Hawaiian heat
Today, the island's people are still using the sun's energy in their daily tasks. In 1996, Maui Electric Company (MECO) and its sister companies (Hawaiian Electric on the island of Oahu, and Hawaii Electric Light on the island of Hawaii), implemented energy efficiency programs, including the largest solar water heating program in the US. The goal of these energy efficiency programs is to defer the need to build new power plants. With the expiration in 1985 of the Federal and State of Hawaii Energy Tax credits, the solar water heating industry in Hawaii went into a steady decline. During the industry's heyday in the early and mid-80's, approximately 5,000 solar system were being installed each year. Prior to the utilities' promotion of solar water heating in 1996, the number of solar water heaters installed dropped significantly to an average of about 1,200 systems per year. However, in the three years since the inception of the solar water heating program, Maui Electric and its sister companies have installed 10,000 solar water heating systems and have paid out over $10 million in cash incentives to island residents to install solar water heating systems. The utility support of the solar trade industry has also created nearly 400 jobs and generated about $14.9 million of investments within the state. The story behind these statistics is equally impressive.
- Research Organization:
- Maui Electric Co., Ltd., Kahului, HI (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20080317
- Journal Information:
- Solar Today, Vol. 14, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: May-Jun 2000; ISSN 1042-0630
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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