Ka Pili Kai Summer 2012 - Sea Grant College Program

Back to TOCState-of-the-Art Renewable Energy Projectat the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine BiologyAstate-of-the-art photovoltaic(solar) energy project isslated to begin providingrenewable energy to the Hawai‘iInstitute of Marine Biology (theInstitute) on Moku o Lo‘e, alsoknown as Coconut Island, as earlyas this fall. The approximately260 DC kW system, which will bebuilt, installed, and maintained bySolarCity Corporation (SolarCity),will initially provide about 25percent of the Institute’s energydemand and offset energy generatedby burning oil (still the number onesource of electricity in the HawaiianIslands). By entering into a powerpurchase agreement (PPA) withSolarCity, the university will lock ina set purchase price for the energygenerated by the new system over20 years and SolarCity will build,maintain, and own the system,which will reside on the Institute'srooftops. The system is expected tosave the Institute up to $2.3 millionin electricity costs over the 20-yearcontract.By Mary J. Donohue, UH Sea Grant Program Specialistprovide both expertise and fundingto the university in assessing andselecting a PPA provider andnegotiating the PPA contract.“Given our mutual commitment toachieving a sustainable Hawai‘i, UHSea Grant is delighted to have beenthe instrument by which the visionof the CSF trustees was executed”explains Professor E. Gordon Grau,UH Sea Grant director. While PPAsare common instruments to achieverenewable energy for residential,commercial, and governmentbuildings on the mainland, theyare not yet widespread in Hawai‘i,so it was important to get this one,the first for the university, donewell. Stephen Meder, InterimAssistant Vice Chancellor forPhysical, Environmental and LongRange Planning at the Universityof Hawai‘i at Mänoa and directorof the UH Sea Grant Center forSmart Building and CommunityDesign, states, “It is the missionof this university, through itsteaching, research, outreach,and operations of its facilities todevelop and demonstrate solutionsfor the looming issues of the 21stcentury. Large among those issuesare renewable energy productionand environmental protection.with research aimed at protectingand preserving marine resourcesand ecosystems is a holistic steptowards moving Coconut Islandspecifically, and the HawaiianIslands by extension, toward asustainable future.”Power purchase agreements forrenewable energy systems allowthose who would like to benefitfrom solar energy, but who donot have the funds or do not wishto invest in a system outright, toessentially rent out their rooftops torenewable energy companies and“buy back” the energy producedfrom the systems installed ontheir own buildings. Renewableenergy companies, with extensivein-house expertise and access tocapital investment, design, install,“It is the mission of this university, throughits teaching, research, outreach, andoperations of its facilities to developand demonstrate solutions for thelooming issues of the 21st century.”View of the Pelagic Fisheries Laboratory at the Institute. Research laboratories are among the mostenergy and water intensive buildings to operate on any university campus and these challenges areintensified in the sensitive environmental locations in which most marine laboratories are sited.Ultimately, the goal for the Institute is to be energy and water independent and waste-zero; anambitious but worthwhile goal that will serve as a model for other university buildings.View of the National Science Foundation Laboratoryat the Institute. Photovoltaic panels will be placedon existing rooftops, generating renewable energyexpected to provide between 25 and 50 percent of theInstitute’s energy needs.run, and maintain the systemsover a set contract period, often20 years. The Institute will buy allof the energy produced on theirrooftops by the SolarCity system ata set price per kWh, significantlybelow the current market pricefor traditional (petroleum-based)electricity production. Knowingwith certainty the price for thisenergy over the 20-year agreementallows the Institute to budget andplan with confidence, regardlessof fluctuations in future oil andelectricity costs. SolarCity is alsoable to invest in the system withconfidence, knowing they havea buyer for the energy producedfor at least 20 years. At the end ofthe 20-year contract period, theuniversity may elect to purchasethe system ownership outright,remove the system, or continue thePPA arrangement with SolarCity.Marine institutes and theirassociated laboratories are theheart of our nation’s coastal andmarine research, conservation,The University of Hawai‘i Sea GrantCollege Program (UH Sea Grant)partnered with the former Centerand management efforts but are6 Ka Pili Kai for a Sustainable Future (CSF) to Coupling renewable energy sources13 Ka 7 Ka Pili Pili Kai Kai

