When Guy Akasaki started Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii (CRW) in 1993 with a 3-man crew, he strived to be the island’s leader for new roofs and repairs for Hawaii’s commercial buildings. 20 years later, the roofing industry has undergone drastic changes with technologically-advanced roofing applications and environmental initiatives that step beyond simply keeping out the elements. Through Akasaki’s foresight and determination, CRW was able to develop a comprehensive energy solution for their customers with a holistic approach to pre-positioned roofing assemblies and photovoltaic systems that transform roofs into an additional floor of income.

“I think what makes CRW different is that we stick very closely to the core values articulated in our mission statement to be a unified team, taking our experience and expertise to be on the cutting edge of our construction technology and in the end – exceeding our client’s expectations,” said Akasaki. With the convergence of roofing and energy technologies, Akasaki quickly identified the merging of ‘known’ and ‘new’ technologies that inevitably exposed a gap in the integration and developed a working model that provided an accountable solution to renewable energy tax credits and subsidies, asset valuation, long-term warranty assurances and cost accounting strategies.

With 80+ of employees and headquarters in Waipahu powered 100% from renewable energy, CRW doesn’t take their 2013 Roofing Contractors Association of Hawaii Awards, Inc. 5000 designation, and other accolades for granted. CRW actively initiates the intimate profit, expense, and growth process for their clients, earning nearly 20% of Hawaii’s roofing industry in 2012.

With satellite offices in Guam and the Philippines, Akasaki has more than one roof covering his head. His extended grasp includes strategic partnerships with Allied Pacific Builders in Hawaii and Guam, SESR for composite building systems and Honolulu Roofing. His strong belief in sustainable initiatives led to strategic alliances with SunForce Solutions and Greenpath Technologies, a leading NHO 8(a) energy firm who opened Hawaii’s only non-glass PV facility for product development and low-threshold manufacturing of portable power solutions to support commercial markets, U.S. military, and HADR resilience and sustainability initiatives locally and globally.

“As I reflect on how we reached our 20th anniversary, I’m grateful for our committed team, and the relationships developed over the years. Nobody thought that 20 years ago – roofing would have had its divergent reaches, and looking forward – we will continue provide our customers with the very best in professional resources, skill and product – all with a personal touch!

Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii, Inc.

CEO/President: Guy Akasaki
Specialty: Roofing (low slope, architectural metals, steep slope), coatings (above/below grade waterproofing, roof maintenance and management), Photovoltaics (building integrated and applied PVs, engineering and sizing for usage and providing approaches for renewable energy tax credits), turnkey (roofing/PV installations under one warranty).
Hawaii state license: BC-18179

We continue to be passionate in executing our mission statement: Working together as a unified team of professionals utilizing our experience and talent, to be on the cutting edge of construction technology, exceeding client expectations … with a passion,” says Guy Akasaki, CEO and president of Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing, Inc. (CRW).

Adhering to its goals helped CRW retain the No. 2 spot in the ratings as it reports $16.5 million in revenues for 2012. That figure tops last year’s record $16 million for CRW, which was a $6.5 million jump from its 2010 revenue.

“With the spectra of the looming ‘fiscal cliff’ looking forward into 2013, while we like many others are concerned, we have a cautious optimism,” Akasaki says. “With our strategic moves to diversify into Pacific Rim initiatives over the past years, and we hope to diversify our risk in the tumultuous economy.

“Success is a process and not a destination, and as such, in the time of feast we have done what we can to prepare for the economic drought.”

He adds that “the local economy appears to be showing signs of movement.”
CRW’s roofing and solar installation projects in 2012 ranged from the highly technical Unicode structures to various retail and commercial clients such as Walmart, Safeway, Kmart, the Royal Hawaiian Center, the Sheraton Kauai Resort, the Newtown Bus Park, Continental Airlines and more. It’s also done residential projects, including 13 buildings at Mililani Garden II, 22 buildings at Kahala View Estates, Marina Palms, Honolulu Towers, Harbor Court, Lakeview Garden and Alii Place.

