Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Capital Improvement; Sustainability

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to finance energy conservation and renewable energy measures to make Saunders Hall at the University of Hawaii a campus and community model of sustainability and energy conservation.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2166

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to the university of hawaii.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the University of Hawaii has continued to pursue ways to reduce energy use on its Manoa campus and has made a commitment to developing models for campus energy savings that can benefit the entire university system and the broader community.  Beginning with the chancellor's energy summit in October 2006, the faculty and students at the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii have continued to provide leadership in the areas of sustainability and energy efficiency.

     A current effort focuses on Saunders Hall, a seven-story concrete building that houses twelve academic departments, research units, classrooms, and staff offices.  A major user of energy on the Manoa campus, Saunders Hall uses approximately 2.4 million kilowatt hours annually.  At the current cost of approximately sixteen cents per kilowatt hour, the annual energy costs for Saunders Hall is $384,000, an amount that is expected to increase over time.

     Adopted as a pilot demonstration project by the Manoa sustainability council, the sustainable Saunders Hall project seeks to make the building a livable, sustainable quality home to faculty, staff, and students through campus energy savings.  Over fifty students have joined the effort to work on various projects from recycling to establishing a website to encourage more campus residents to engage in sustainability and energy conservation practices.  To further address energy costs, the sustainable Saunders Hall project sought and obtained support from the energy by example program of the Hawaii energy policy forum at the University of Hawaii at Manoa by obtaining a preliminary energy efficiency audit.

     The legislature finds that the audit recommendations, if funded, can reduce or offset Saunders Hall's energy load by an estimated thirty-nine per cent and would pay for itself in six and a half years.  More specifically, the current annual utility bill for Saunders Hall could be reduced by installing various conservation and renewable energy measures at a cost of $1,024,000.

     The purpose of this Act is to reduce energy use and develop models for energy savings at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus to benefit the entire university community and the people of Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,024,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the energy conservation and renewable energy measures that are part of the sustainable Saunders Hall project at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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