of the National Association ofMarine Laboratories.Back to TOCAerial view of Moku o Lo‘e and the Institute looking toward Käne‘ohe town. Researchers working atthe Institute access their offices and laboratories by small boat, no bridge connects Moku o Lo‘e to theneighboring O‘ahu shoreline.“Already, the Institute’s PPA process hasserved as a template for additional PPAplans at the university’s flagship Mänoacampus on O‘ahu.”The Institute’s research investigatestropical marine science such ascoral ecology, biogeochemistry,and evolutionary genetics. Inaddition, the Institute’s facultyare recognized authorities incoral biology and ecology,marine diseases, endocrinology,microbial organisms, and sensorysystems of marine mammals andelasmobranchs (cartilaginousfishes such as sharks and rays).These researchers exemplify thelife of every child who dreamsof being a marine biologist: theyarrive to work by small boat, nobridge connects Moku o Lo‘e tothe larger island of O‘ahu a fewhundred yards away. The setting ofthe Institute’s labs, classrooms, andoffices, while idyllic, nonethelesscreates challenges due to thecorrosive salt-water environment,remote location, and susceptibilityto hazards such as hurricanes andtsunamis. As such, the Institute andits island home are a microcosmof the state of Hawai‘i andlessons learned here can serve asa model for other buildings at theuniversity, on the island of O‘ahuA sweeping vista of O‘ahu's Ko‘olau mountains as seen from Käne‘ohe Bay.“The PPA solar energy project is oneelement of a larger mission to achieveenergy, water, and waste net-zerooperations at the Institute.”becoming increasingly aware oftheir impacts on the very resourcesthey aim to study. Commonlylocated on the shorelines ofcoastal communities, marine labsare turning the “microscopes”upon themselves, evaluatingtheir operations’ impact on theenvironment with regard to theenergy and water they consume anddesignated by the State of Hawai‘ias the Hawai‘i Marine LaboratoryRefuge. “With the photovoltaicinstallation, we want to demonstrateto other marine laboratories that wecan reduce energy costs and stillconduct cutting-edge research at thewater’s edge,” says Jo-Ann Leong,director of the Institute and presidentand throughout the state. Already, the Institute’s PPA process hasserved as a template for additional PPA plans at the university’sflagship Mänoa campus on O‘ahu. According to KathleenCutshaw, Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance, andOperations at the Mänoa campus, “The value of this PPAextends well beyond the shores of Coconut Island; it reallyserves as a demonstration model for the rest of the universityand the state of Hawai‘i in using our precious resourceswisely to do the right thing for the environment.”the waste they produce. Scientific Sixty-four acres of coral reef surrounding Moku o Lo‘e are designated by the State of Hawai‘i as theThe PPA solar energy project is one element of a largerHawai‘i Marine Laboratory Refuge. These reefs offer ample opportunities for the study of coral reeflaboratories are among the most ecosystems, climate change, and other topics but also highlight the sensitive environment in which themission to achieve energy, water, and waste net-zeroenergy and water intensive buildings Institute is sited. The shoreline of Käne‘ohe is seen in the distance.operations at the Institute. Such achievements wouldto operate on any universitycampus, and these challenges areamplified for marine laboratoriesin environmentally sensitivelocations. Perhaps nowhere is thismore apparent than 29-acre Mokuo Lo‘e (the early filming locationfor the vintage television series“Gilligan’s Island” before the show’sproduction shifted to California)in Käne‘ohe Bay just offshore theHawaiian Island of O‘ahu. Moku oLo‘e, the Institute’s island home, issurrounded by 64 acres of coral reefrealize the vision of Stephen and Marylyn Pauley andthe Edwin W. Pauley Foundation, whose gift of theisland of Moku o Lo‘e and its laboratory buildings tothe university for use as a world-class marine scienceinstitute remains one of the largest philanthropicacts in the university’s history. Future plans includea water catchment system to harvest rainwaterfor some of the Institute’s water needs, such aslandscape irrigation; increasing the energy andwater efficiency of buildings on the island,and; additional energy, water, and resourceconservation practices by the scientistsand staff talented and lucky enough towork on this small tropic isle.8 Ka Pili Kai 9 Ka Pili Kai

