Ending the year on an eco-friendly note, the Hawai‘i Green Business Program hosted the Green Business Engagement National Network Summit at the Ala Moana Hotel recently. The summit united experts and enthusiasts in the green business sector, focusing on serving environmental justice communities and promoting sustainable practices across various industries, as per the Office of the Governor.
During this gathering, the Hawai‘i State Energy Office delivered a keynote that emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum over time despite economic, and staffing trials. According to the Office of the Governor's press release, summit discussions were geared towards pushing businesses toward a fully electrified future, with interesting showcases from the Illinois Green Business Program and the California Green Business Network.
An inspiring close to the summit was provided by the Hawai‘i Convention Center, which exemplifies the merging of sustainability and business. A participant of the HGBP since 2016, Hawai‘i Convention Center has recently undergone significant infrastructure upgrades. In October 2024, it replaced five aging chillers with energy-efficient alternatives, which not only enhance system reliability but are also predicted to slash electrical costs by an impressive 17%, as reported by the Office of the Governor.
This move by Hawai‘i Convention Center demonstrates a growing trend where investments in green technology are proving to be financially sensible, as well as environmentally sound. By leading through action, both businesses and government entities at the summit showed that the path towards a sustainable future, is not just an ideal but also a practical strategy for economic growth, as per the Office of the Governor.
