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Hawaii Energy is looking for commercial building owners with a commitment to improving their building operations through a systematic approach of installing critical metering, performing retro-commissioning activities to identify and optimize system operations, and then measuring and sharing the results and lessons learned.
Install Permanent Critical System Efficiency Metering
"If you don't measure it, you can't manage it." Hawaii Energy will provide 100% funding to install or upgrade permanent metering and monitoring systems to provide the information needed to determine the performance of each component of the central plant system. Evaluation of the data will determine the performance levels of each system component as well as characterizing the system loads in the building.
Hawaii Energy will use the data to determine a baseline performance numbers and measure the actual energy reduction results of the actions taken and provide the performance incentives.
Perform System Commissioning and Documentation
While the metering is collecting baseline data, Hawaii Energy will work with the building management team and pay 50% of the fees for an energy professional to investigate the central plant systems, determine metering requirements and use the data collected to better understand how they are operating. Hawaii Energy can then have the team determine and document the desired sequence of operations and develop the list of actionable near- and long-term actions to improve the efficiency and system performance. Finally, Hawaii Energy will work together to develop a training and maintenance plan to insure the persistence of the savings.
Commit and Implement System Improvement Measures
Now it's time to implement the recommended low-cost or no-cost measures as well as create the plans and commitments for the long-term ones with paybacks less than two years.
Measure, Reward and Share Performance Results
The performance improvements and energy reductions resulting from the measures will be documented, rewarded with financial incentives and shared via a competition with peers to raise the level of central plant performance in Hawaii.
Ongoing Operations, Maintenance and Improvements
After the system is optimized, the team performs the operator training, executes the recommended maintenance activities, performs continuous monitoring of the system performance and continues to tune and refine the system operations.
| Central Plant | Optimization | Competition |
| Central plants are critical to the ability to use facilities for their intended purpose and are complex, living entities. | Training of operators and monitoring of critical parameters will ensure systems are operating properly and maximize their performance potential. |
Competition ignites effort. It is through competition that once impossible levels of performance are achieved. |
Eligible Facilities
Commercial facilities on the Islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Oahu with central plant systems that have a reasonable potential of energy savings to be achieved through commissioning efforts.
Incentives and Responsibilities
All incentives are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to the availability of allocated funds for the program year.
| Incentive | Amount | Responsibilities |
| Systems Commissioning Program | 50% incentive up to $0.20 per sq ft. |
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| Metering System | 100% incentive for approved metering equipment and data collection systems |
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| Energy Reducation | $0.10 per kWh saved for one year |
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Process
- Contact Hawaii Energy to schedule a site visit to introduce the program to your team and then review your historical energy usage, central plant equipment and operations and maintenance
- Hawaii Energy determines your eligibility for the program
- Complete a Central Plant Optimization Competition application
- Owner selects a Commissioning Agent and obtains fee proposal
- Hawaii Energy awards Commissioning Agent incentive
- Completion of preliminary systems review, metering plan and budget
- Hawaii Energy awards metering incentive
- Owner completes metering installation
- Commissioning Agent completes investigation and makes recommendations
- Hawaii Energy and Owner determines implementation commitments
- Commissioning Agent verifies implementation is completed
- Commissioning Agent completes system operations manuals and training
- Hawaii Energy provides energy awards based on performance
- Hawaii Energy shares results and awards for Central Plant Optimization Competition