THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	119
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION to IMPLEMENT SIMPLE, COST-EFFECTIVE PRACTICES THAT ENCOURAGE ENERGY CONSERVATION IN THE WORKPLACE AMONG DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education (DOE) may do more than it is doing now to implement simple, but important, energy conservation practices in the workplace; and

     WHEREAS, during the last decade, the State has invested millions of dollars in technology to bring down energy costs; and

     WHEREAS, the State has established various operational procedures to lower electricity costs; for example, at the State Capitol, the air conditioning is turned off at 4:30 p.m. each weekday and left off during the weekends and holidays; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that even with these measures in place, more can be done by the DOE leadership and employees; for example, at the DOE, employees leave fluorescent lights on when no one is in the room, computers are left on over the weekend, windows are propped open and space heaters are used even though the air conditioning is operating, and various other unnecessary personal appliances are used; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that DOE employees should be encouraged to conserve energy by way of simple, inexpensive conservation reminders, such as signs placed at each exit or above each light switch, announcements during meetings and training sessions, brief articles in DOE newsletters, emails to employees, and morning announcements; and

     WHEREAS, although the savings of each of these measures may be minimal, the cumulative savings will be substantial; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the DOE is requested to review its existing energy conservation strategies and implement inexpensive energy conservation practices, including cost-effective programs that encourage energy conservation in the workplace among DOE personnel, such as department-wide energy conservation meetings and training, and workplace notices posted in highly visible areas to encourage energy-saving behavior, such as turning off unneeded lights, powering down computers and electronics, raising air conditioner thermostat settings, and reducing elevator use; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOE is requested to report to the Legislature regarding the measures taken by the DOE to implement these energy conservation practices not later than twenty days prior to the convening of Regular Session of 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the Executive Director of the Board of Education, the Executive Director of the Charter School Administrative Office, the Superintendent of Education, and the State Librarian.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Energy Conservation; Department of Education