Commercial buildings may apply to be evaluated for energy and resource efficiency by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

DBEDT inspectors will review accepted buildings according to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance (EB: O&M) scorecard.

Applications must be submitted for program consideration and applicants most likely to qualify will have: 1) recently earned the Energy Star award or certification; 2) an air conditioning system upgraded within seven years; 3) a lighting system upgraded within seven years; 4) a water heating system upgraded within five years; 5) for hotels, whose guest rooms have been renovated within five years; 6) whose lobbies have been renovated in the past five years; and 7) all the facility’s energy sources, such as electricity, gas, diesel, etc., are metered.

Property owners and managers interested in applying for the evaluation assistance may contact Gail Suzuki-Jones at gsuzuki@dbedt.hawaii.gov or 587-3802.

Applications must be received by the State Energy Office by August 20.