Hawaiʻi Energy expanding lighting upgrade program to nonprofits, small businesses

Hawaiʻi Energy has expanded the eligibility requirements for its Energy Advantage program, which offers lighting upgrades to Hawai‘i businesses at significantly reduced prices.

Select nonprofit organizations, small businesses and restaurants are eligible on a first-come, first-served basis, until funds are exhausted.

“We created the Energy Advantage program in 2011 as a way to help Hawai‘i businesses lower their monthly energy costs, by connecting them with local, licensed contractors to replace and upgrade lighting at significantly reduced prices,” said Caroline Carl, executive director at Hawai‘i Energy.

She said lighting alone can account for up to 50 percent of a business’ electric bill. Participating businesses can save an average of $3,150 annually.

To qualify for assistance, businesses must be located in Hawai‘i, Honolulu or Maui counties and must be one of the following:

• A small business on electric utility billing rate Schedule G, or Schedule J with maximum use of 30 kW or below
• A restaurant
• A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
• A multi-tenant affordable housing property with lighting in a common area. (The projects need to be owned by private, nonprofit or government entities, developed with funding or support from federal, state or county resources. This may include elderly housing, public housing or Section 8 voucher approved housing.)

Qualified businesses interested in participating must first select an approved Energy Advantage Contractor. Contractors will provide businesses with a free lighting assessment and help complete the Energy Advantage program application. Once an application has been completed and approved, the selected contractor will schedule and complete the lighting retrofit at no cost.

Since 2011, the Energy Advantage program has helped more than 6,000 customers install lighting upgrades. In total, these upgrades are expected to save roughly $268 million over the lifetime of the equipment installed.

Participating businesses include Fitness Therapy Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i United Chinese Society of Honolulu.

Businesses who have participated in Energy Advantage previously are also eligible to receive a $100 gift card to Target by referring another organization to participate. Each participating business should have received a unique referral code number. For more information on the business referral program, click here.

For more information about Hawai‘i Energy and the Energy Advantage program, visit www.HawaiiEnergy.com/energyadvantage.