Hawaii's Energy Future - You Can Make A Difference!

Energy

Tips At Home

ENERGY TIPS AT HOME

Power to Save

Click here for your free copy of Hawaiian Electric's Power to Save Energy Conservation Guide for Your Home. This handy, interactive guide will help you understand how you use energy and where you can trim electricity use to see some real savings.

101 Ways to Save

Download Hawaiian Electric’s 101 Ways to Save guide featuring 101 practical tips to conserve energy, manage your bills and care for the planet!

Quick & Simple

Here are some quick and simple things that cost little or nothing, and may save you money and protect our island environment:

Replace regular incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs
CFLs use one-fourth the energy of an old-fashioned incandescent bulb, last longer and are cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning. Changing just one 100-watt bulb to an equivalent 26-watt CFL, based on three hours use per day, can save 81 kWh and up to $24 per year per bulb.

Use fans instead of air conditioners
Two fans, rather than an 8,000 BTU room air conditioner running four hours a day, can save over 1,150 kWh and $345 a year.

Shorten showers
Cutting just two minutes per shower could save up to 1,533 kWh and $460 per year.

Fix leaky faucets
A faucet leaking just one drop of hot water per second costs 400 kWh and $120 per year.

Wash clothes in cold water
Switching from Hot Wash/Warm Rinse to the Cold/Cold cycle on a standard, top-loading washing machine for just two loads a week can save 225 kWh and $68 per year.

Eliminate energy sneakers (phantom load)
Even when turned off, things like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy. Use a power strip to conveniently turn off computers (after properly logging off), monitors, printers and chargers for camera batteries, phones and PDAs, all of which use standby power when not in use. Using a power strip to turn off your computer alone can save 50 kWh and $15 per year.

Air dry dishes
Letting dishes air dry instead of using heated drying on the average dishwasher saves 110 kWh and $33 per year.

No peeking
Limiting how often and how long you open the refrigerator will save electricity and protect the appliance. Also limit opening the oven while cooking or baking to save electricity; protect the appliance and speed up cooking times, too.

Install motion/occupancy detectors indoors and out
Cutting use of a 150-watt, outdoor flood light from six hours to one hour per night with a motion sensor saves up to 270 kWh and $81 per year. Switching off a 100-watt light for just one, 8-hour day per week, can save 41 kWh and over $12 per year.

Use ENERGY STAR® appliances
When it is time to replace or add appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol on refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers, as well as DVD and VCR players, televisions and home office equipment. Visit ENERGY STAR to learn more.

Do your own home energy audit
Take the online My Home Energy Check energy survey at ENERGY STAR for a free analysis of where your home energy dollars are going and some tips for possible savings.

For more information on ways you can reduce your use of electricity and lower your bill, check out Hawaiian Electric’s complete Energy Tips and Choices guide. Energy cost savings provided above are based on current electricity rates effective 7/1/08.

Be sure you’re recycling at home
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates. The website Earth 911 can help you find recycling resources in your area.

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Cooling

Air conditioning is among the biggest users of electricity in homes that have it. Over 55 percent of Oahu homes now have air conditioning, from a single window unit to central air, up from 22 percent just 25 years ago.

Consider using a fan instead of air conditioning to reduce your use of electricity. But, if you must use the air conditioner, here’s how to use it wisely to stay comfortable, conserve energy, reduce dependence on foreign oil, save money and protect the environment during Hawaii’s warmest months. For a printer-friendly version of Hawaiian Electric’s Cool Tips brochure, please click here.

Turn down your A/C
Run your A/C on as low (that is—as warm) a setting as possible to still be comfortable, and turn off the A/C in empty or unused rooms.

Clean or replace filters on your air conditioner
Clean or change your filter per the manufacturer’s specifications – generally once a month for cleaning. A clean, well-maintained cooling system is more efficient and lasts longer because it does not work as hard.

Change your hot lights
Replace old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs with cool and efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use about 75% less energy, last longer and are cooler so they won’t heat up your home.

Chill on time
A programmable thermostat can help keep your home comfortable efficiently. Program your cooling system to turn off while the house is empty and then automatically turn on before everyone gets home. Ask your A/C dealer or local hardware store for a thermostat that will work with your unit.