CRW’s work at Unicold, a cold storage facility, stands out for its unique challenges, Akasaki says.

“Unicold was a ‘green’ project executed in a partnership with Greenpath Technologies Inc.,” he says. “The two entities worked together to develop and install a PV system in unison with a new cool roof system and a long-term power purchase agreement, providing an efficient turnkey energy solution for Unicold’s needs and lowering its utility and operating costs.”

Other milestones for CRW in 2012 included moving into a new home in West Oahu, utilizing Internet-based apps, providing roof assemblies pre-positioned for solar arrays and launching a commercial gutter installation service.

QUESTIONS
If you have any questions regarding the seminars or show specials please call us at 808.841.RAIN (7246) or email us at contact@commercialroofinginc.com and we’ll be able to connect you with an answer.

PICTURES FROM THE SHOW
(click below to view slideshow…)

ROOFTOP EVOLUTION:  THE CONVERGENCE OF ROOFING & ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Taking a look at the possibilities and contingent liabilities.

By Guy Akasaki, Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii, Inc.

The convergence of “known” technologies and “new” technologies always exposes a gap in the process of developing a working model for the ideal integration of the two.  In most cases, the individual components of a system do not fail – it’s the integration point that is often the weak link.  With PV going strong in Hawaii, the successful strategy of waving the bright shiny object of tax credits for PV lures us in but many still are unsure on how to best capitalize on it and more importantly – how to incorporate a full turnkey solution at the front-end built to stand after the credits are captured and accelerated depreciation is claimed.  Make an informed decision that captures savings alongside long-term sustainability by taking a holistic approach to integrating sustainable building applications.

There are an array of roof top solutions that will deliver the most benefit to your building by addressing all related facets – possible energy savings, financial feasibility, existing roof condition, and hedging against potential litigation related to roof integrated energy solutions.  Whether you are a building owner/investor or a property manager/AOAO board member – below are some industry best practice considerations to keep in mind as you navigate towards implementing energy efficient solutions from the rooftop that work best for you. Your roof is critical to the operation of your building, and any interruption to that operation can be disastrous.

No Two Roofs Are Alike.

Not every building may be a best candidate to host a rooftop photovoltaic system.  However, there are other roofing integrated solutions available to help minimize the overall operating costs such as cool roofs, solar reflective shingles, BIPV and solar shingles, day-lighting, attic insulation, roof vents and attic fans to name a few.  Cool roofs can reduce the temperature at the surface of the roof from +/- 170 degrees to ambient in many cases and could reflect in a temperature difference at the ceiling inside of 10 to 15 degrees.  Again, the formulation of the cool roof coating is incredibly important to long-term performance.  In an air-conditioned space the potential savings through energy efficient applications can be substantial.  Consider a cool roofing assembly combined with fiberglass R-20 insulation batt over the roof rafter that could add another 10-20% reduction in heat radiation.  With the advent of nanotechnology, UV and infrared particulates have been incorporated in asphalt shingles and color pigments offering a capability of generating 35% plus solar reflectivity.  These are a few of the energy efficient approaches available for the rooftop.

What are my options to lower the energy costs of my building from the rooftop?

Take a look at your building from the top down to get a good idea of what options you have to reduce energy demands.  Selecting the best roofing system for the type of business operating below it is huge!  A cold storage warehouse is going to have a different energy demand from that of an observational facility that prefers natural sunlight.  A single-family home in a community association will have a different energy demand from that of a 50-story condominium.  Matching the optimal roofing system to the function within the building is key to maximizing an investment in a new roofing system.

If I am looking into installing a rooftop photovoltaic system for my building – what should I be aware of regarding the existing roof?

