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Summary:
Opportunities for Improving Access to Energy Efficiency
Working Group on Efficiency of the Hawaii Energy Policy
Forum
As part of the Hawaii Energy Policy Project, a working group
was formed to address the issue of Improving Access to Energy
Efficiency. The working group consisted of representatives
from
federal, state and local governments, the building industry,
Honolulu Community Action Group (HCAP) and utility personnel.
The primary focus of the working group was low-to-moderate
income families in the residential sector. As the group explored
the issues related to energy efficiency, it became apparent
that the majority of residential energy users in Hawaii also
faced
many of the same challenges encountered by lower income families.
The group explored the challenges with the adoption of energy
efficiency and several barriers were identified. One of the
major issues identified was the higher initial costs of energy
efficiency measures such as solar water heating and high efficiency
refrigerators. This initial cost challenge is even more significant
for lower income households. For renters, this barrier is
amplified because the landlord lacks incentives to make an
investment that will result in savings for a tenant.
Awareness and understanding of energy issues, knowledge of
newer energy savings devices, and
the full impact of energy use created barriers for change.
In some cases, engineers and architects are reticent to specify
new technology due to perceived risk if something goes wrong.
The group concluded that consumers and designers could make
better decisions provided with better information.
Despite the challenges, many successes were noted. Utility
Demand Side Management (DSM) programs and tax incentives have
resulted in more solar water heating per capita being used
in Hawaii than any other state. Adoption of the model energy
codes has meant that new construction and renovation are more
efficient. More and more architects and engineers are learning
about energy efficient designs and sustainable practices.
Recently, the City and County of Honolulu initiated a program
for low interest loans for qualifying low-income home-owners
and landlords who rent to qualifying tenants.
The working group identified the following opportunities
for consideration:
Opportunity 1 – Implement Energy Awareness and Education
Program
Opportunity 2 – Encourage Revisions to LIHEAP
Opportunity 3 – Continue Current DSM Programs Offered
by Utilities
Opportunity 4 – Consider New Utility DSM Programs
Opportunity 5 – Seek Additional Sources of Federal Funding
Opportunity 6 – Enhance Current and Develop New Public-Private
Partnerships to
Encourage Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Opportunity 7 – Reduce the Tax Burden of Hawai’I
Residents by making Energy Cost Reduction a Priority for State
and County Governments
Opportunity 8 – Create Additional Low-income Loan Programs
Opportunity 9 – Expand the Scope of the Model Energy
Code
Opportunity 10 – Multi-family Housing Unit Design
To see the full report go to the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum’s
website at: <htttp://hawaiienergypolicy.Hawaii.edu/eewg_rpt.pdf
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