Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 63 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require certain energy efficiency features in new residential buildings built after July 1, 2002.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism submitted testimony in support of this measure, and suggested amendments. Testimony in support was also received from Hawaii's Thousand Friends and Sierra Club. The Gentry Companies, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and the Building Industry Association submitted testimony in opposition.

Your Committee finds that county building codes and voluntary building industry measures have not led to the incorporation of energy efficiency features in residential buildings. Your Committee further finds that too much emphasis has been placed on the initial affordability of homes, rather than on life cycle costs, resulting in consumers facing higher monthly expenses because homes are not designed for energy efficiency.

Your Committee has amended this bill by incorporating the following changes proposed by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 63, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 63, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.