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Home / Clean Energy / How You Can Help / How You Can Help Channel Page
Clean Energy

How you can help

 

 •  Learn more
 •  Use energy wisely
 •  Take action
 •  Sun Power for Schools
 

Most people in Hawaii share a concern about our dependence on imported fossil fuel - mostly imported oil - and the economic, security and environmental vulnerability it brings. The Hawaiian Electric companies - in partnership with many others - are pursuing environmentally-friendly ways to reduce oil dependence, increase energy security and reduce our global climate change impact. It will take all of us working together.

What can you do to help? Some things are free or take little effort but some need a bigger investment of money or time.  
  

Learn more
 

Hawaiian Electric Company offers a lot of helpful tools.
 

 •  Visit our home page to access My Home Energy Check, the Energy Savings Toolkit, Power to Save booklets and more.
 
 •  Hawaiian Electric offers a Speakers Bureau that will come to your club, organization, church or other gathering to share information about Hawaii’s clean energy future, including renewable energy efforts and energy savings tips. Email hef@heco.com for information.
 
 •  Presentations are also available for schools. Parents and Teachers may be interested in "What’s Up With Renewable Energy Sources", a fun workbook for young people age 12 to 14 (7th to 9th grade). Call 543-7534 for information.
 
 •  Teachers can also access our library of free energy information.  
 

Other Resources


The Hawaii Public Library System has an excellent collection of energy-related books for readers of all ages, as does any bookstore. Many local and national magazines have green editions or tips in every issue. These include Hawaii Home & Remodeling, Green Hawaii and HomeScapes locally and Yes!; Ode; Mother Earth News and Co-op America Quarterly nationally. Many websites offer clean energy tips. A good place to start is the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website. The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism’s Renewable Energy learning site also offers a lot.

Kids may want to start here.
  

Use energy wisely


Without spending much money, you can do many simple things everyday to reduce the demand for electricity. You and your family can save money; it will help the environment; and it will reduce or delay the need to build more electric generation.

Learn more about using energy wisely.

Hawaii Energy offers tips as well as rebates on appliances and other energy efficient equipment.  
  

Take public action


Learn about more ways you can make a difference at Hawaii's Energy Future.

To get involved in a local organization promoting sustainable activities in energy and many other areas, check out Kanu Hawaii, the Sierra Club Hawaii chapter or the Blue Planet Foundation.

A strong national organization is the Natural Resources Defense Council which is one of the most influential and respected environmental organizations in the world.

Learn about returning the earth’s greenhouse gas output to less than 350 parts per million.

Learn more about the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force and sustainability efforts at the University of Hawaii.  
  

Support Sun Power for Schools


The Hawaiian Electric companies' Sun Power for Schools program has enabled over two dozen public high schools and intermediate schools in Hawaii to have a two-kilowatt (2-kW), grid-connected, photovoltaic (PV) electric system or PV outdoor lighting system installed.

In addition to providing a small amount of free energy for these schools, these installations provide the opportunity for students to learn about the production of solar energy.

Adding more schools to the Sun Power for Schools program requires financial support of individuals who become partners with participating schools, the Hawaii Department of Education, and the HECO utilities, which provide financial and in-kind support.

To become a Sun Power for Schools partner, either through a one-time or monthly contribution submitted with your electric bill, download an application form or call the numbers below to have one mailed to you:

HECO: (808) 543-7511
HELCO: (808) 969-0137
MECO: (808) 871-8461

For a list of schools presently part of the program, visit Sun Power for Schools.

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