Get a checkup
Schedule a cooling system maintenance check with a licensed contractor to ensure your central or split system is working safely and efficiently.

Cut the glare
Install awnings, blinds or film tinting on south and west windows to block out the warm afternoon sun and keeping your cooling system from working overtime during the hottest hours of the day.

Replacing your cool
If your cooling system needs replacing, consider an energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® model. Check the Energy Guide label for operating efficiency, measured by Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the EER or SEER, the more energy efficient the unit will be. Units with higher EER or SEER may cost more, but the efficiency will repay that over and over again during its lifespan.

Custom fit
Purchase the right size cooling system and have it installed properly, so your investment will deliver on its full energy-performance promise. An undersized unit will not handle the heat, causing it to overwork and not perform optimally. An oversized unit cools quickly but can create a "cold and clammy" feel due to high humidity.

Check HECO’s guide to selecting a properly sized window air conditioner. If you are purchasing a central or split system, Hawaiian Electric recommends getting two to three estimates from different licensed air conditioning contractors.

On the shady side
Cooling systems should be installed in a shaded location. Consider planting leafy trees and shrubs strategically to provide shade from the sun while beautifying your home. Be careful to keep plants from blocking air flow! Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.

Seal the deal
Leaks in windows, doors and walls let cool air out and hot air in, so check your home for drafts and seal leaks that can make your cooling system work overtime.

Insulate and weatherize your home.
Properly insulating your walls and ceilings can save on your home cooling bill. The Consumer Federation of America has more information on how to better insulate your home.

Install a solar attic fan.
Use a solar powered attic fan to draw out hot air and reduce attic temperatures by as much as 40% with clean, free power from the sun. Consult a professional for installation or DIYers can read here for step-by-step instructions.

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Heating

Heating water takes a lot of energy; it is the biggest user of electricity in most Hawaii homes. Here are some things you can do to reduce your use of hot water and conserve a precious resource.

Water Heating

Install a solar hot water heater
There has never been a better time to do this. You may qualify for a rebate, federal and state tax credits. For more information about the Solar Water Heating Rebate program, visit www.HawaiiEnergy.com, call 537-5577 or write HawaiiEnergy@saic.com.

Wrap your older water heater in an insulation blanket
If you cannot replace your older water heater just now, consider an insulation blanket. If you have a relatively new water heater, it is probably well insulated. So consider just covering pipes with insulation.

Consider buying a high-efficiency electric water heater
If you’re about to replace your existing electric water heater and solar is not an option, consider purchasing a high-efficiency electric water heater. This is a low-cost solution to reducing your electricity bills. Qualifying units can earn a rebate of $40, $50 or $70. For more details, visit www.HawaiiEnergy.com, call 537-5577 or write HawaiiEnergy@saic.com.

Showers, washers, dishwashers & dryers
Save energy (and our limited fresh water) by installing low-flow showerheads.

Wash clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot. Most detergents today work as well or better in cold water.

Only run your dishwasher or clothes washer with a full load and use the settings marked for energy saving.

Use a “solar clothes dryer,” (better known as a “clothesline!”) instead of an electric dryer when possible.

Consider air drying your dishes whenever possible.

For more water conservation tips, check out the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

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Lighting

A simple and cost effective solution to lighting your home is to replace your regular incandescent light bulbs with energy saving CFLs or compact fluorescent lights. Today, these bulbs are widely available in a variety of brands, shapes, styles, sizes and wattage for indoor and outdoor use. CFLs use 75% less energy for the same amount of light and last 10 times longer than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. Here are some tips:

Choose the right type of compact fluorescent bulb for your light fixture
With the variety, styles and sizes of CFL bulbs available today, be sure to select the type of bulb that matches your light fixtures. Certain styles work best, last longer and avoid burn out if placed and fitted properly.

How to properly install a spiral-type compact fluorescent light bulb To properly install or remove a spiral CFL, grip the unit by its plastic base and not by the spiral glass tube. The base of a CFL is typically comprised of white plastic. You can then install the CFL bulb into the fixture by turning the base clockwise. To remove the CFL, turn the base counter clockwise. By holding the base, you minimize the risk for shattering the glass tube.

