HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0766.012 2008-2010Yoshimoto, J
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Lullo
73 -1399 Ili Ili Place,
Kailua -Kona, HI 96740
808 - 345 -4766
3/30/2010
3rL 224 /coMM.
Page 1 of 1
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From: Tom Lullo [tlullo @hawaii.rr.com] on — 0 jj
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Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 8:58 AM ?-4C rn
To: jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Energy Conservation Code MO 3 fT
Dear Councilman Yoshimoto, f f -.,
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My wife and I as full time residents of the Big Island, are attempting to build a new home that was intended to
make extensive use of Jalousie windows in order to capture the daily mauka makai breezes. Our design did not
include HVAC of any type. Unfortunately, when we learned about Ordinance 09 -48 our plans suddenly
changed. In addition to significantly increasing our construction costs through excessive insulation and thicker
exterior walls, the Ordinance will force us to install windows which are more costly and which severely restrict
air flow as compared to jalousie windows. As a result, we now need to install air conditioning. I don't believe
that the council understood that its action in 2009 would have the result of increasing energy usage for us and
for a large number of other island people.
I am a retired businessman, not an engineer, but I have studied the 2006 IECC as well as the Council's adoption
of it in Ordinance 09 -48. I am convinced that the Climate Zone 1 requirements in total are inappropriate for the
tropical climate of the Big Island. They may be relevant to the southern tip of Florida, which is also in Climate
Zone 1, but not to Hawaii County.
The most egregious specific error made by the council in passing Ordinance 09 -48, in my opinion, is the Council's
decision to delete the exception that is provided in the 2006 IECC for homes that have no heating or air
conditioning. The 2006 IECC makes it clear in paragraph 101.5.2 that building "that do not contain conditioned
space" are exempt from the requirements of the new code. For reasons that are unclear to me, our Council
deleted this exemption for the island of Hawaii! So now, homes that were intended to have no heating or A/C
(like the one we are trying to build) will need R -30 /R -13 insulation, dual paned windows, thicker outer walls —
and air conditioning. The result is a serious misimplementation of what had been a good intention.
During my work on this dilemma over the last 45 days, I have sought guidance on the new code from individuals
in the Department of Public Works, the Planning department, the Mayor's office, and I have called or visited the
offices of three council members. I have also spoken to professional architects and engineers. To a person, 1
was told that no one has any idea how the new code should be adopted. The unanimous consensus also was
that I should take my questions to somebody (i.e. anybody) else. Therefore, I respectfully recommend that you
and your fellow Council members support the proposed new ordinance to postpone implementation of this
code for seven months while a serious, local task force attempts to develop a meaningful new energy code for
our county.
Comm No. (� 7(d0. ( 2
Ref. To: T 1 ( MLi (
Ref. Dote APR 0 7 :2010