Hawaii Energy has selected applicants for incentive funds of up to $1.96 million for the state’s first energy efficiency auction. The applicants plan to help small businesses, restaurants, residents in smart-metered neighborhoods and educational institutions save energy.
Hawaii Energy has selected applicants for incentive funds of up to $1.96 million for the state’s first energy efficiency auction. The applicants plan to help small businesses, restaurants, residents in smart-metered neighborhoods and educational institutions save energy.
Hawaii Energy, the ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program for Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties, launched the “Hawaii Energy Efficiency Auction” in August. The auction was an open call for contractors, developers, energy efficiency solution providers, energy service companies, energy vendors and property managers to submit qualified energy efficiency applications to receive funding for residential and commercial projects.
The auction was just one of many planned energy efficiency initiatives developed under the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s guidance to help electric ratepayers maximize energy savings.
Hawaii Energy selected three applications: Honeywell Smart Grid Solutions, Matrix Energy Services and Ibis Networks Inc. Collectively, these projects are estimated to save more than 8.1 million kilowatt hours during the first year with an estimated energy savings of more than $2 million based on an average residential and commercial electric rate of 28 cents per kwh.
The projects will provide energy savings benefits to qualified electric ratepayers in Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties and will be complete by May 30. Additionally, several of the applications not selected for auction funding are being evaluated for other financial incentives offered by Hawaii Energy.
Ibis Networks plans to reduce the energy consumption at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, UH-Hilo and Windward Community College, which combined serve more than 30,000 students annually. The project is aimed at enabling the three campuses to reduce plug load energy consumption, increase machine and electronic operational efficiency and find innovative ways to reduce peak-hour demand.
Honeywell was selected for one residential and one commercial project. The residential project, the Green Neighborhood Program, will initially engage Moanalua and Pearl City residents participating in the electric utility’s smart meter pilot program. Honeywell will install free energy efficiency measures, distribute educational materials about Hawaii Energy rebates and incentives and provide residents with information about how to use their smart meter Web portal to track energy usage.
The Hawaii Energy-funded energy efficiency measures that will be offered include LED and CFL lights, power strips, kitchen faucet aerators, low flow shower heads, refrigerator coil brushes and thermometers, room AC filters and water heater insulation, temperature check and adjustments. During on-site visits, Honeywell and Blue Planet Foundation representatives will also evaluate a home’s potential to participate in future demand response programs.
Honeywell’s commercial project is targeted at customers that participated in Hawaii Energy’s Small Business Direct Install Lighting program within the past three years. Customers with air conditioning units will be offered free smart thermostats and a Web or smartphone/tablet application that provides information on thermostat settings and energy usage. Customers not eligible for smart thermostats may still qualify for other energy efficiency measures. Both the Green Neighborhood Program and smart thermostat project are free for ratepayers to participate.
Matrix Energy Services will offer turnkey energy efficiency technologies to commercial ratepayers. Technologies offered include the following: screw-in LED lamps, linear LED lamps, LED exit signs, anti-sweat heater controls, evaporative controls, door closers and strip curtains for refrigerators and freezers.
Businesses that participate will also receive an energy audit of their facilities, education about the projects, installation, clean up and disposal and/or recycling of their old equipment and energy savings reports.
For more information about Hawaii Energy or these projects, call 839-8880 or visit hawaiienergy.com.