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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1277.006 2006-2008 Esc Murashige, Laura From: Jessica Woodbury Uessica_salerno@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 8:44 AM To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us; petehoffmann@hawaii.rr.com; jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda@co.hawaii.hi.us; shiga@co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us; jjaco@co.hawaii.hi.us; bford@co.hawaii.hi.us; kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Sustainability Department Attachments: Bill 314 testimony Salerno.pdf r~ d a d Bill 314 testimony Salerno. pd... ~J Council, Please find attached my testimony supporting the formation of a Sustain4ilit§J~eptiFtment. w Sincerely, Jessica Salerno 65-1170 Spencer Rd. Kamuela Hawaii 96743 The I'm Talkathon starts 6/24/08. For now, give amongst yourselves. http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_LearnMore_GiveAmongst Comm. No.-/ 2,77. to Ref. To: ftn". F&SCO 1 Ref. Date JUN 1 TIM- June 17, 2008 Hawaii County Council C/o Casey Jarman, County Clerk Ben Franklin Tower 333 KTlauea Avenue Hilo, HI 96720. Re: Bill 314 Council members: We are decades behind our counterparts with regards to sustainability and building energy performance. Our current building code is the oldest actively adopted building code in the country, and we have no energy code associated with it. Unlike the rest of our country, Hawaii county is blessed with a true abundance of renewable energy. With our isolated geography and current dependence on fossil fuel, we are ignoring the potential revenues available by incorporating alternative energy and sustainable practices into our community. City and county government all across america are LEEDing the way with sustainable design by incorporating incredibly energy efficient buildings. They are retrofitting existing facilities and making a difference. Their sustainabil- ity programs reduce the overall cost to operate their buildings annually resulting in more revenues available for capital improvement projects. Their facilities are cheaper to insure, more cost effective to maintain, and less harmful to the environment. These efforts are making head- lines across the globe. Are we really going to be dead last again, when will we realize the importance of a Sustainability Department? When we can no longer afford basic govt. Services due to high fuel costs, when our oceans and streams are too polluted to sustain life, when our populations have dwindled because of the high cost of energy and fuel? When we realize the importance of a Sustainability Depart- ment?As a taxpayer constituent, I would like to see a Sustainability Department now. I urge all of you to approve Bill 314. The future of our community may very well depend upon it. Sincerely yours, Jessica Salerno, Taxpayer constituent 65-1170 Spencer Rd. Kamuela Hawaii