Small Business Energy Conservation
Small business in Hawai‘i can take advantage of free information and support from ENERGY STAR to improve their financial performance and reduce energy use and costs.
Small businesses in Hawai‘i can do their part to use the energy they need efficiently and help meet Hawai‘i's energy goals. Whether small businesses own or rent the space they occupy, they typically need lighting, water heating, air-conditioning, power for office equipment, and other services to stay in business. With free, unbiased information and technical support from ENERGY STAR, small businesses can actually improve their financial performance by reducing energy waste and energy costs while protecting Hawai‘i's environment. ENERGY STAR has specific information for various small business types, including
- Auto dealers
- Grocery and convenience stores
- Home-based businesses
- Lodging
- Renters and tenants
- Restaurants
- Service and product providers
- Small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
Here are some steps small businesses can take toward a clean energy future for Hawai‘i:
Transforming Lighting for Small Business
Hawaiian Electric Company has retrofitted the lighting of hundreds of small businesses as part of a campaign to increase the energy efficiency of small companies. The Energy$olutions for Small Business project was developed by the electric utility through its partnership with Rebuild America and the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Still going strong, the project is saving more than 3.58 million kilowatt hours a year. The utility launched a new pilot in 2003 for larger customers while continuing to offer its lighting retrofits to small businesses (PDF 360 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
- Prepare an Energy Strategy for the Future.
- Join ENERGY STAR for Small Business for free technical support, information, awards eligibility, and a free hard copy of "Putting Energy into Profits" for small businesses.
- Download the no-cost ENERGY STAR for Small Business Guide: Putting Energy into Profits (PDF KB) and use our technical resources to learn ways that small businesses can achieve energy efficiency. Download Adobe Reader.
- Get expert help for remodeling, upgrading, or expanding facilities from professional engineers or service and product providers.
- Work with qualified architecture and engineering firms to build new facilities using our new building design guidance.
- Purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products for company-wide energy savings.
- Apply for a national small business award for outstanding energy-efficiency improvements (PDF 119 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
How Small Businesses Can Benefit
- Free, accurate, unbiased information
- Technical support through the ENERGY STAR Program's Ask a Technical Question service and technical resources
- "How-to" guide for analyzing and upgrading facilities
- Financing resources in Hawai‘i
- Energy equipment and service contractors and utilities
- Information about ENERGY STAR-labeled products
- National and local recognition
- Public relations materials to promote efforts
What Others Are Doing
Hawai‘i small business network list

