Save energy, save money. We can all appreciate that managing our energy usage is an easy way to tackle Hawaii’s rising cost of living.

Yet we don’t often view it as a tool to address one of the biggest challenges we face as islands and as a planet: climate change.

Despite the turbulence of this year’s legislative session, we want to celebrate two new state laws that will address affordability while also moving closer to our state’s ambitious climate goals.

Using the energy we require more efficiently — or using less altogether — are the cheapest options we have to help us achieve our 100% clean energy goal. And it’s a big reason why Hawaii Energy, Blue Planet Foundation, and many other businesses and community members supported Senate Bill 691 and House Bill 192, which were recently signed into law by Governor Green as Act 224 and Act 225.

Act 224, previously Senate Bill 691, ensures certain household appliances sold in the state, including toilets, urinals, hot tubs, ventilating fans, and water coolers, don’t needlessly waste electricity or water.

By reducing waste from these products, Hawaii’s residents and businesses are expected to save a total of $175 million in utility bills over the next 25 years. We’ll also avoid 181,000 metric tons of carbon emissions thanks to fossil fuel power plants running less, as well as conserve 5 billion gallons of fresh water for the future of our islands.

And the best part: almost all of the products included in the bill don’t cost more than inefficient models, so residents will start seeing savings right away.

The savings for island residents and businesses don’t stop there. The other law enacted, Act 225, will offer even bigger savings. Originally House Bill 192, this is a “clean lighting” policy that phases out the sale of fluorescent light bulbs in favor of more efficient LED light bulbs beginning in 2025.

LEDs use about half the amount of electricity and last twice as long as fluorescent light bulbs. By selling only LED bulbs in our stores in a few years, Hawaii is expected to save $382 million in utility bills and cut 750,000 metric tons of carbon emissions through 2050.

Multiple Benefits

The benefits of this clean lighting policy extend beyond saving money and energy. Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a hazardous chemical. When fluorescent bulbs break, mercury vapor is released, creating a serious health risk for anyone nearby.

Roughly 75% of fluorescent bulbs are not disposed of properly, which is a problem that is only magnified as more fluorescent bulbs come into the state. Selling only mercury-free LED light bulbs will help protect both people and our natural ecosystems.

Just as importantly, the energy efficiency policies enacted as Act 224 and Act 225 don’t require swapping out existing products. Both laws give retailers time to transition their inventories so that in a few years, only the efficient, money saving products — already widely available and proven to be cost-effective in other states — will appear on Hawaii store shelves.

High utility bills are an important piece of the affordability puzzle in Hawaii. According to the Aloha United Way’s 2022 ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report, 44% of Hawaii households are struggling just to make ends meet. At the same time, our electricity rates are the highest in the country — roughly three times the national average.

That’s why we thank the legislature and Gov. Josh Green for taking actionable, quantifiable steps to reduce utility bills while moving toward our climate goals, cutting energy and water waste, and reducing harmful pollution in our communities. These are win-win policies that are victories for both the climate and the pocketbooks of Hawaii’s families.