Whole BuildingSimulationsCourseat the University ofHawai‘i School ofArchitectureBy Manfred Zapka, AdjunctProfessor, School ofArchitecture, Universityof Hawai‘i at Mänoaand Eileen Peppard,Sustainability Specialist,UH Sea Grant Centerfor Smart Building andCommunity Design,University of Hawai‘iat MänoaChristopher Strahle presenting his course project.The process of designing low energy consumingbuildings has entered a new realm with theemergence of high performance buildingmodeling and simulation software tools. It has left behindthe conventional computer-aided design (CAD) process,where ink and paper has been replaced by electronic“lines” for more productive drafting. The new design processincorporates three dimensional (3D) modeling where thebuilding structure and components are defined geometrically andassigned attributes, such as material type, heat transfer properties,per unit energy consumption, or other parameters.The performance of buildings, in terms of overall energyconsumption, heat losses or gains, or air movement is an importantaspect as we move toward sustainable buildings. Using whole buildingsimulation software, the designer can now predict fairly accurately whata suitable building design is and how design alternatives compare to eachother in regard to life cycle costs.Under a job training grant from Oahu Worklinks, instructors at the School ofArchitecture’s Environmental Research and Design Lab (ERDL) organized acourse for senior students and professionals from the industry to use buildingsimulation software for design and optimization. The 15-week course taughtfundamentals of building science, which are crucial for the understanding ofhigh performance buildings, as well as application of DesignBuilder, a simulationsoftware. This software is a powerful integrated building, 3D-modeling andsimulation tool which has several modules to simulate different aspects of buildingperformance. This enables a fast and effective analysis of different building designvariations.The course brought together 20 students. Fifteen took the class in the regular classroomsetting and five students joined online from the mainland. Students in the classroom joinedthose participating online to give presentations or raise questions related to class presentations.This “hybrid” virtual classroom resulted in a very successful integration of all students.As part of the class assignments, studentsworked on projects which includedenergy simulations and optimization ofbuildings, assessment of energy savingsthrough various daylighting strategies,and the assessment of wind drivenventilation in buildings, thus avoidingenergy wasting fans and heating,ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.Christopher Strahle, University ofHawai‘i at Mänoa (UH Mänoa) graduate,applied this technology to his doctorateof architecture dissertation project. Hesaid, “I used what I learned in this classto finish my project and graduate on timein May.”Upon completing the course, fivestudents were selected to work parttimeat either a local architecture firmor for the UH Mänoa campus planningoffice and apply their simulation skills tonew designs and building retrofits. Thisinternship is intended to not only allowstudents the opportunity to hone theirskills, but to also educate the firms onthe value of this technology.The course instructors were ManfredZapka, an engineer and UH Mänoa adjunctprofessor, Kim Suman Claucherty, an engineerand architect, and George Somers Reid, a UHMänoa teaching assistant. The strategy to trainstudents and increase the technical capacity atthe University of Hawai‘i and to apply these skills toresearch projects as well as to projects for the UHMänoa campus is being developed by StephenMeder, Eileen Peppard, and colleagues at theHawai‘i Natural Energy Institute, James Maskreyand James Griffin.Stephen Meder is the director of the UH SeaGrant Center for Smart Building and CommunityDesign, director of the UH School of Architecture'sEnvironmental Research and Design Lab, andinterim assistant vice chancellor for physical,environmental and long range planning.2012 Student Employeeof the Year Team AwardThe students working in the EnvironmentalResearch and Design Lab (ERDL) wererecognized with the 2012 University ofHawai‘i at Mänoa Student