Discussion Focused on Greening Maui’s Commercial Buildings

The University of Hawai`i Maui College dedicated a 15 kilowatt photovoltaic system in June 2010, that is designed to reduce the college’s energy costs. File photo courtesy UH-Maui College.

By Maui Now Staff

The Sustainable Living Institute of Maui at UH Maui College hosts a pau hana discussion with experts at Green Building Hawaiʻi this Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014.

John Bendon and Alex de Roode are consultants for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or “LEED”–an internationally recognized rating system that evaluates buildings for their wise resource management.

During the discussion, the consultants will describe how to optimize resource efficiency in Hawaiʻi’s commercial buildings.

There will also be an overview of sustainability rating systems to help drive the greening of the environment.

Ratings for the LEED program include certification in Silver, Gold or Platinum.

In 2009, the Montessori School of Maui was the first facility to gain LEED NC certification with a Silver rating in Maui County. This year, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort achieved LEED NC Silver.

Event organizers say less well known, but potentially more beneficial to Maui, is LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance or EBOM. This rating can be achieved by any existing building, given attention and effort.

Green Building Hawaiʻi recently guided the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa and the Maui Economic Development Board through the process of applying for LEED EBOM.   Attention was focused on energy efficiency, water use, waste management, landscape strategies, housekeeping products and habits, and customer engagement.

Thursday’s event begins at 6 p.m., and will take place in Ike Lea, the LEED Silver Science Building on the UHMC campus.

The event is open to the public and no registration is required.