Red Cross America’s Hawaii headquarters has a whole new look and a whole new feel thanks to something on the roof.
Employees and volunteers at the Red Cross headquarters hold their morning meeting in air-conditioned comfort thanks to photovoltaic cells that were part of an overall renovation of the Diamond Head building.
"So we started this renovation in about 2007 or so and then this was part of our contemplation because we wanted to be more energy efficient and so we applied for a federal appropriation - it took a couple years, but we got it in 2009 and we started on this really wonderful journey of trying to be green,” said Coralie Matayoshi of Red Cross Hawaii.
The energy savings for the Red Cross will be tremendous.
"We're talking about 45 percent of our electricity bill. That's about $23,000 a year and over the course of 25 years, it's going to be over half a million dollars. That's a lot of savings,” said Matayoshi.
Other non-profits have installed solar panels on the roofs of their buildings.
The difference here is the Red Cross actually managed to purchase the equipment with the help of a federal grant.
"And then we matched it with corporate and foundation money and so we own the equipment outright and therefore, all the energy it produces is owned by us for free,” said Matayoshi.
"It's a win-win for them. We're so fortunate to have them here and the fact that they were to purchase this system outright again means that they immediately receive those benefits which allows them to free up more money to use it for all the services that they provide Hawaii,” said Eric Carlson of Revolusun.
The savings on the electricity bill means the Red Cross can use more resources to help local residents in need.
And Carlson is optimistic about solar power in the next year.
"More and more businesses and homeowners are looking for solar to relieve some of the pain from that electric bill that we all get every month, so we're really excited for 2012,” said Carlson.