CFL Recycling
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CFLs are safe and offer many benefits, primarily in saving energy and money, and can be safely disposed of in regular household waste. Also, because they produce less heat than regular bulbs, they're safer to operate as they are cooler to the touch and that helps cut energy costs associated with home cooling. CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury, about 5 milligrams which is roughly equivalent to the tip of a ballpoint pen. In comparison, traditional thermometers contain 500 milligrams up to 3,000 milligrams of mercury. In the past decade, CFL manufacturers have reduced their use of mercury as technology continues to improve. Read more on CFLs and mercury.

At this time, neither the City nor the State of Hawaii offers any bulb recycling program and the closest bulb recycling centers are located on the mainland at a fee. However, Hawaii residents do have options:

The Home Depot will accept expired, unbroken CFLs as part of the retailer’s nationwide CFL recycling program. This free service is the first such offering made widely available by a retailer in the United States. Customers can simply bring in their spent CFL bulbs and give them to the store associates behind the returns desk.

In addition, residential customers can purchase the RECYCLEPAK® Consumer CFL Recycling Kit offered by Veolia Environmental Services, a mainland-based recycling company. In late 2007, Veolia reached an agreement with the U.S. Postal Service that allows the CFL kits to be shipped conveniently through the mail from Hawaii. Residents on all islands can pack their spent CFLs in the kits and drop them off at a U.S. Post Office or hand it to a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier. These pre-paid recycling kits can be purchased online at www.prepaidrecycling.com or by calling 1-888-669-9725. The cost includes all shipping and recycling fees. To highlight the newly available and convenient service for Hawaii residents, Hawaiian Electric gave away 1,000 CFL recycling kits in March 2008.

Another option for household recycling of spent CFL bulbs is offered by Houston-based Waste Management Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. Through its Think Green from Home website, consumers can purchase a Compact Fluorescent Recycling Kit and a Household Straight Tube Recycling Kit that is delivered to your door. The CFL recycling kit holds up to 15 10-watt CFLs and can be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. The straight tube recycling kit holds 7 T12 or 16 T8 tubes four feet or shorter in length. This recycling kit must be sent via UPS. All costs include shipping and recycling fees.

CFL Disposal
Although there are disposal laws for large commercial users of fluorescents, at this time individual home owners can send their used CFLs to the municipal landfill since CFLs are considered "universal waste" and home owners are under no regulations. The EPA’s ENERGY STAR website provides a fact sheet on compact fluorescent lights which includes the EPA's recommendation for proper CFL disposal. Home owners are encouraged to place used CFLs in two plastic bags and seal it before putting it in the trash. In case a bulb breaks in the trash can or dumpster after it is picked up, the chances of mercury impacting the surrounding area are reduced.

If a CFL bulb breaks, the EPA recommends you first open a window to allow the room to ventilate for 15 minutes or more and shut off air-conditioning. Carefully scoop up – don’t vacuum -- all of the glass fragments and particles using stiff paper or cardboard. Place broken pieces in a glass jar with metal lid or in a sealed plastic bag and use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. For hard surfaces, wipe the area clean with damp paper towels and place the used towels in the glass jar or plastic bag. For carpets, if vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vaccuum the area where the bulb was broken. Remove the vacuum bag and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag. Immediately place all clean up materials outside the building in a trash container for the next normal trash, and wash your hands. Get more tips here: State Department of Health Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch.

Properly used and disposed, CFLs are a good choice for energy efficiency and keeping our community and planet healthy.

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Transportation

Almost one third of the energy imported into Hawaii each year goes to ground transportation in our cars, buses and trucks. Here are some things you can do to help reduce the use of imported oil, protect the environment and save a little money:

Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible.
Start a carpool or vanpool with your coworkers or classmates.
Instead of owning a car, consider renting when you need a car or organize a car sharing system with friends or relatives.
Keep your vehicle tuned up. Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated. Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%.
When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle. Consider a hybrid, a diesel (which would let you use bio-diesel instead of gasoline) or any vehicle with high fuel efficiency.
Try telecommuting from home.

Drive sensibly
Driving aggressively (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by five percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Observe the speed limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.

Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Remove excess weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary heavy items in your vehicle. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. This impacts smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Avoid excessive idling
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use cruise control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Use overdrive gears
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

To learn more, visit: www.fueleconomy.gov

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