The state of Hawaii has been encouraging both businesses and residents to “go green” and reduce the consumption of electricity through the use of Energy Star appliances, more energy efficient air conditioners, and fluorescent light blubs. And over the past three years since the start of the Hawaii Energy initiative, the results have been quite successful. The program has reduce electrical usage across the state by 142 million kilowatt-hours per year. This equates to the consumption of 20,000 homes or $48.1 million in customer savings.
However, one big motivating factor for switiching to more energy efficient items has been cash rebates and other financial incentives provided by the state. Now that funding has begun to run out, many experts are concerned if the trend will continue and if Hawaii as a whole will continue to “stay green”.
A new initiative, called the Home Energy Report, has been launched to allow electric utility customers to anonymously compare their energy usage with their neighbors. The report will rank an individual with a score from 1 to 100, with 1 being the least energy used amongst your community for a home your size. Through this new project, the state hopes that “peer presure” will be the new motivating factor on energy reduction.
Hawaii Energy’s deputy program manager, Michael Chang, stated, “It’s all about awareness. Every one knows what their car’s gas mileage is. When you’re driving down the street, you’re thinking, ‘I’m better than him, I’m worse than him.’ But when you go home and look around your neighborhood, you have no clue. With this report it brings that to the table.”
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-9-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
