Hawaii Innovation Award Winners Focus On Clean Energy Technology
Governor Linda Lingle today recognized three recipients of the Governor’s Innovation Awards for their role in helping Hawai‘i create an innovation-based economy and a stronger future for the state.
The winners have developed innovative solutions to challenges, invented and implemented new technologies with worldwide applications, and contributed to Hawai‘i’s long-term economic well-being.
“This month’s Innovation Award Winners are focused on developing innovative solutions to helping Hawai‘i achieve the important goal of having 70 percent of our energy come from clean sources by 2030,” said Governor Lingle. “While my Administration is continuing to work closely with the U.S. Department of Energy and other government agencies to address the regulatory framework needed to transition to a clean energy economy, we also need innovative approaches throughout the private and public sectors to develop renewable energy technologies and implement creative conservation measures.”
The recipients of the Governor’s Innovation Award for December 2009 are:
Innovation by an Organization: Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning
Recently featured on CNN (Hawai‘i in early stages of energy revolution, December 18, 2009) as an example of the numerous innovative approaches Hawai‘i is taking to increase its energy independence, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning is developing a project to cool downtown Honolulu buildings using deep seawater as a renewable energy source.
The company is constructing a system of pipes that extends five miles offshore to extract 45-degree ocean water from a depth of 1,800 feet. The water will circulate through buildings in downtown Honolulu’s business district to cool air conditioning systems, which represent 35 to 45 percent of the energy used in a typical office building. Businesses that use the cooling system will save approximately 75 percent of the electricity they currently use on air conditioning. According to the company, the deep seawater cooling systems will save Hawai‘i from having to import roughly 178,000 barrels of oil a year.
Innovation by Individuals: Mark Duda and Todd Georgopapadakos
Mark Duda and Todd Georgopapadakos are focused on developing innovative models to help local businesses realize the financial and environmental benefits as Hawai‘i transitions to a clean energy future. Duda and Georgopapadakos are co-founders of Distributed Energy Partners, a Hawai‘i-based firm specializing in commercial renewable energy projects including solar, wind and emerging technologies, as well as RevoluSun, a residential solar company.
Duda is the president of the Hawai‘i Solar Energy Association, a board member of the Hawai‘i PV Coalition, co-chair of the Renewable Energy Working Group of the Hawai‘i Energy Policy Forum, a member of the Steering Committee for Energy Efficiency of the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, and a member of Hawai‘i’s Steering Committee for Renewable Energy Workforce Development.
In just six months since co-founding RevoluSun, Georgopapadakos has helped the company capture 20 percent of Hawai‘i’s residential solar market. Previously Georgopapadakos was a partner at Suntech Hawai‘i in charge of the company’s strategic growth plan, where he led the company’s growth to become the largest solar integrator in the state, capturing a share of the photovoltaic market in excess of 25 percent.
Innovation in Government: Dept. of Transportation Airports Division
As part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s efforts to increase Hawai‘i’s energy security and lower the islands’ dependence on imported oil, the state Department of Transportation has been implementing innovative solutions to conserve energy and develop clean alternative energy sources. The Airports Division has installed 16 state-of-the-art wind turbines, each capable of generating 1 kilowatt of electricity, at Honolulu International Airport that will generate enough power to run support equipment for a new electrical vault on Lagoon Drive. The electrical vault powered by the wind turbines provides a backup to the airport’s main electrical vault to ensure that there is 100 percent emergency backup power for the airfield lighting system.
About the Governor’s Innovation Awards
Governor Lingle initiated the Innovation Awards in May 2008 to acknowledge and encourage innovation across all sectors statewide. The awards recognize deserving individuals, companies, nonprofits, organizations and government agencies that are developing innovative products, services and processes. The award is part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative, a comprehensive plan to transform Hawai‘i’s economy from one dependent on land development to one that builds on human ingenuity and the ability of Hawai‘i’s people to innovate.
The Governor’s Innovation Awards nominees are evaluated monthly by a 15-member selection panel comprised of industry, education and government representatives statewide. Nominations are submitted online and are judged on creativity; effectiveness in achieving a goal or purpose; transferability and adoptability by others; and significance in addressing an important local or global issue, problem or opportunity. The selection committee provides final recommendations to Governor Lingle for her approval.
For additional information or to submit a nomination, visit www.hawaii.gov/gov/innovation-award.
Topics: clean energy, deep seawater cooling systems, economic develpment, economic recovery, economic well being, Economy, employment, energy, environment, foregin oil, Governance, government, government agencies, Governor’s Innovation Awards, green, Green Jobs, Hawaii, innovation, Innovation Award Winners, new technologies, Public Sector, renewable energy, technology, U.S., U.S. Department of Energy, United States, worldwide applications
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