Special care is needed in the design, manufacture and installation of the roof assembly and the integration of the roof-mounted PV system to ensure all components work together to create a roof assembly that not only produces electricity but also is weatherproof and reliable.  Keep in mind, components generally don’t fail – but it is the systems integration of components in the assemblies that fail. Lack of attention to details can result in big leaks and big headaches later.  General considerations that the NRCA has pin-pointed include load (which generally requires a professional structural engineer), drainage, affect on the rate of aging of the roof, roof surface temperatures, rooftop traffic, site orientation (shade), warranties and equivalent service life.  Also important is making sure that the manufacturer’s requirements for the roofing system are met so that the warranty is not voided.  A typical PV installation can include anywhere from dozens to hundreds of penetrations to the roofing system – every penetration requires a specific type of flashing to ensure a sound waterproof platform for a power generating array.  Keep in mind that there are many roofing types of various formulations and nomenclatures.  Materials compatibility are concerns for high consideration due to the advent of technology which has increased performance life expectancies.  One cannot under emphasize the continuity of the manufacturer warranty, which is in many cases worded to protect the manufacturer of the roofing assembly.  As a side comment, there are an elite amount of roofing manufacturers which will support a systems warranty if property disclosure and pre-job information is provided in compatibility with PV systems.  Keep in mind, when a system NDL warranty is acquired – the customer is backed by manufacturers with strong financials to be able to weather the ups and downs of the economy to support the warranty.

How does investing in clean energy actually pay back?

Commercial development of renewable energy and energy efficiency is critical to Hawaii’s energy future.   Building owners can hedge themselves against rising energy costs and can provide additional streams of income to their bottom line.   From a holistic perspective, the valuation of real estate as an income-producing asset is determined by the income it generates.  What is the one floor on any building that generates no income?  It’s the roof.  By installing a photovoltaic system on a building’s roof, it now becomes a distributed energy generating facility that is now capable of generating additional income – which was not possible before the array was installed.  What does an additional stream of income do to the asset?  It raises the valuation of the asset.

As an example, given the net present value of money in regards to fair market values (FMV), one might consider that with many oil sources half peaking which represents a higher cost of oil and the price of oil rising not only because of demand, it will make the distributed energy generating facility a very important component of real estate especially if it is a sizable array.  Imagine what the present value of the energy sold to tenants 20 years hence?

If an AOAO is considering PV for their buildings, what should they be aware of?

If an AOAO wants to use PV to reduce their overall energy consumption, they need to consider that the common area of the roof needs to be bifurcated equally to all owners.  The installation guidelines for PV in accordance with the common area roofing installation should be executed so as not to void the warranty.  The association may want to consider limiting PV installers or developing a standard for installation guidelines to allow for consistency in common area elements.  So as one can see, it needs to be a well thought out plan.

At the end of the day, what you don’t want is a cheap poorly executed excuse of a roof that will probably cost you more in long-term repairs and/or re-roof prematurely.    What you do want is a fully integrated roofing assembly (capable of being integrated with PV if intended) that delivers a cost-effective, energy-efficient solution with a maximum return on investment.   Imagine how seamless it would be to have everything dovetailed into one warranty with one point of accountability.  You don’t have to look to far – you just have to look carefully.  While few and far between, there are indeed a few contractors that can deliver a fully turnkey solution.  Remember, in most cases the individual components typically don’t fail.  It is the systems integration to perform over the long haul that causes the ruckus.

Guy Akasaki is President & CEO of Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii, Inc., a full-service roofing and waterproofing contractor a.k.a. “crook, liar & thief.”

The original article can be found on the NRCA’s website here.

Keeping the past present

Solar technology at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i renews a legacy

by Chrystine Elle Hanus

The seeds of planning the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i (JCCH) in Honolulu were sown more than two generations ago. Minds and hearts of first- and second-generation Japanese immigrants sought to honor their heritage, embrace diversity and welcome the future.

During the Kanyaku Imin celebration in February 1985, which celebrated 125 years of Japanese living in Hawaii, emotions generated by the event spurred devotion of major Japanese groups in the community to conceptualize the JCCH.

In 1986, Honolulu’s Japanese Chamber of Commerce initiated the Japan-Hawaii cultural center project and called it “The Dream.” The Dream would be a legacy where future members of the community could look back and be fully conscious of their roots. The center also would foster relations by promoting harmony and mutual understanding among Japan, Hawaii and the U.S.

