Energy Industries on Global Warming - Folks are putting their energy into slowing global warming in Hawai'i

By Mike LeidemannAdvertiser Staff Writer

People get global warming. Now, they're asking: "What can I do about it?"
Actually, quite a lot, according to speakers at an all-day public conference on the topic at the state Capitol yesterday.

From light bulbs to photovoltaic cells, the technology to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions is rapidly becoming more cost-effective and widely available, speakers said. And more alternative-fuel sources are waiting to take off, including wave, wind and even algae power.
"There's a flood of interest in this now and things are changing very quickly," said Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club's Hawai'i chapter. "We just need to get the word out so people can know what they can do to help."

But statewide strategies for reducing greenhouse gases, which are causing the climate to warm, will take a combination of regulatory action, financial incentives and increasing education, several participants said.

Yesterday's conference, organized by Hawaiian Electric Co., was designed to bring local experts together to discuss ways utility companies and others can help meet a new mandate passed by the state Legislature to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The Public Utilities Commission also has ordered a year-long review of ways Hawai'i will meet its power needs in coming years as oil supplies decline.

"We must act expeditiously and we must act with skill in terms of how the greenhouse gas law will impact our way of life," said HECO Vice President Robbie Alm. The bill passed by the Legislature, which has not yet been signed by Gov. Linda Lingle, does not spell out how the state should meet the new mandate.

Many alternative fuel technologies will become more cost-effective in the coming decade, said Dave Rezachek, head of the Hawai'i Renewable Energy Association. They include ocean thermal energy conversion, seawater air-conditioning, biofuels, winds, wave power and photovoltaic cells, he said.

"If we produce just once 100 tons (about 1.2 million BTUs per hour) of seawater air conditioning, that's the equivalent of taking 50,000 SUVs off the road or buying 115,000 Toyota Priuses or installing 123,000 solar water heaters in Hawai'i," he said.
In the meantime, people who want to help can best do it by reducing energy in their own homes, said Brian Kealoha, senior vice president of Energy Industries, a company focusing on efficiency, generation and renewable energy.

"Energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit. All the other alternative fuels don't add up together now to equal the potential for energy savings," Kealoha said. The biggest savings come from switching over to compact fluorescent lamps, installing solar water heaters and buying energy-efficient appliances, he said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.

ENERGY industries and One Green Reason

One Green Reason

One green reason why the Energy Industries team cares so much about our work is we believe we are Saving the World, one Kilowatt at a Time.

At EI know that when we maximize the efficiencies of energy efficient designs we save more energy. For every Kilowatt hour we save, we reduce 1.55 lbs. of Carbon Dioxide or CO2 from entering our earth’s atmosphere. Reducing CO2 helps fight Global Warming and keeps our planet green!

One kilowatt hour may not seem like much but in 2006, the efforts of Energy Industries saved enough kilowatt hours to reduce over 38,750,000 lbs. of CO2! Our energy impacts also had the following “green” effects:

Removing 3,804 cars from our roads

Savings 2,011,903 Gallons of gasoline

Offsetting 40,876 Barrels of oil

Providing 2,256 Household with electricity use for one year

Replanting 450,685 trees for one year

In the end, the work of EI goes a long way to help battle climate change, increase energy security for the homeland and save our customers money.

Do you have what it takes to be a member of the Energy Industries team?

If you are hardworking, committed to our green causes, loyal and intelligent, we want to talk to you. Contact: ________________________.