Army and HECO
partner to power homes
with solar

---

By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

Hawaiian Electric Co. and the U.S. Army are touting plans to install 650 solar water heaters at Helemano military housing and Waianae Recreation Center as the largest number to be installed at one time anywhere in the country.

"We checked a lot of resources and couldn't find any single development or renovation that had done solar in that magnitude," said Steve Luckett, HECO's account manager for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Three subcontractors, which Luckett would not name, will be handling the actual installation under the guidance of HECO, he said.

Total project cost will be about $1.7 million, after solar rebates of $500 a unit from HECO.

The project will save the Army about $250,000 a year in electricity costs, reduce emission of an estimated 2,246 tons of greenhouse gases annually and reduce demand on HECO's electric system by half a megawatt, enough to handle all the electrical needs of more than 150 families, according to engineering estimates by HECO and the Army.

The rooftop systems have life expectancies ranging from 10 to 25 years, cost $3,000 to $3,500 apiece and are projected to pay for themselves in a little less than seven years, Luckett said.

Installation will begin soon and is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

"The Army stands behind projects that protect the environment, save money and pay for themselves," said Army spokeswoman Maj. