Airports Division receives Hawaiian Electric rebate for $252,885 in energy savings
February 4, 2009 -- The state Department of Transportation's (DOT) Airports Division has received a $252,885 rebate check from Hawaiian Electric Company. for energy savings created by the new Diamond Head Chiller Plant air conditioning project at the Honolulu International Airport.
The state Department of Transportation's (DOT) Airports Division has received a $252,885 rebate check from Hawaiian Electric Company. for energy savings created by the new Diamond Head Chiller Plant air conditioning project at the Honolulu International Airport.
Dedicated on December 3, 2008, the new air conditioning chiller plant is 50% more energy-efficient than existing units and will save approximately $885,000 annually in electricity costs.
"One of the goals of our Airports Modernization Plan is to reduce energy consumption wherever it's feasible at our facilities,” says Brian Sekiguchi, deputy director of the airports division. "Saving energy costs and reducing emissions will benefit every taxpayer and the entire state."
The three-million square-foot Honolulu International Airport facility is air-conditioned by three separate chilled water systems that serve the Diamond Head, Central, and Ewa concourses, respectively. The Central Concourse chiller plant will be replaced and upgraded in 2009, followed by the Ewa Concourse chiller plant in 2010. The chiller plant master plan will increase the system's overall capacity to 12,000 tons to allow for a planned one-million square-foot expansion at the airport.
When complete, the upgrade of the airport’s chilled water system will save an estimated $2.3 million per year in electrical operating costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6,413 tons annually at a total cost of $51 million.
"To meet our state’s energy goals, our community needs to conserve energy whenever possible and we're very pleased at the example that DOT is setting," said Robbie Alm, executive vice president of Hawaiian Electric Company. "Hawaii's energy future will be based on decisions, like the new air conditioning system, that embrace innovation and reduce our dependence on imported oil.”
Since 1997, the Airports Division has received over $588,000 in energy rebates from Hawaiian Electric Co. for reducing its power consumption by 2.2 megawatts across the state, saving 16,500 barrels of oil each year or enough energy to power 1,200 homes.
Executive Vice-President Robbie Alm (left), Hawaiian Electric Company, presents a $252,885 rebate check for energy savings at the Honolulu International Airport to Brian Sekiguchi (right), Airports Division Deputy Director, state Department of Transportation and Manny Lanuevo, Airports Division Facilities Maintenance Engineer.
