Waimānalo Households Enrolled In Hawaiʻi Energy Program to Save Hundreds of Dollars a Year June 6, 2023

Hawaiʻi nonprofit, Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) and it’s Waimānalo-based program, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana, will collaborate with Hawaiʻi Energy and The First Hawaiian Bank Foundation for its second round of upgrading and equipping households with new, energy-saving appliances. Residents who meet the requirements will be able to replace their high-energy-consuming appliances with new ENERGY STAR models, resulting in annual savings of up to $500.

Following the success of its first campaign that ended in April, the Hawaiʻi Energy Waimānalo Appliance Trade-Up program will begin its second campaign for additional residents to trade up their appliances. Hawaiʻi Energy will offer up to 75 refrigerator or freezer exchanges. A grant from The First Hawaiian Bank Foundation for $25,000 will enable PIDF and Hawaiʻi Energy to exchange an additional 50 washers or dryers. The collaborative program and funding will allow residents to trade up their old, energy consuming appliances for only $250, for a total savings of $750 per appliance. 

Hawai‘i has the nation’s highest electricity rates with costs generally around three times more than the national average. An old refrigerator uses about twice as much energy as a new ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator. Energy conservation and efficiency is the easiest and most affordable way for residents to save money on their electric bill.

“The energy usage consumption, especially when you’re retired, and on a fixed income, any way you can save money and learn how to reduce your carbon footprint on our planet is a plus,” said Edward Kaiama, Waimānalo resident and long-time participant of Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana. 

The Waimānalo residents who participated in the Hawaiʻi Energy program are also eligible to join the Energy UNPLUGGED community educational workshop as well as the Energy Smart 4 Homes program, which are free services that will pair residents with trained professionals and educational resources to best equip their homes. Participants in the program will receive products such as energy-efficient LED light bulbs, advanced power strips and more, valued at over $150 and can reduce electricity costs for each household by up to $160 per year. 

“A key focus area for Hawai‘i Energy is to make energy-saving programs and tech more accessible and more affordable to residents and businesses across the state,” said Caroline Carl, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Energy. “Families like those that PIDF serves are often on fixed incomes or have larger households, which means they stand to benefit even more financially than the average resident from having a lower electric bill, and they can direct more of their household income toward other needs.”

Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana is a free, comprehensive family education program in Waimānalo where ʻohana come to learn together. Through its Parent and Child Together (PACT), child education, parent education, and adult education services, Nā Pono serves over 250 ʻohana members a year, most of whom live in Waimānalo.