Employee of the Year(SEOTY) team award. Uniquely interdisciplinaryand internationally diverse, the ERDL teamcollectively and individually acts on a higher missionto positively affect the built environment andcontribute to meaningful change and sustainabledesign. Moreover, this work has afforded the teamvaluable educational experience in preparation forinside the classroom and outside in professionaldevelopment.ERDL student employees and support staff include:Kim Jordan Cayanan, Eric Dela Cruz, Joseph Furutani,Sanphawat Jatupatwarangkul, Ajala Kenyatta, CarlosLopez, Ria Lyn Mitchell, Troy Okimoto, Filipe Palma,George Somers Reid, Ren Shiroma, Daniel Simonich,Eric Siwy, John Paolo Soriano, Christopher Strahle,Micah Thrasher, Tuan Tran, Dayna Vierra, Lori Walker,Lindsay Wong, Deirdre Zoder.Eileen Peppard is a sustainability specialist withthe UH Sea Grant Center for Smart Building and10 Ka Pili KaiCommunity Design.11 Ka Pili KaiBack to TOC

University of Hawai‘i Sea G r a n t College Program Alumni©hawaii.govAn Interview withBrian SchatzBy Cindy Knapman,UH Sea Grant Communications LeaderDuring his long and successful career, Brian Schatz has heldmany different positions, but they have all had one thingin common–he has been a passionate and dedicated publicservant and has worked tirelessly for the people of Hawai‘i.From his very early years as a program assistant with theUniversity of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (UH SeaGrant), to his role as CEO of Helping Hands Hawai‘i, andnow to his current position as Lieutenant Governor of theState of Hawai‘i, his focus on improving the communitiesthroughout the state has never wavered. Recently, I had anopportunity to sit down with the lieutenant governor andreflect on his early years with UH Sea Grant, and talk abouthow his start as an environmental educator sparked a lifelongcareer as an educator, community activist, and politician.Question: How did you become affiliated with UH SeaGrant all those years ago?Answer: I was a junior in college and wanted to doenvironmental work during the summer, and had met BruceMiller through some environmental advocacy work that Ihad done in high school, so I asked him if Sea Grant had anyopenings. I ended up working at the Mariculture and TrainingCenter and caught the bus every day to Kahalu‘u, and my jobwas to feed the fish and cut the hau tree back. Eventually he(Bruce Miller) moved me back to the UH Sea Grant offices andwe worked together on some public awareness campaigns, andeventually on the 25th anniversary of Earth Day.UH Sea Grant really was the organization that enabled meto work in Hawai‘i on my area of passion, and with BruceMiller’s support in particular, we started the non-profitorganization called Youth for Environmental Service to getkids involved in community service for the environment. It wasSea Grant that made it happen and provided the infrastructureand the support and the institutional credibility to allowus to make it happen. I was tremendously grateful for theopportunity and I can see Sea Grant’s work in communitybuilding continuing. It has evolved–the portfolio has changedbut the mission has not changed.Question: Was your passion at that time getting youthinvolved in environmental issues?Answer: At the time it was. My concern was that there wereso many young people that wanted to make a difference, andthey had no idea how, and yet there were organizations thatneeded help but did not know how to find the help. It was arelatively straightforward proposition to connect people thatwanted to help to the organizations that needed the help. It wasa little unusual from Sea Grant’s more traditional portfolio,because we had dozens and eventually hundreds of kids outin the natural environment cutting weeds, planting trees, andrepairing hiking trails. There was a bit of an adjustment periodin terms of figuring out programmatically where this enterprisefit under Sea Grant. What eventually happened was moreentrepreneurial than some were accustomed to, at least at thattime in the university system, yet it was entirely consistent withSea Grant’s approach overall.Question: When did you first become involved with SeaGrant?Answer: My first interaction with Sea Grant was in 1988,and continued to 1997.Question: Do you have any special memories of that time?Answer: I have a lot of strong friendships from thattime, especially Bruce Miller, and it was an interestingthing – although I ended up running a program that hadsome success, the thing that comes to mind when I thinkof Sea Grant is working on the