Gov. Linda Lingle has released $11 million in design and construction funds for improvements to increase the energy efficiency of 10 state buildings on O‘ahu. “We have a responsibility to the environment and our taxpayers to embark on improvements that
Gov. Linda Lingle has released $11 million in design and construction funds for improvements to increase the energy efficiency of 10 state buildings on O‘ahu.
“We have a responsibility to the environment and our taxpayers to embark on improvements that make our government buildings more sustainable and cost-efficient,” Lingle said in a press release. “This project allows us to lead by example on this critical initiative.”
Project work varies by building and includes replacing an air conditioning system’s air handling units, installing a solar electricity system, installing sensor switches that turn off or lower lights in areas that are unoccupied, installing window tints to protect air conditioning systems from undue heat, and retro-commissioning, which is the practice of optimizing a building’s energy performance through repairs and adjustments to existing equipment and controls. The goal is to reduce the buildings’ energy consumption by as much as 20 percent.
Improvements will be made to the Kakuhihewa Building in Kapolei; the Central Services Division facility near Honolulu International Airport; and to the Kalanimoku, Leiopapa A Kamehameha, State Capitol, No. 1 Capitol District, Ke‘elikolani, Army Air Force Exchange Service, Lili‘uokalani and Kekuanao‘a buildings in Honolulu.
Construction for these projects is scheduled to be completed by June 2009.
Earlier this year, the Hilo State Office Building on the Big Island became the fourth state building in Hawai‘i to qualify under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program. The others are the Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Ko‘olaupoko District Courthouse and Kakuhihewa Building. Hawai‘i was also recently ranked fifth by the EPA among U.S. states for energy efficiency cost savings in buildings.
