Staying Cool With Seawater
By Anders Rydaker
Chief Operating Officer, Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning
At Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning, our passion for doing what is right is what drives us to develop alternative energy solutions that serve the needs of our customers while protecting the environment and the community’s way of life.
We are working diligently to provide an alternative energy solution for downtown Honolulu that is efficient, effective and provides businesses with a significant competitive advantage. With more than 30 years of experience in developing and managing district energy systems, we have unique expertise in deep-water air conditioning. We understand the need to conserve and use energy wisely, especially in a state that is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
Seawater air conditioning is a proven technology used around the world to provide reliable, 24/7 climate control. The technology works by pumping deep, cold seawater from offshore to an onshore exchange facility where the coldness in the water is transferred into a freshwater loop that, in turn, is pumped to customers to provide air conditioning.
By reducing the electricity required to cool large downtown office and residential buildings by up to 75 percent, the project will help to stabilize energy costs while reducing Hawaii’s dependence on oil by 178,000 barrels each year – enough oil to build a wall of barrels 30 feet high from Aloha Tower to Diamond Head. Not only will this project reduce Hawaii’s oil dependency by saving 77 million kWh of electricity annually, but it also will decrease potable water usage by more than 260 million gallons and cut the strain on Honolulu’s aging sewer system by 84 million gallons each year.
For customers, a seawater air conditioning system will offer stable and predictable energy costs – a significant competitive advantage in the face of continuously rising energy prices. Building managers who utilize the system also will see lower long-term maintenance costs and an enhanced reputation as an energy efficient facility.
Hawaiian Electric Company, First Hawaiian Bank and One Waterfront Towers have already signed on to take advantage of the company’s services to reduce energy costs, improve efficiency, and promote a sustainable future for Hawaii using clean, local, and long-term renewable energy solutions.
Construction of the project is expected to commence this year, with service to customers beginning in 2013-2014. For more information, visit honoluluswac.com.
