WAIPOULI — One firm reduced its monthly electric bill from $8,000 to $3,500. Another saved several thousand dollars a month by converting to compact fluorescent lamps. These were some of the benefits to going “green” shared by recipients of the
WAIPOULI — One firm reduced its monthly electric bill from $8,000 to $3,500. Another saved several thousand dollars a month by converting to compact fluorescent lamps.
These were some of the benefits to going “green” shared by recipients of the first Kaua‘i Green Business Initiative awards.
The inaugural event, presented by the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a, originated with Ken Stokes, former Rotary president.
“It was unanimously agreed on and this is the first time the club recognizes those individuals and businesses who take the extra step to practice green and sustainability methods in their workplace,” Rodney Pascua, the chair of the selection committee, said.
Pascua said the awards, sponsored from proceeds from the club’s annual Taste of Hawai‘i event, go to businesses ranging from the visitor industry to mom-and-pop shops.
The program met with such success that the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a is already planning to make next year’s Green Business Initiative award even bigger.
“I just put up some solar panels on my roof,” Jeanette Otsuka Chang, recipient of the Retailer award, said.
Otsuka Chang noted that in the month that the solar panels have been in operation, she has seen her electric bill drop from $8,000 to $3,500.
Additionally, Otsuka Chang arranged to have the solar system hooked up via computer to a school where students can monitor its activity at any given time.
Angela Quinn rode her bicycle to the ResortQuest at Maka‘iwa, where the awards were being presented, in a demonstration of her personal commitment to reduce traffic and the use of fossil fuels.
Quinn was honored with the award for the Professional category for her specialty cake business, Icing on the Cake.
“Each individual can contribute daily to help solve some of the issues we face,” Pascua said, noting that on a personal level, he has opted to work from home two days a week to stay out of the Kapa‘a traffic flow.
Angela Vento, the general manager for the Sheraton Kaua‘i, accepted the Visitor Lodging category award. Vento said outside of the expense of employing 329 associates at the Po‘ipu resort, the next biggest cost is the hotel’s electricity bill.
In renovating, the Sheraton replaced all the traditional light bulbs in guest rooms with compact fluorescent bulbs, which has resulted in measurable savings in electricity.
But it doesn’t stop there. Vento said the hotel has an associates’ Green Committee where ideas are discussed, and recyclable containers for guests can be found on the property.
Vento added that the visitor industry will be hosting a “Greening the Visitor Industry” day-long seminar in October at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort to deal with energy and resource conservation.
Bill Cowern, who received the Energy award, said he’s already discussed the topic of eco-oil with members of the Kaua‘i County Council, noting that “we should look harder at where we get our energy from.”
Cowern eventually wants to develop a closed-cycle biomass power plant on the island — the first in the nation.
Don Taylor represented Randy Finlay of Unlimited Construction in accepting the Builder category award. The company’s new building in Puhi was built with recycled concrete, among other green items.
Other recipients included:
• Aloha We Deliver, Home Business category award for its biodegradable products.
• Chino Godinez of Kayak Kaua‘i, Visitor Activity category for converting its fleet of vans to 100 percent diesel.
• Ray Maki of Permaculture Kaua‘i, Grower category award for his efforts at restoring native species and soil.
• Chipper Wichman of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Nonprofit category award for NTBG’s efforts at funding a green research building on its property.
• Gabriel Zingaro of Blossoming Lotus, Restaurant category award for its green food service practices.
• Chris Jaeb of Malama Kaua‘i, Entrepreneur award for creating a sustainable resource center.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
