HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0766.015 2008-2010Murashige, Laura
From:
Sent:
To:
Emily Naeole [enaeole @co.hawaii.hi.us]
Monday, April 05, 2010 11 48 AM
counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi us
Subject: FW. Green energy code not green
Diane Neufeld -Heck
P.O. Box 6396, Ocean View, HI 96737
808 939 9454
4/6/2010
SILL 23¢ /COUM.7co
Sent to West Hawaii Today, Hawaii County Council, Hawaii County Building Department, Hawaii
County Planning Department
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From: Diane Neufeld -Heck [mailto:lorendianehi @gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 1:48 PM
To: dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda @co.hawaii.hi.us; jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us;
enaeole @co.hawaii.hi.us; genriques @co.hawaii.hi.us; bford @co.hawaii.hi.us; kgreenwell @co.hawaii.hi.us;
phoffmann @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Green energy code not green
Hugo von Platen Luder in the February 20, 2010 issue of West Hawaii Today had a very sane take on
the new "green energy code" which would force everyone to pay for double pane windows and doors
and I don't know what else. My husband and I do not heat or cool our home except by opening or
closing the windows and doors. In the winter, the sun coming through the single pane windows and
sliding glass doors allows the sun to heat our home. When I built in 1982, in Ocean View at an altitude
of 2,400 ft., I had insulation placed in the walls and roof so that the house would be less reactive to
outdoor temperatures unless I chose to invite the cool or warmth in. Besides forcing us to pay for things
that will impede our use of the free sunlight, we are forced to use resources (the manufacturing of
double pane windows and doors, insulation material when you live at the warmer altitudes) that are not
needed. Instead of a "green energy code" we would be inflicted with a wasteful, green unfriendly code.
In reality, the energy penalty will come when the people who have not insulated, nor installed double
pane glass /doors use heating or cooling by electric or gas means, and have a higher energy cost. Perhaps
there should be a surcharge for larger than average consumption of electricity? Perhaps there already is.
My husband and I live in a less than 1,000 sq. foot home. Our electric bill is around $90 per month and
we use gas at less than $20 per month (We cook with gas and use an on demand gas water heater). We
live on water catchment and rarely order water. We have a protea farm and have water pumping needs
more than just family needs. We are already green.
Let those that use their brains be green friendly and open windows in the heat (or choose to live at
higher elevations where it is normally cooler) or put on more clothes when it is cooler or cold. Those
that choose to use energy resources that have a cost, pay that bill. Please don't interfere with the idea
that the government can think better than we can. How often do we see quick fix ideas by the
government need to be withdrawn after seeing the real consequences.
COMM. No ` f S
Ref. To: G01.u' cI
Ref. Date . APR 0
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I appreciate Emity Naeole- Beason's comments in Sunday, March 28, 2010 West Hawaii Today. We do
not need this one size fits all approach. It seems like ajump on the bandwagon to do something green,
which is not green in Hawaii at all due to our comfortable climate which, in many areas does not require
heating or cooling using fuel based energy. I also appreciate that Hawaii might loose some stimulus
money, but to make a wasteful law to get dollars just isn't right. Many homeowners would be horribly
fined for building components they just do not need.
Thank you.
4/6/2010