Relevance: Reducing energy use in buildings is vital to achieve Hawaiʻi’s 100 percent clean energy goal by 2045 and mitigate climate change.

Response: Monitoring and simulation of energy use in Oʻahu homes should help Hawaiʻi residents, developers and builders identify energy saving strategies to cut energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions 47% below the current energy code. The team presented findings to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, three large home builders, and residents. Associated scholarly products include a peer-reviewed published paper, conference poster, and technical report.

Result: The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) encourages developers and builders to incorporate the cost-effective energy saving strategies identified by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant researchers in their proposed designs by distributing our paper with requests for proposals. Seven multi-disciplinary student researchers gained valuable skills and experience (workforce development).

The research was conducted through a collaboration between The University of Hawai’i’s: Hawai’i Natural Energy Institute’s energy efficiency program, School of Architecture’s Environmental Research and Design Lab and  Sea Grant College Program.

A peer-reviewed paper on this research is accessible for free online: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings10070120

A brochure explaining the take-aways of the research can be found here:  2020 Residential Energy Efficiency Brochure