On May 28, 1987, The Dream was realized and JCCH was incorporated under Hawaiian laws as a nonprofit organization to develop, own, maintain and operate a Japanese cultural center. Through the years, the organization has worked to strengthen its diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese-American experience in Hawaii.

Currently, the cultural center has more than 4,800 members and annually connects to more than 30,000 residents and visitors through its programs and events. It features a historical museum, exhibition gallery, library, archive center, teahouse and gift shop.

Dream, interrupted

In 2010, an aging roof system and rising utility expenses threatened the organization. Currently, Hawaii has the U.S.’ highest electricity costs. According to Ted Peck, Hawaii’s former state energy administrator, the statewide average is 36 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) compared with the nationwide average of 13 cents per kWh. The island is 90 percent dependent on fossil fuels, and 75 percent of the island’s electrical power comes from imported oil.

Hawaii recently set a goal of generating 70 percent of its power from clean energy sources by 2030. As Hawaii enters the early stages of what many hope is an energy revolution, companies on the island are turning to solar platforms for energy and taking advantage of tax credits.

But as a nonprofit institution, JCCH does not qualify for tax incentives.

“We faced several challenges before making a decision to move forward with a new roof,” says Lenny Yajima Andrew, president and executive director of JCCH. “As a nonprofit institution, the cultural center could not take advantage of the energy tax incentives that normally are available to other businesses and residents, which initially meant higher costs we weren’t sure we could afford.”

Photos courtesy of GreenPath Technologies Inc., Honolulu  The cultural center’s new PV roof system is estimated to generate about 160,669 kWh of electricity during the first year.

Through its personal relationship with JCCH, Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii Inc., Honolulu, was asked to repair the cultural center’s aging roof system and provide information about whether a photovoltaic (PV) roof system would benefit the organization.

According to Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii’s president and chief executive officer, Guy Akasaki, JCCH faced three distinct problems: inability to take advantage of tax incentives; limited capital; and a lack of a service provider to provide a unified solution for all project elements.

Partnering with GreenPath Technologies Inc., Honolulu, a solar power systems contractor, JCCH found a financial solution it could afford.

GreenPath Technologies helped JCCH create a solar strategy and assisted with the project’s financing via a 100 percent Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) through APB Energy Hawai’i LLC, Honolulu. The PPA also allowed JCCH to secure a below-market kWh rate.

“We are pleased to have been able to assist one of the most influential nonprofit cultural institutions in the state,”says Briand Achong, president of GreenPath Technologies.

Dream weaving

Having successfully secured financing with zero upfront cost through the financial arrangement, The Dream’s board of directors gave the approval for work on its new photovoltaic roof system to commence in February 2010.

Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii applied Hydro-Stop’s PremiumCoat® to the existing 22,000-square-foot roof system. The existing roof consisted of a wood deck, tapered insulation and polymer-modified bitumen membrane. Precautions were taken to carry and transport materials across the roof deck, and perimeter warning flags were implemented in addition to harnesses and lanyards.

The cultural center’s new PV roof system is estimated to generate about 160,669 kWh of electricity during the first year.

Next, a crew of six installed 434 Sharp® NU-U235F1 PV panels. The 102-kilowatt (kW) installation was mounted on a SunLink® racking system with a five-degree tilt connected to a 100-kW AC Satcon® PowerGate® Plus PV inverter and online comprehensive data monitoring system from National Semiconductor™ Corp., now Texas Instruments Inc.

Dreaming in green

The cultural center’s new PV system is estimated to generate about 160,669 kWh of electricity during the first year, offsetting about 12 percent of the building’s annual electricity consumption. The Hydro-Stop PremiumCoat system has a 20-year warranty and is ENERGY STAR®-certified, which is estimated to save an additional $3,674 per year, as well as minimize heat transference into the building by reducing the surface temperature of the roof from 140 F to about 90 F.

“It was rewarding to provide a one-stop warranty for the new roof and PV system,” Akasaki says.

