Leeward CC becomes UH’s first net-zero campus

Leeward Community College

Leeward Community College

Kaumakaonalani Medeiros, Leeward CC student

Manuel Diaz, Jr., Leeward CC student

Link to video and sound (details below): https://bit.ly/398Plwa

WHAT: Leeward Community College has flipped the switch on becoming one of the first virtually net-zero energy campuses in the country. 

WHEN: July 1, 2020

HOW: Leeward CC is generating 97 percent of its energy through on-site photovoltaic (PV) systems, including solar shade canopies and distributed energy storage and has reduced consumption through various energy efficiency measures.

WHY: The University of Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Legislature established a collective goal for the university system to be “net-zero” by January 1, 2035, meaning the system would produce as much renewable energy as it consumes across its campuses. 

WHO: The net-zero project at Leeward CC is a partnership between UH, Johnson Controls and Hawaiian Electric Industries subsidiary Pacific Current.

OTHER FACTS:

• The 3,579 PV modules installed on the campus are capable of generating 1.678 MW of power annually, enough to power 230 homes, and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions equal to 4,642 barrels of oil a year. 

• Leeward CC’s energy efficiency efforts are guaranteed to save $269,000 in energy and operational costs the first year and $8.4 million throughout the project’s 20-year performance period.

• Under UH’s partnership with Johnson Controls and Pacific Current, four other campuses–UH Maui College, Honolulu Community College, Kapi‘olani Community College and Windward Community College–will soon be generating their own renewable energy to cover 70 to 98 percent of their campus’ energy needs. 

VIDEO: (TRT:1:48)

BROLL:

:00-:55  Shots of Leeward CC campus and PV panels

:56-1:09  Shots of UH Maui College

1:10-1:22  Leeward CC, Honolulu CC, Kapi‘olani CC and Windward CC 

SOUND:

Kaumakaonalani Medeiros, Leeward CC student (:08)

“We do care about using our natural resources and using less of what we need to.”

Manuel Diaz, Jr., Leeward CC student (:14)

“Sustainability is work. It’s not something that comes easy and it’s not something that should be looked at as like a hard work. It should be looked at as something that needs effort. So that means going back to everyone having their kuleana.”