fish farm. Feeding the fish,helping with harvesting, and cutting weeds–those are myfondest memories, along with catching the bus back from theWindward side totally exhausted and dirty.Question: Were you living in town at the time?Answer: Yes, I took the #1 bus to downtown and the circleisland bus to the fish farm. I was on the bus for hours each day,but it was tremendously satisfying coming home from workphysically tired.Question: Since you were involved with youth at the time,you probably gave the students similar positive memoriesof working on hands-on activities and directly in the naturalenvironment.Answer: I continue to be a believer in hands-on activitiesas a way to ground what we do. Sometimes for environmentaleducators we like to make it more complicated than it is–itcomes down to getting the kids fingernails dirty. Once they getout into the natural environment, once they make that personalconnection, their advocacy, their organizing, their academicendeavors flows from a passion. You cannot talk someone intocaring about the natural environment, they have to feel it intheir gut.Question: You have always been involved and interestedin community activities and involved in community service–did Sea Grant spark your interest in getting into politics andcommunity service?Answer: Not a direct one, that’s for sure, but as I progressedwithin the organization Sea Grant gave me an understandingof how government works, and how the actions of thelegislature can impact communities and agencies far and wide.It was the first moment where my attention was called to theactions of elected officials, so on that level it led me to politics,but that was not the plan.Question: I know you have stayed involved with Sea Grantover the years as a member of our advisory panel, so is thereany aspect of Sea Grant’s work that is of particular interest toyou?Answer: I am particularly excited about how Sea Grant hasevolved into being an agency that develops best practicesaround planning communities, because I think that is socritically important, and where we have some real gapsin terms of policy making and best practices. In Hawai‘i,perhaps even more so than any other place, we really needto think carefully about and take a methodical scientificapproach to what is the best way to physically configure ourcommunities so they are sustainable and prosperous. SeaGrant has also done a good job of taking that informationand integrating it into the real world. It is set up to servethe community and not be a purely academic institution anddo pure research. The state government continues to utilizetheir expertise in making sure that we plan our communitiesproperly, and that adds a tremendous amount of value.Question: Is there anything else that stands out for you?Answer: One final thought is that Sea Grant is a perfectexample of government working properly. It does not receivea tremendous amount of money from the government, butthe value that it provides to the broader community isextraordinary. It is very lean and mission driven andvery focused on solving real world problems. I amproud to have been an employee of Sea Grant.Youth for Environmental Service (YES) honorees at the 1998 Governor's Kilohana Awards for Outstanding Volunteerism. Left: Lt. Gov. MazieHirono, YES founder Brian Schatz, YES coordinator Sean Casey, and YES boardmember Woody Milks. Middle: Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, BrianSchatz, Vicky Cayetano, Sean Casey, and Woodie Milks. Right: Vicky Cayetano and Brian Schatz.Back to TOC12 Ka Pili Kai 13 Ka Pili Kai

Maui A-Listed for AdvancedEnergy Distribution PilotBy Christian Damo, UH Manoa ˉ electrical engineering student and employee of theUH School of Architecture and the Center for Smart Building and Community DesignThe typical American is accustomed to terms preceded by theword “smart.” Smart phones, smart cars, and smart televisionsare devices that “think” on their own, whether it be fetchingthe menu of the nearest restaurant, redirecting energy from the brakesto the battery, or suggesting what television shows you might want tosee. We, as a technologically advanced culture, have now applied thisto our infrastructure in hopes that we can implement the same ideasand concepts.The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the “Maui Smart GridProject” under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(ARRA) as part of a nationwide set of demonstration projects. MauiMeadows in South Kihei was selected to be the site for evaluatinghome-based smart grid technologies. The