, we hope to help transition intermediate and high school students into CTAHR undergraduate programs in the future," said Martini.

While there is still much to do for the Energy House to reach its full potential, progress has been made.  A new front porch, heat-reflective paint on the roof, sidewalk to the handicapped entry, and rainwater catchment and irrigation system, among other improvements, will be completed in the next few months.  Future plans include converting the garage to a workshop for youth and others to complete sustainable gardening and carpentry projects.  "I want so much to work with others in sustainability," said Martini.  "We are just getting to meet those around campus and in the community who have similar interests.  With our efforts combined, it won't be long before we are close to completion and getting the house where we would like it to be."

For more information about the Energy House, contact Mary Martini at (808) 956-2249 or martini@hawaii.edu.

For more information on the Sustainability Corps at UH M?noa, visit http://manoa.hawaii.edu/planning/sustainability/sustain.html.

The newly renovated Energy House at UH M?noa features many updated sustainability features.

Volunteers work on converting the old septic tank into a 500-gallon aquaponic fish tank.   The completed aquaponic fish tank.

Youth participate in a cooking program using items found in the Energy House garden.