Kaneohe Elementary Earns ENERGY STAR from EPA, Hawaii’s First School to Receive This Recognition
Monday, December 21, 2009(Honolulu Advertiser) Hawaii State Board of Education First Vice Chairperson Lei Ahu Isa, Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto, Complex Area Superintendent Lea Albert and ENERGY STAR partner Michael Chong congratulated Kaneohe Elementary on its “STAR” achievement before a school assembly of students, educators, and parents.
Kaneohe Elementary School has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. This signifies that the building’s energy performance rates in the top 25 percent of facilities nationwide.
“On behalf of the students, staff, teachers, and community of Kaneohe Elementary, I am honored to accept EPA’s ENERGY STAR in recognition of our hard work and energy efficiency efforts,” said Mitchell Otani, principal of Kaneohe Elementary School. “Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while lowering our energy costs. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Michael Chong from The Chong Group for making our school an ENERGY STAR.”
ENERGY STAR commercial buildings use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Kaneohe Elementary School has improved its energy performance by managing energy wisely and minimizing waste. The school’s administration building was constructed and designed as a low-energy building that takes advantage of natural air ventilation and utilizes fans in lieu of air conditioning. To date, the school has reduced its annual energy bill by $14,822.
According to the U.S. EPA, the three main sources of greenhouse gas emissions from homes are electricity use, heating, and waste. Kaneohe Elementary Schools has prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity use from 15 households for a year.
As a further demonstration of the school’s commitment to energy efficiency, the school has: 1) Raised the thermostat level for any air conditioned space (such as the library) to 76 degrees; 2) Removed personal refrigerators; 3) Established a school policy to turn off lights and computers when not in use; and 4) Replaced inefficient fluorescent lighting with modern energy efficient lighting in all classrooms.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to preserving our environment and our natural resources, ” said Jean Lupinacci, chief of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial branch. “From office buildings to hotels, supermarkets to schools, the ENERGY STAR distinguishes those organizations who are taking environmental responsibility into their own hands.”
EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new homes, and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $19 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles.
