Frequently Asked Questions
How does this project align with the County’s goals and objectives?
The project aligns with the County’s vision to make the County more efficient and serves as implementation of actions towards the County’s sustainability goals.
What will be the environmental impact?
Environmental impact equivalent to an annual saving of 1,863 metric tons of C02 from going into the atmosphere, 86,660 barrels of oil being consumed or planting 621,066 trees.
When will construction begin and end?
The construction of Phase 1 of the project began on October 2022 and ended in October 2024, with some follow up items completed shortly after.
How much money will the project save?
Millions of dollars in utility costs will be saved, paying for all construction & financing costs, and going back into the County’s accounts for the community benefit.
What type and how many energy conservation measures will be installed?
As part of Phase 1, more than 12,000 County-owned lights will be converted to LED lights. Several thousand water using fixtures (toilets, urinals, faucets, showers) will be retrofitted to low flow. Hundreds of doors and windows will be sealed to reduce the infiltration of warm/humid air into building air conditioned spaces. Over 2,500 sq-ft of glass will be tinted to reduce solar heat gains, 45 electrical transformers will be replaced with high efficiency transformers. And lastly, new pool equipment will be installed to reduce the purchase of expensive pool chemicals.
The County also requested a few items to be included in the proejct that were listed as ‘urgent’, or for which they had limited capital funds to replace/repair. Some examples are: new electrical switchgear for War Memorial Stadium, new HVAC unit installation at Lanai Fire Station, and a new roof at Kula Fire Station.
Will there be any electric cars added to the County fleet?
There will be 4 electric vehicles added to the County fleet and a charging station.
Will the project create any new jobs?
The Phase 1 portion of the project will create many new jobs.
How much will the whole project cost?
Phase 1 was expected to cost approximately $29 million, but through a series of scope changes requested by the County ended up at $25 million. We are planning for an upcoming Phase 2 and 3 to address more facilities and more energy conservation measures, including solar PV. All project costs paid for by utility savings guaranteed by the contractor.
How is the County paying for the project?
The County will be using the energy savings to pay for the project over a 20-year period after the completion of the construction phase, guaranteed by the contractor, financed by a private 3rd party at low interest, and none at taxpayer expense.
Exactly how much energy will be saved?
There will be a 33% reduction in potable water consumption and a 6% reduction in electricity use.