Featured: HONBLUE
Hawaii Energy selected HONBLUE as its Energy Hero for the month of January to recognize the company’s dedication to energy conservation and efficiency as part of its extensive sustainability program. HONBLUE is a Hawaii-based technology company whose notable actions include installation of a 305-Watt photvoltaic (PV) system, implementing recommendations from a lighting audit and a "turn out the lights" program.
HONBLUE’S PV system has 312 individual 305-Watt Sunpower modules that cover the company’s rooftop. It’s projected to generate over 135,000 kWh of solar power by the end of 2010. In other words, the PV system will have produced enough energy to power almost 2 million 32-inch LCD TVs for a full episode of “Hawaii 5-O.” The system reduced HONBLUE’s electricity bill by 10 percent.
In addition to the PV system, HONBLUE had a lighting audit conducted by Energy Industries. The company followed recommendations to install T8 compact fluorescent bulbs that use less energy and has continued to de-lamp in offices.
The company’s green efforts are led by its LEED Green Associate conservation and sustainability officer, Shannon Hines, who finds and implements programs to make the company more eco-friendly.
“We have a turn-out the lights program, which we’ve been able to implement with great success,” Hines said. “We covered the light switch faceplates with new graphics that remind employees to turn off the lights in order to conserve energy. As we’ve heard from numerous employees, this has inevitably translated to them doing this at home due to common practice.”
Hines has helped the company manage sustainable best practices and encourages over 130 employees to participate in an in-house recycling program that averages 15.5 tons every month, a coffee mug adoption program and utilizing an assistance program for bus passes. HONBLUE also purchased high-quality and sustainable printing equipment for its operations.
Employees at HONBLUE continue their sustainability initiatives outside the workplace by participating in the Adopt-A-Block program, which meets four times a year on Saturdays to clean commercial blocks in their neighborhood. HONBLUE also encourages its clients to come to these events.
For businesses looking at how they can become more sustainable, HONBLUE recommends the following:
- Seek various opinions on sustainable business practices – the more perspectives, the better.
- Consider dedicating one employee to implementing sustainable programs.
- Make sure everyone in the company, especially top management, is dedicated and committed to making the business sustainable.
For more information about HONBLUE’s sustainability efforts, visit www.green.honblue.com.