Hawaii is stepping up its game in the fight against climate change by securing a $18 million federal investment focused on reducing energy usage and carbon emissions from large commercial buildings. Announced by the U.S. Department of Energy, this effort is a slice of a larger pie, where over $240 million is being doled out to 19 state and local governments across the country. The cash injection courtesy of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America initiative is designed to bolster energy efficiency and spur the implementation of innovative building codes.
The funds are earmarked for the development and adoption of what's dubbed a Building Performance Standard (BPS) in Hawaii. The goal is ambitious: to upgrade energy performance across the state's heftiest commercial structures—those occupying more than 50,000 square feet, which, by the way, guzzle up around 80% of the state's commercial energy and contribute some 78% to commercial building emissions.
According to the plan laid out by Hawaii’s officials, these changes are expected to result in an energy and emissions downsize and to cut energy costs for building owners and lessees—welcome news in an era where the greenback doesn't stretch quite as far as it used to. This projected demand surge for skilled trades isn’t just a boon for the economy; it's a strategic move toward Hawaii's broader renewable energy and decarbonization targets for 2030 and 2045.
Echoing the federal Justice40 initiative, Hawaii has pledged to allocate 40% of the fund to aid low-and-moderate income communities, through a technical assistance program. Adding to this, some parts of the funding will facilitate state and county capacity building, and investments in workforce development and education over multiple years, a significant move amidst a growing demand for a clean energy workforce.
Hawaii Chief Energy Officer, Mark. B. Glick pointed out to the urgency of the initiative, "As Hawaiʻi continues to make strides in meeting its 100% renewable energy and decarbonization goals, it is critical that we continue to reduce our energy demand by being as energy efficient as possible. This policy will be key to our ability to meet our 2030 and 2045 goals," as featured on the Office of the Governor of Hawaii's official news release.
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz also chimed in with similar optimism, "Making our buildings more energy efficient will lower energy bills while also helping us fight the climate crisis," he mentioned on the Office of the Governor website, underlining that the financial injection will beef up the workforce and spread the clean energy transition benefits throughout Hawaii.
In a collaboration showcasing the collective resolve of Hawaii's public sector, the Hawaii State Energy Office developed the proposal with input from the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, and other county offices, along with the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s School of Architecture and the Sea Grant College Program. This consortium, combined with private sector consultants from Hawaii and even the mainland, manifested an alliance committed to Hawaiʻi’s energy future. Selection for award negotiations by the DOE, however, does not guarantee funding and holds potential for cancellation during the negotiation period.
