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Friday, May 16, 2008

I'm Back!!!

I finally solved the issues with my web hosting company. What an ordeal. Anyway, here is some information I recently shared with the Honolulu Advertiser...

Honolulu Advertiser Story

BUSINESS BOOMING FOR COMPANIES CONSULTING ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY


Not everyone is screaming about rising energy prices. For companies consulting on ways to lower energy bills, the jump in electricity prices has been a boon.
At Energy Industries, one of the largest locally based companies specializing in this, business is up about 40 to 50 percent, said Brian Kealoha, senior vice president.
He said many companies call after taking steps such as asking people to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms and putting in water-heater timers and compact fluorescent light bulbs.


"At that point they're stuck and they don't know what they can do," said Kealoha, who says consultants can come in and conduct audits to see where the best savings can be achieved. Usually this involves three areas — more efficient lighting systems, air conditioning and water heating.


New fluorescent T-8 fixtures with electronic ballasts can help reduce lighting costs by up to one-quarter, while use of more directed light and fewer fixtures may help achieve more light in needed areas at even lower costs, Kealoha said.
In terms of air conditioning the consultants can help decide whether systems with years of life left can be replaced. It may be that newer models can pay for themselves within a few years and produce a greater savings than keeping the dated technology, Kealoha said.


Then there are solar water heaters or heat pumps that can produce hot water for buildings and cut electricity bills, Kealoha said.
While photovoltaic systems have attracted a lot of attention, people should look first at efficiencies that can be achieved. Photovoltaic systems generally take longer to break even, while lighting systems are quicker. Kealoha said by making the efficiency changes first the amount of electricity needed from a photovoltaic system is lessened.
Businesses are "realizing they have to do more than what they can do on their own," Kealoha said. "We've definitely seen an upturn in people interested in seeing how they can reduce their energy costs."