In addition, the PV system is estimated to save about 30 percent in electricity costs during the 20-year PPA term without the risks of ownership, operation and replacement.

Akasaki says: “It was satisfying to help this prestigious and important cultural institution secure lower energy and operating costs during the next 20 years while sheltering it from the unpredictable rising electrical rates.”

The JCCH has become a symbol of renewed strength for Hawaii. As the organization approaches its 25-year anniversary, it looks forward to celebrating and continuing to play a crucial role in perpetuating the community’s cultural heritage inherited from its forefathers into the lifestyles and values of its children.

Chrystine Elle Hanus is Professional Roofing‘s associate editor and NRCA’s director of communications.

Project name: Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i
Project location: Honolulu
Project duration: February 2010 – January 2011
Roof system types: Fluid-applied, reinforced acrylic membrane; photovoltaic
Roofing contractors: Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii Inc., Honolulu; GreenPath Technologies Inc., Honolulu
Product manufacturers: Hydro-Stop, Charleston, S.C.; National Semiconductor Corp., Santa Clara, Calif.; Satcon Technology Corp., Boston; Sharp Electronics Corp., Mahwah, N.J.; and SunLink Corp., San Rafael, Calif.

Hawaii’s Top 10 Roofing Contractors.
By Judith Shinsato

Once again we salute Hawaii’s top roofing contractors. They, like all of us, continue to struggle with uncertain economic conditions.  But despite a number of challenges, a majority of the companies profiled here have achieved growth in 2011. Here they share their strategies for success.

#2  Commercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii, Inc.

CEO/President: Guy Akasaki
Specialty: Full Service roofing and waterproofing, integrating solar photovoltaics into turn-key solutions encompassing financing, tax credits and subsidies, performance and maintenance initiatives
Hawaii state license: BC-18179

Commmercial Roofing & Waterproofing Hawaii, Inc. retains the No. 2 spot with a $6.5 million increase in revenue between 2010, $9.5 million, and 2011, $16 million.  Keeping the company in the black during a challenging year were a number of key projects begun and completed in 2011, including:

• First Hawaiian Bank building – a project with unique requirements, such as strict FM I129 certification and testing criteria, a tight completion window, and a minimum $5 million insurance bond

• Wailuna townhomes – completed ahead of schedule, this project involved the reroofing of 82 buildings; due to the large scale, it was critical to keep consultants/management and agent/owners of units in constant communication throughout the project.

• Four Seasons Wailea – installation of a new Siplast torch-down roof system

• Kupono town homes reroof of 15 townhouse buildings, including first floor storage units, maintenance shop, mailbox and 36 carports, with wood shake roofing

• Unicold Hawaii – being completed in partnership with GreenPath Technologies, this solar roofing project involves installation of a Sika Sarnafil roof membrane along with a photovoltaic system on building one of Unicold’s complex (a large cold storage warehouse facility near the airport industrial area). This month, Commercial Roofing and GreenPath will be reroofing and installing a PV system on building four.

Other company milestones in 2011 include the consolidation of the company’s operations under one roof, which will soon be installed with a PV system and vehicle charging stations, as well as “cool roof” wall coating to minimize solar heat gain. Commercial Roofing also has successfully established a foothold in the development of renewable energy on Guam.  “Looking ahead into 2012, we are optimistic,” says Guy Akasaki, company president, “as we have also changed some of our marketing efforts … and are leveraging our efforts beyond the borders of the state of Hawaii. We are excited as we continue to plan for 2012, with our TTP (time tested and proven) team along with the new team members who have gone through the tough times and are now poised to move forward even stronger in fulfilling our mission statement to ‘exceed our clients’ expectations!’”

Meet us at the booth or come check out our seminars.  Roofing technologies and the integration into the entire building envelope is key to upholding sustainable and energy efficient roofing systems.  We had a blast last year and we’re looking forward to seeing your familiar faces and also meeting new ones! We’ll be at the same place in the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall at Booth #547. You know we’re bringing the ever popular blackjack table back – bring your voucher to our booth for your chance to win!

