HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	306
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of accounting and general services to Promote energy efficiency and reduce utility costs by reducing air conditioning usage at the state capitol.

     WHEREAS, almost 90 percent of Hawaii's energy needs are provided by petroleum, resulting in Hawaii being the most oil dependent state in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's energy costs amount to about 11 percent of this state's Gross Domestic Product, while in other states, the energy costs are around 4 percent of their Gross Domestic Product; and

WHEREAS, the people of Hawaii pay the highest electricity prices in the nation, and its gasoline costs are among the highest in the county; and

     WHEREAS, between 2005 and 2008, state government consumption of electricity increased 3.9 percent, but expenditures increased 56.8 percent; and

     WHEREAS, more than 96 percent of petroleum in Hawaii come from foreign sources and means this state most reduces its usage of oil in order to become energy independent; and

     WHEREAS, in 2008, the State launched the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative to reduce Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels and bring energy price stability to Hawaii's consumers by ensuring that 70% of Hawaii energy needs will be met through renewable energy sources by 2030; and

     WHEREAS, the stakeholders and participants of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative identified energy efficiency as a critical components of its objective, estimating that 30% of Hawaii's energy need can be achieve through energy efficiency by 2030; and

     WHEREAS, energy efficiency can help create savings in utility bills that will contribute to relieving the State's $1.8 billion shortfall for the fiscal biennium; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's state capitol is a model of inefficiency with an electrical consumption of 5.8 million kilowatt-hours at a cost to the state of $1.5 million for the year 2008; and

     WHEREAS, over the years, a number of complaints have been registered about the cold temperatures in the state Capitol building due to high usage of air conditioning; and

     WHEREAS; a reduction of air conditioning usage at the state capitol will promote efficiency and reduce utility costs, resulting in a savings to the State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Accounting and General Service is requested to promote efficiency and reduce utility costs through lowering the State Capitol's air conditioning temperature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Comptroller of the State of Hawaii.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Energy efficiency; State Capitol; air conditioning