The Honolulu City Council has recently approved two separate yet interconnected pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing energy efficiency in new construction dwellings and reducing solid waste on Oahu through the reuse of old construction materials.
To promote environmentally-friendly building practices, the Council unanimously passed Bill 4, which aligns the city’s Building Energy Conservation Code with the 2020 updates in the Hawaii State Energy Code. This bill is designed to decrease energy costs, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the energy resilience of new constructions in response to climate change. It also lays the foundation for the integration of solar and electric vehicle technologies in new buildings.
Under the new legislation, all newly constructed residential multi-unit and commercial buildings must provide electric vehicle chargers for the newly created parking stalls. Additionally, residential multi-use buildings with eight or more new parking stalls and commercial buildings with 12 or more new stalls must have electric vehicle chargers available for at least 25% of those stalls. However, there are exceptions for affordable housing units, which are only required to provide a lower percentage of electric vehicle chargers or none at all, depending on whether they are for sale or rent.
Furthermore, the updated building codes now mandate that new homes include plans for solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment. Single-family detached dwellings, two-family detached dwellings, and duplexes must install an electrical panel with reserved space for a minimum of a five Kilowatt (AC) PV system. New multifamily dwellings must also include an electrical panel with reserved space for future PV installation, clearly labeled as solar PV ready.
Council member Matt Weyer, the chair of the Housing, Sustainability, and Health Committee, commended the passage of Bill 4, emphasizing the Council’s dedication to creating a resilient and sustainable Honolulu that aligns with Hawaii’s net-zero energy goals for 2050. He acknowledged the delicate balance between sustainability and housing affordability, which has been carefully considered in the development of the bill.
During the same meeting, the Council also adopted Resolution 168 with an 8-0 vote. This resolution urges the city administration to establish a pilot project for a reusable material collection site at the Kapaa Quarry Transfer Station. This initiative, proposed by Re-use Hawai’i, aims to collect recovered construction materials and household items from the transfer station and redistribute them to the nonprofit’s Kakaako location. The project offers various community benefits, including tax reductions for donors, affordable shopping for recovered materials, reducing strain on the waste management system, and promoting a circular economy that reduces the demand for newly produced materials.
Council Chair Tommy Waters expressed his pride in supporting Resolution 168, highlighting the allocation of $90,000 for the project as a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact and fostering a sustainable community. He emphasized the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship, community engagement, and economic growth.
Quinn Vittum, the executive director of Re-use Hawai’i, also expressed support for the project, recognizing the effectiveness of diverting materials from transfer stations in waste reduction and the development of a circular economy.
By adopting these legislations, the Honolulu City Council is taking proactive measures to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and waste reduction in the construction sector, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future for Honolulu.
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