smart grid, often calledthe energy internet, is a system of interconnected technologies thatenable two-way communications between different parts of theelectric power system, from generation through to the meter andappliances that consume electricity. The smart grid allows for greaterinsight and predictability about energy supply and demand andallows for greater integration of renewable energy sources, such assolar and wind power.Led by Maui Electric Company (MECO) andthe Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI)at the University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa, theMaui Smart Grid Project has enrolled over110 volunteer residential participants. Theequipment is in the process of being installedthis year. All participants will receive smartmeters and access to a secure website displayingthe home’s energy consumption information.The smart meters record home energy usage at15 minute intervals, detect and alert the utilityto power outages and power quality problems,and can communicate with other smart devicesinstalled inside the home. The meters allowtwo-way communication between the homeand the electric utility’s facilities via a wirelessnetwork. For qualified participants, the projectis also providing real time energy use displays,photovoltaic system monitoring devices, anddemand response equipment. The team willbe testing how these technologies can helpparticipants manage energy use, reduce energydemand during periods of high demand, andbetter utilize renewable energy on Maui.The project will collect data for at least a yearand submit a report to the Department of Energyevaluating the technologies based on what islearned from the Maui Smart Grid Project.This report will also be shared with projectparticipants. Project results will be comparedwith other demonstration projects throughout theU.S. and be used for decision-making onfuture smart grid initiatives in Hawai‘iand across the nation.Selected UH Sea GrantPublications2011 EnvironmentalProduct GuideBy Stephen Meder, Eileen Peppard, JoannaGriffith, Laurel Swan, and Samia SilveiraE Mälama I Nä ‘ÄinaKumu Wai O MaunaluaA Watershed Handbook for theResidents of MaunaluaBy Jolie R. WangerHomeowner’sHandbook to Preparefor Natural Hazards- Second EditionBy Dennis J. Hwang and Darren K. OkimotoBack to TOCEnergy Sustainabilityin the Pacific Basin:Case History of the State ofHawai‘i and the Island of O‘ahuas an ExampleBy Michael W. Guidry and Fred T. MackenzieA graphical breakdown of the “Maui Smart Grid Project” and how the variety ofdevices will interact with one another. On the left are devices that will be implementedfor the project outside of the house. On the right, within the house silhouette, aredevices shown that will be found in the houses of those volunteering for the project.For more information please visit MauiSmartGrid.com.Adam Oberbeck and Christian Damoare UH Mänoa engineering studentssupervised by Eileen Peppard, asustainability specialist with the UH SeaGrant Center for Smart Building andCommunity Design. They are taskedwith inputting the Maui smart griddata into a database to begin the initialanalysis. The Maui Smart Grid Projectis being managed by James Griffin, anenergy specialist at the Hawai‘i NaturalEnergy Institute.Hawai‘i CoastalHazard MitigationGuidebookBy Dennis J. HwangFor more information, please visit our website:http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu14 Ka Pili Kai 15 Ka Pili Kai

Read Ka Pili Kai online at: http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/publications/Ka Pili KaiBack to TOCKa Pili Kai (ISSN 1550-641X)University of Hawai‘iSea Grant College Program2525 Correa Road, HIG 208Honolulu, HI 96822Subscription/publication request (also available online )Publication title/ ID numberE-mailYour AddressNa mea like ‘oleIf you have ever wondered what building supplies are the mostenvironmentally friendly, or what office products you should purchase thatare recyclable, biodegradable, non-toxic, etc., be sure to download your freecopy of the 2011 Environmental Product Guide for Hawai‘i! This invaluableguidebook identifies and promotes ecofriendly products available in Hawai‘i,and also includes a listing of local businesses to help you easily locate theseproducts throughout the state.To download this free guidebook or learn more about other UH Sea Grantpublications please visit: http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/publicationshttp://seagrant.soest.hawaii.eduRecycledPaper16 Ka Pili KaiKa Pili Kai is printed on recycled paper with soy based inks