KAANAPALI – On Dec. 10, 2018, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas was awarded the Gold New Construction Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

This rating system was specifically designed by the U.S. Green Building Council to guide the development of more sustainable buildings. It also distinguishes those which have less of an impact on their natural surroundings and provide a healthier environment to its inhabitants.

The resort leadership gladly pursued this certification as it directly aligns with one of their three core values – to operate responsibly through ongoing sustainability efforts.

To adhere to the LEED guidelines and this core value, much thoughtful planning went into the development of the resort that opened in April 2017.

It was a team effort consisting of numerous experts in design, construction and sustainability.

The resort received high marks for the following LEED categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficient Landscaping, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design Process.

One of the LEED Gold features visitors will notice is the expansive koi ponds, which are deeper than those found at neighboring resorts. This is because they were purposefully designed for water diversion, a key element of the property’s storm management program.

As a tropical location, the island is subject to heavy rains seasonally. These ponds serve as retention basins with the ability to hold and filter excess storm water runoff from the surrounding area. This helps to protect the fronting coastline from potentially harmful pollutants, so it can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Also recognized is the resort’s use of cutting-edge, energy-efficient equipment and technologies; most notably the use of geothermal heat rejection to replace the need for chillers and cooling towers, which emit harmful greenhouse gases and are among the top consumers of water and electricity at resorts. This process provides cool air conditioning throughout the 393-villa resort and saves thousands of gallons of water every day.

On the 16-acre property, over 75 percent of the plants are native or endemic to Maui (specifically the district of Lahaina), supporting the naturally occurring ecosystem, requiring less irrigation and reducing potable water usage by 65 percent.

The public is encouraged to visit and learn more as The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas continues to develop educational programs for 2019 around these features and the other LEED recognized efforts.

Pursuing LEED Gold certification was a collaborative effort among Vistana Signature Experiences, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, general contractor Hawaiian Dredging and the architect/engineering team (led by WCIT architects). An expert was contracted to guide the process for stakeholders to help analyze the best cost-effective path to certification and to assemble the required documentation.

The successful outcome was possible only with the full commitment of all stakeholders for the duration of the project.