Hawaii rated No. 2 in energy savings

The Energy Services Coalition ranked Hawaii second in the nation for per capita spending on energy savings in the construction and renovation of state buildings and other facilities.

The ESC is a national nonprofit network working at the state and local level to increase energy efficiency in buildings.

"Being recognized nationally for the proactive steps we’ve taken to cut our energy and water consumption at government facilities reflects our strong commitment to lead by example in increasing energy efficiency and conservation, reducing operating costs and minimizing our impact on the environment," said Gov. Linda Lingle.

Hawaii was credited with qualifying "performance contracts" totaling $102 million, or the equivalent of $80.08 per person.

Topping the list was Idaho, with qualifying contracts of $129 million, or $90.27 per person.

Caterpillar sales surge worldwide

NEW YORK » Caterpillar Inc. said yesterday that its worldwide machine sales leaped 37 percent in August, led by a surge in Latin and North America.

The results, announced in a regulatory filing, highlight a shift in the world’s appetite for construction and mining equipment. Though the sales growth rate slowed in Asia, it surged in Latin America and picked up slightly in the United States and Canada.

Sales in Latin America jumped 57 percent in August over the same month a year ago. That’s a much faster uptick over the same month in 2009 than the company showed earlier in the summer.

Latin American sales rose 32 percent in July from a year earlier, and 18 percent in June from the same month last year.

North American sales rose 40 percent in August. That’s slightly improved from the 38 percent growth rate in July and 26 percent rate in June.

Sales in Asia rose 32 percent last month. That’s down from July, when the region’s sales jumped 41 percent. In June, sales were up 36 percent from a year earlier.

Spirit Airlines files for $300M IPO

Spirit Airlines Inc., the U.S. carrier that charges for carry-on bags stowed in overhead bins, filed to sell $300 million of stock in an initial public offering yesterday and said it plans to use some of the proceeds to repay debt.

The company said it will retain $150 million in net proceeds from the IPO. Spirit owed $263.7 million on notes as of June 30, including principal as well as accrued and unpaid interest, according to a filing yesterday. Investment funds managed by Indigo Partners LLC acquired a majority stake in Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit in 2006.

Spirit’s announcement comes 2 1/2 months after Global Aviation Holdings Inc. filed for an IPO of as much as $100 million. More than two years have passed since the last IPO of a U.S. airline, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Gulfstream International Group Inc.’s initial offering in December 2007, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Allegiant Travel Co., the Las Vegas-based passenger airline that caters to leisure travelers in smaller cities and is looking to begin service to Hawaii, went public a year before Gulfstream, while JetBlue Airways Corp. raised $182 million in April 2002, the data show.

The policy of charging for carry-on bags was challenged this year when U.S. senators proposed legislation seeking to ban the practice.

Spirit Airlines passengers must pay as much as $45 for bags that don’t fit under the seat.

On the Move

» A&B Properties has hired Randall H. Endo as vice president of development. He was previously vice president of community development with Maui Land & Pineapple Co. for seven years as well as a lawyer and partner for Carlsmith Ball in Wailuku and staff attorney for the law firm Volgenau & Bose in Buffalo, N.Y.

» Baldridge & Associates Structural Engineering has hired Kevin Ruffo as a special inspector for its testing and inspection division. He was previously an independent deputy inspector for Los Angeles County.

» Lauryn Inouye has been appointed to the marketing programs and project coordinator for Xerox Hawaii. She will be responsible for coordinating and managing marketing projects, including sponsorship programs, customer events and trade shows. Inouye was previously serving as a manager of business operations as well as intern for Umee Honolulu, a women’s clothing company.

» Government Employees Insurance Co., better known as GEICO, has named Shawn Burklin as regional vice president of the company’s West Coast operations, responsible for Hawaii, California and Alaska. He previously served as vice president of GEICO’s Southeast operations, headquartered in Macon, Ga.