Be sure to check our seminar schedule.  Print out your flyer here.  The first seminar “Solar Tax Credits End in 2016. What could happen next?” will be held on Wednesday march 7th, 9am – 10am.  The second seminar “The Pitfalls of Re-Roofing: Getting from Quote to Quality Successfully” will be held on Thursday March 8th at 10:30am – 11:30am.  Register for your seminars here.

June 30, 2011

*Article released on the Roofing Contractor Website.  Visit original article here.

The Benefits of Green Roofs

• Retention of Storm Water
• Reduction of Energy Consumption
• Reduction the Urban Heat Island Effect (Cooler City)
• Protection from the Waterproofing Membrane
• Improvement of Air Quality
• LEED and Green Globes Certification
• Insulation of Sound
• Improved Aesthetics
• Increased Property Value

By installing a Green Roof in your home, you add another piece of paradise to your Hawaii home and by choosing Commercial Roofing you are choosing one of the best energy efficient Hawaii contractors available. For additional ways to improve your home such as solar power installation, contact us, and choose Commercial Roofing for all of your commercial roof system needs.

(Honolulu, HI) – Greenpath Technologies, a leading solar integrator delivering innovative renewable energy solutions in Hawaii, recently participated in the U.S. / Philippines Balikatan 11 Field Exercises held in early April this year at multiple Philippine locations.  The U.S. Marine Corp Forces’ Pacific Experimentation Center (MEC) supported the Balikatan exercise through technology insertions in the Field Training Exercise and Civil Military Operations and organized displays and demonstrations during the opening ceremony.  This exercise proved to be highly successful for Greenpath, where the company unveiled its new photovoltaic solar-powered man portable folding module that was evaluated and reviewed at Ft. Magsaysay and Camp Aguinaldo.

Greenpath participated in the new technologies segment of the exercise, displaying its LITE-PM folding PV module system, conducting data comparison and testing to competing models.  Greenpath’s PV module consistently charged the military standard issue batteries three times faster than the comparable models and even faster in cloudy conditions.  When tested side by side, the Greenpath system consisting of two batteries and two folding modules charged two batteries in three hours, versus the other system, also consisting of two batteries and two folding modules which charged only one battery at 50%.  On a day with only 50% sunshine, the Greenpath system fully charged two batteries in less than four hours while the other system charged only one battery to 40%.  In addition to holding a faster and more powerful charge, Greenpath Technologies’ folding module retains a smaller footprint than comparable modules.

James Chaney, inventor of the company’s PV folding module and Director of Greenpath’s R&D division attended the Balikatan event to present their technology to several different military divisions, including the U.S. Army National Guard based out of Guam, and the Philippine Army 51^st Brigade from Camp Aguinaldo.  “Participating in this exercise before an authoritative military audience was a great opportunity to present our data testing alongside comparable models.  The results continued to support the superiority of our product.  It gives us much pleasure and a great sense of pride to know that we can locally develop a superior high-technology product that our troops abroad can effectively use,” said Chaney.

The LITE-PM system was evaluated by several notable individuals at the Balikatan Field Exercises, including the MEC’s Director, Experimentation Officer, Technology Lead, Renewable Energy Assessor, and the Hawaii-based ONR Officer.

Greenpath has been highly recommended to attend the Thai Crimson Viper field exercise testing held in Thailand in June, 2011 for further wartime testing and evaluation.

GreenPath Technologies is a native Hawaiian-owned and operated solar powered systems contractor and integrator, offering unique turnkey solutions in renewable energy for commercial, industrial, government, military, residential, and non-profit customers.  Recent projects include HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, Carrier Hawaii, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai`i, J.H. Walter Cameron Center on Maui, and the Waialae Country Club.   GreenPath’s mobile folding

solar photovoltaic module will be manufactured locally and targeted for military war fighter deployment.   The company engineers some of the most advanced photovoltaic solar systems available today and invests heavily in research and development which has kept them at the forefront of renewable energy applications.