HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The City and County of Honolulu unveiled Monday new sustainability and infrastructure upgrades at Ala Wai Golf Course, part of its broader effort to cut energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.
The project includes a new 137-kilowatt solar system installed on the clubhouse carport. Officials say the system will generate more than 229,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, offsetting nearly 70 percent of the clubhouse’s energy use and saving about $40,000 a year.
“These improvements not only protect and extend the building’s life but also expand the safety and comfort of everyone who uses the clubhouse,” said Dean Shimamura, chief of the Facilities Division at the Department of Design and Construction.
Along with the solar installation, the city also invested in LED lighting upgrades inside the clubhouse and parking lot, as well as more than $1 million in roof repairs and other building improvements.
“This 137-kilowatt PV system will generate over 229,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is 67 percent of the usage of this clubhouse,” said Allyn Lee, program administrator of the department’s Mechanical and Electrical Division.
Lee added that the project has been in the works for more than four years, moving from the request for proposals stage to planning meetings and construction.
City officials say the energy savings are the equivalent of taking 32 gas-powered cars off the road each year.
They also noted that golfers now benefit from shaded parking as part of the upgrades.
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