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

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