Honolulu Gets $499,000 Grant, Energy Star Building Awards
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld presented the City and County of Honolulu with a $499,000 Climate Showcase Communities grant and two Energy Star building awards for Honolulu Hale and the Fasi Municipal Building on March 31.
“EPA’s funding will help Honolulu reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and save money. I congratulate Honolulu’s, residents and businesses for their choice to become less reliant on imported energy,” said Blumenfeld, “EPA and the entire federal family are committed to improving the nation's energy outlook, through projects like Honolulu’s.”
The grant funding will create lasting residential GHG reductions through community outreach to residents about their energy use, swapping out over 20,000 incandescent bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, and develop a Hawaii-specific residential energy audit. The project will also fund "green jobs" training in conducting an energy audit and weatherization work, and the installation of 300 whole-house, real-time energy monitors. Half of the households receiving a monitor will be given a comprehensive energy audit.
The city will work with Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps, Kanu Hawaii and local community residents to reduce residential GHG emissions by more than 4.1 tons per year, provide residential savings of approximately $670,000 per year, and reduce electricity use of 2.7 million kWh per year.
Honolulu Hale and the Fasi Municipal Building in Honolulu are two of the latest buildings in Hawaii to be designated an Energy Star Building by EPA’s Energy Star Program. The buildings met Energy Star’s requirements for energy performance, thermal comfort, indoor air quality and lighting levels.