STATE AGENCIES LEAD BY EXAMPLE IN ENERGY CONSERVATION EFFORTS

For Immediate Release: May 25, 2011

HONOLULU – During fiscal year 2010, state departments reduced their total electric consumption by 2.8 percent from 2009 and saved more than $20 million in energy costs statewide, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism‟s (DBEDT) annual Lead By Example (LBE) report to the State Legislature.

The 2010 decline in the state‟s energy consumption is the third consecutive year agencies have managed to cut energy use; 2010 also marked the first time state agencies were able to decrease costs from the previous year. This promising turnaround reflects the State‟s ongoing commitment to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy development to protect against escalating energy costs, expedite energy security, and mitigate negative impacts on our economy due to volatile world oil markets.

“By aggressively pursuing energy-efficiency improvements in public buildings, we‟re saving the State millions of dollars in electricity costs,” said Richard Lim, Director, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. “The State is leading by example. New efficiency projects now underway will save millions more. For example, energy improvements scheduled for 10 downtown public buildings are expected to save $64 million over the 20 year life of the equipment to be installed.”

The LBE report outlines the progress made by state agencies in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation, green buildings, and environmentally preferable purchasing during fiscal year 2010. Some highlights follow:

  • The Energy Services Coalition, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting performance contracting, recognized the State of Hawaii as the second in the nation in Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC) for State Building Efficiency.
  • The Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) initiated the process to solicit proposals for a Phase II ESPC, which will cover 33 buildings. DAGS assisted the Department of Public Safety (PSD) with initiating an ESPC for two prisons, Oahu Community Correctional Facilities, and one jail. The Department of Transportation (DOT) drafted an ESPC for 15 airports, five (5) harbors, and highways facilities. The University of Hawaii Community Colleges (UH-CC) are engaged in executing performance contracts that will implement major energy conservation measures in their portfolio of buildings.
  • Thirteen (13) state buildings have received ENERGY STAR® awards, acknowledging that they rank in the top 25% of similar buildings nationwide. Seven (7) state buildings are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. An additional 52 LEED projects are in the process toward the goal of certification.
  • DOT issued a request for proposals (RFP) for PV or other renewable energy generation systems at over 20 facilities statewide (15 airports, 5 harbors facilities, Foreign Trade Zone, and UH Coconut Island Marine Research Facility).
  • DAGS installed a 200 kilowatt (kW) PV system for the Kalanimoku Building located in the Capitol District.

Other Lead By Example projects are detailed in the full report that can be accessed online at: https://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/energy/efficiency/state/lbe/stateemployees.

The Lead By Example initiative began in 2006 in response to legislative and executive mandates to improve energy efficiency in the state executive branch agencies.

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For more information, contact:

Estrella Seese
Acting Energy Program Administrator
DBEDT’s State Energy Office
Phone: (808) 586-2352

Lois Hamaguchi
Energy Analyst
DBEDT’s State Energy Office
Phone: (808) 587-9006

HAWAII BUILD AND BUY GREEN + BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT + GREEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE AND EXPO

For Immediate Release: May 23, 2011

HONOLULU–Builders, developers, designers, and those interested in green building, redevelopment grants, renewable energy and green jobs can now register for the 2011 Hawaii Build and Buy Green + Brownfields Redevelopment + Green Workforce Development Conference and Expo to be held Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Governor Neil Abercrombie will welcome participants at 8:00 a.m., followed by a keynote presentation, Living Buildings and the Future of Re-building Green, by Jason McLennan, CEO, International Living Building Challenge Institute, a Pacific Northwest-based agency focused on sustainable built environments. McLennan is a leader in the international green design movement, author of three green architecture books, and founder of Ecotone Publishing, the only dedicated green building publisher in the country.

More than 25 presentations will discuss resources such as federal grants for green development; financing and rebates for green improvements; successful local LEED projects and net-zero energy communities; renewable energy developments in Hawaii; and green jobs and training programs. A “Meet-the-Experts” round table session with seven separate in-depth discussions led by 16 subject matter professionals will be held in the afternoon. In addition, more than 50 exhibits will showcase green products throughout the day.

The conference, now in its 11th year, is organized by the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT); Department of Health (DOH); Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR); and the Hawaii Chapter of the U.S. Green Buildings Council, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and U.S. Department of Energy.

“We have seen a tremendous growth in the energy industry since 2009 with over $1.2 billion dollars projected to be spent on renewable and energy efficiency projects this year,” said Richard Lim, Director, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. “This conference is important as it encourages more economic development opportunities for companies and generates additional green jobs.”

New this year are sessions on the clean up and redevelopment of “brownfields” or contaminated properties, with resources offered by the EPA Brownfield Redevelopment Program.

“In Hawaii our land is a limited, precious resource. We cannot allow the `aina to be contaminated and left abandoned and unusable. This conference brings the resources of three state departments together to clean the land, create green jobs, and promote a sustainable economic future,” said Gary Gill, Deputy Director for Environmental Health. “This combined conference will give developers, property owners, consultants, job seekers, and employers a toolbox of practical options to grow their businesses in new, sustainable directions.”

The conference and expo will also highlight the status of green jobs in Hawaii, with baseline data and long-term projections from the DLIR. An afternoon session will be held on State policies and research and training needed to develop and sustain our State’s green economy. Attendees will network with peers and professionals from related fields and learn the latest advanced information about their specialties.

DLIR Director Dwight Takamine remarks, “The DLIR is committed to leading a sustainable green economy through informed decision-making and a skilled workforce. We intend to engage our local community through active dialogue – not just in our involvement with this green conference, but every day.”

Registration, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments, is $75 for the general public and $60 for students. See the agenda and register at https://uhhconferencecenter.com/green/.

For conference details and registration questions, please contact:

Hawaii Build and Buy Green
Gail Suzuki-Jones, Energy Analyst
State of Hawai‘i, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)
[email protected] | 808-587-3802

Brownfields Redevelopment
Lynn Bailey, Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) Specialist
State of Hawai‘i, Department of Health, Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office
(HDOH-HEER)
[email protected] | 808-586-4653

Hawaii Green Jobs Initiative
Jeffrey Matsu, Lead Researcher
State of Hawai‘i, Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR)
[email protected] | (808)586-9029

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For more information, contact:

Estrella Seese
Acting Energy Program Administrator
DBEDT’s State Energy Office
Phone: (808) 586-2352

Lois Hamaguchi
Energy Analyst
DBEDT’s State Energy
Phone: (808) 587-9006

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