HILO — Hawaii Island residents can receive rebates on energy-efficient air purifiers and some air conditioners.
HILO — Hawaii Island residents can receive rebates on energy-efficient air purifiers and some air conditioners.
Brian Kealoha, Hawaii Energy executive director, said the discounts are in response to the increased demand for these appliances due to the Kilauea eruption, which has affected air quality, and the loss of Puna Geothermal Venture as a power source.
“We’re adding more load to the system,” he said, regarding demand for the appliances. “… We understand that’s going to happen. We want to encourage you, if you are purchasing that, to use energy-efficient equipment.”
Rebates are $40 for air purifiers and $50 for window air conditioners with an “Energy Star” label.
Rebate applications are available at participating stores, including all big-box retailers and HPM Building Supply.
Additionally, Hawaii Energy is increasing existing rebates for energy-efficient refrigerators from $150 to $250, split-system air conditioning (under 2 tons) from $150 to $250, and split-system air conditioning (2 to 3 tons) from $250 to $350. Rebates are increasing for central air conditioning tune-ups from $100 to $125.
Kealoha said these additional rebates are only for Hawaii Island residents and will run through the end of June 2019.
Hawaii Energy is a state-run program with the mission of increasing energy efficiency.
For more information, visit https://hawaiienergy.com/rapid-response
#residential-rebates.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Seems like this is once again shows the “Aloha” spirit of our Island “Kealoha said these additional rebates are only for Hawaii Island residents and will run through the end of June 2019.”. You would think they would want to save energy and $$$ for everyone on the Island (comercial, residential and the secondary home market).? EVERYONE benefits from energy savings. Seems like we need to drop the “Locals Only” attitude.
While incentives for buying more energy efficient units is fine with me, I will mention that if you want to buy a purifier, be sure it will remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfate particulates (SO4) from the air. Units that have a HEPA filter for particulates and activated charcoal for the sulfur dioxide are probably what you need to actually mitigate VOG. If you want to really save energy, don’t buy something that doesn’t do what you want it to. Do your homework before buying because home air purifiers weren’t designed with volcanoes in mind.
Ha I would agree…most home units will not remove industrial waste like VOG/SO2/SO4. Wonder if the state has any intention of providing a their testing results for these type of units?
I purchased an energy star air purifier at Costco recently (along with half of Kona residents), I wonder if I can still get the rebate?
It doesn’t look like Costco qualifies. They aren’t on the list of participating retailers. Too bad since everyone I know has already bought them.