Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation Office
The Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation is a 4,285 sf office in a commercial building listed on the National Historic Register in Downtown Honolulu. Spaces that were improved included offices, convertible conference room, lobby and reception area, and kitchen and bath facilities. This tenant improvement project was certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest level of certification possible. The scope of the project involved incorporating the Client’s mission of environmental stewardship, bringing much needed light into the space, maintaining sensitivity to the historical significance of the structure, and coordination of multiple jurisdictional authorities.
We made a concerted effort to make the most of this leased tenant space. Significant efforts went into improving existing glazing, HVAC, daylighting, electric lighting and equipment, and water fixtures.
Through the strategies defined below, the facility can expect to save about 18,500 kWh per year of electricity. The estimated annual energy cost savings is $3,700. Over a conservative lifespan of 20 years, the total utility savings adds up to $75,000 based on a continuous rate at today’s energy prices. Actual savings will far surpass this estimate based on rising rates associated with energy.
How LEED Platinum Certification was achieved
Optimize Energy Performance: Air Conditioning
Air conditioning system energy usage is reduced by 29% from the existing case. Energy savings are achieved through a window retrofit, and A/C occupancy sensors. Windows with a U factor of 0.29 and a SHGC factor of 0.36 to replace the existing clear glass.
Occupancy thermal comfort has been improved through precise thermal design analysis, thermal comfort controllability, and increased ventilation. The existing constant air volume A/C system has been maintained & retrofitted to a variable air volume with a bypass system. Each diffuser is equipped with a temperature adjustment that allows occupants to set varied temperatures in each space. Ceiling fans were also provided at the second floor to help the air movement and improve thermal comfort while reducing duct lineal footage requirements.
Improvements in the indoor air quality will substantially increase employee productivity, health, and well-being. Improvements such as these have been proven to reduce the number of sick days taken, and lower the number of complaints about indoor quality, reducing the cost of building maintenance.
29%
Reduction in Consumption
219,000
kWh of Electricity Saved
$2,035
Annual Savings
$40,700
Savings over 20 years
Optimize Energy Performance: Lighting Power
By achieving a more than 55% reduction in hard wired lighting power, this project conserves energy over the life-cycle of the space. Savings were achieved through high efficiency lighting fixtures, daylighting controls, and occupancy controls which maximized daylight to create a well lit space. The design adds quality and aesthetic lighting levels that enhance the work environment and employee production. Lighting controllability equates to energy conservation and lower utility bills for building owners. In this project, interior light fixtures are automatically controlled by occupancy and daylight sensors which turn lights off during non-occupied hours and times of adequate daylight.
55%
Reduction in Consumption
148,000
kWh of Electricity Saved
$1,375
Annual Savings
$27,500
Savings over 20 years
Optimize Energy Performance: Appliances
The development of a Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation policy acquiring Energy Star appliances wherever possible along with the specification of Energy Star equipment wherever possible, has allowed the Foundation to realize 36% savings beyond the typical baseline energy consumption of the space when not specifying Energy Star Equipment. This specification has realized an estimated energy savings of $258 per year
36%
Reduction in Consumption
28,000
kWh of Electricity Saved
$258
Annual Savings
$5,160
Savings over 20 years
Water Use Reduction
Potable water use is reduced by 43% from a baseline design through fixtures such as low flow toilets, ultra-low flow lavatory faucets, a low flow kitchen faucet, and a low flow shower. The additional cost for low flow plumbing fixtures over the standard was approximately $650 for this project. The estimated annual savings is about $110, for a simple pay back of 6.0 years.
43%
Reduction in Consumption
180,000
Gallons of Water Saved
$111
Annual Savings
$2,220
Savings over 20 years
Ma Ka Hana Ka 'Ike
A construction skills training program for at-risk youth in Hana, Maui was brought in to work on the reception desk cladding. The program had several sources of downed and discarded tree limbs that they were able to recycle into a work of mosaic art, using scraps of small wood gathered from the East Maui region. In this way, the project taught program youth about the recovery of regional materials and how to use them to showcase green building practices.
Cork Flooring
Cork flooring was selected for its ability to be rapidly grown and developed into its final product reducing overall impact on the environment. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood was specified throughout the space to ensure the harvested wood came from responsibly-grown forests.
Furniture
Furniture selected for the space attained Green Guard Certification, which is held for items that promote indoor air quality of the space. In many cases, they were crafted out of responsible materials including FSC wood, high levels of recycled materials, and material for re-use and repurposing.