DBEDT's State Energy Office is working to facilitate engagement into clean energy efficiency behaviors through bold programs and initiatives. Learn more about what the office is doing and

1. ENERGY STAR Benchmarking & Labeling
The ENERGY STAR label is recognized by over 75% of Americans nationwide as the most influential energy efficiency brand. It reflects a building operator and manager' commitment to taking significant measures in decreasing energy consumption, and thereby investing in an attractive business environment for its staff and customers.

As the upswing trend in consumer demand increases, more consumers and businesses will begin looking to do business with ENERGY STAR labeled buildings. Therefore, DBEDT's Energy Office has designed a government subsidized program to assist buildings in becoming ENERGY STAR labeled.

Hospitality includes schools, supermarkets, hotels, dorms, retail stores (including small businesses), hospitals, worship centers, and office buildings.

The subsidized program offers two services:

• Setting-up Portfolio Manager
• Third Party verification for a label

DBEDT's State Energy Office retained The Chong Group, LLC to provide the technical assistance with this effort. The cost to take advantage of any of the two services is capped at $500 (as opposed to $1500 - $2000) after filling out a participation form, speaking with The Chong Group, LLC, and agreeing to the service.

Steps to becoming labeled:

1. Fill out the Participation Form.
2. The Chong Group, LLC will contact and discuss with you the service in detail, the value to you as a building manager or operator, the service, cost, and any other pertinent details.
3. If you have Portfolio Manager, The Chong Group, LLC will conduct the third party assessment to verify your score of 75% or higher to receive a label ($500 capped fee to the building owner/manager).
4. If you do not have Portfolio Manager, The Chong Group, LLC will help you establish a Portfolio Manager account in order to begin benchmarking and taking tangible milestones toward becoming energy efficient and saving money.

You may also view all labeled buildings to date via the ENERGY STAR Website.

2. Government Leading by Example
Governor Abercrombie's A New Day in Hawaii calls energy "Hawaii's most important economic enterprise." Therefore, in an effort to build public engagement and momentum in energy efficiency, all state government agencies began taking significant behavior changes to decrease its own consumption which resulted in savings of more than $20 million in energy costs for all State government offices (a 2.8% decrease since 2009).

This promising turnaround reflects the State's ongoing efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy development to protect against escalating energy costs and to expedite energy security to protect Hawaii and our economy against the volatility of world oil markets.