Safer is Smarter - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
Safer is Smarter - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
Safer is Smarter - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
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I have heard it said that “first impressions are<br />
lasting impressions.” In the case of th<strong>is</strong> month’s<br />
“A Picture’s Worth,” I found th<strong>is</strong> saying to be<br />
pleasantly true.<br />
In the summer of 2006, I had my first<br />
opportunity to v<strong>is</strong>it the Regency at Puakea,<br />
located just across the street from Chiefess<br />
Kamakahelei Middle School, near Puhi.<br />
Th<strong>is</strong> tastefully designed community for retired<br />
and ass<strong>is</strong>ted living residents made a lasting<br />
impression on me.<br />
I had been asked to survey the community to<br />
try to identify energy savings opportunities. I was<br />
impressed by the friendly and capable staff,<br />
pleasant surroundings, amenities, interior décor<br />
and the Regency’s spacious landscaped grounds.<br />
The lobby and other areas were bustling with<br />
planned activities for the residents.<br />
Due to the newness and the quality of the<br />
community—which opened its doors in April of<br />
2004—it was difficult to find energysaving<br />
opportunities. However, when we did, there was<br />
no hesitation by management in proceeding.<br />
By Paul Daniels<br />
A Picture’s Worth...<br />
One recommendation at the Regency involved<br />
converting elevator lighting from incandescent<br />
lighting to energyefficient lightemitting diodes<br />
(LEDs), making the Regency one of the first<br />
communities to use LEDs. Another project<br />
involved adding window tinting to reduce air<br />
conditioning costs. The most recent was the<br />
conversion of the Regency’s parking lot lighting<br />
from less efficient metal halide to highefficiency<br />
induction lighting.<br />
Induction lighting <strong>is</strong> not new, but has evolved<br />
into diverse applications. With its high luminous<br />
output at a fraction of the energy consumption,<br />
th<strong>is</strong> longlasting (100,000 hours) and reasonably<br />
priced technology makes it a definite<br />
consideration when evaluating efficient<br />
lighting needs.<br />
I am happy to share that all of these projects<br />
qualified for ass<strong>is</strong>tance from KIUC’s Energy<br />
W<strong>is</strong>e Program.<br />
We want to extend a big mahalo to General<br />
Manager Adam Ort, left, Facilities Coordinator<br />
Randie Peters and Regency at Puakea for their<br />
continued support of Kaua‘i’s energy goals.<br />
If you have a<br />
business, large or<br />
small, and want to<br />
participate in the<br />
Commercial Energy<br />
W<strong>is</strong>e Program, call<br />
Paul Daniels at<br />
246.8275.<br />
OCTOBER 2010 7