PUHI — Conservation is getting competitive on Kauai with a new way for neighborhoods to challenge each other and win bragging rights for helping out the planet.
The recently launched Kauai Aloha+ Home Challenge allows anyone on Kauai to band together in teams online and challenge each other to renewable energy, sustainability and recycling competitions.
An online profile keeps a track record of individual and team actions and people can track their progress islandwide.
Points are awarded based on specific actions like installing an electric heat pump water heater, buying or leasing an electric vehicle, installing a programmable thermostat and smart power strips, using a fan instead of air conditioning, line drying clothes and turning off lights.
“The actions taken reduce costs at home and reduce environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and water use at the same time,” said Ben Sullivan, Kauai County energy and sustainability coordinator.
Currently, Kauai has 57 homes signed up for the challenge, with a goal of 300 households on board by December.
The challenge is tracking the reduction of the number of tons of carbon dioxide emitted on the island, with a goal of a 100-ton reduction. The Kauai Aloha+ Home Challenge website says participants are 10 percent of the way toward that goal.
Families are jumping on board. The beta launch was recently concluded, with participation from several groups of Kauai students at Hawaii Technology Academy and Kauai Community College.
The platform is ready for use and individuals from any interested household, school or community group can sign up now, although there are a few bugs that are still being worked out of the system.
“The platform uses the location of a user’s internet service provider to establish their location, so it will sometimes erroneously show off-island locations,” Sullivan said.
It’s an opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about conservation, for people to track their progress on their sustainability and green goals, and for them to inspire neighbors and friends.
The Aloha+ Challenge is an initiative of Gov. David Ige to encourage the state toward its sustainability goals for 2020.
The challenge tracks improvements statewide in clean energy transformation, local food production and consumption, natural resource management, solid waste reduction, smart sustainable communities, and green workforce and education.
In May 2017, Kauai County hosted an Aloha+ Challenge brainstorming meeting that inspired current efforts underway with the program, including the idea to integrate community data and stories into the Aloha+ Dashboard.
Kauai Aloha+ Home Challenge was one of these initiatives, accomplished through a grant from the County of Kauai to the nonprofit Community Climate Solutions, which sets up similar tools across the nation for municipalities.
“Again, the beta launch was just completed and the grantee is still working out a few small bugs, but the platform is ready to go,” Sullivan said. “Anyone living on Kauai and interested in participating may sign up.” Info and sign up: www.kauaichallenge.org or email bsullivan@kauai.gov
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Jessica Else, environment reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
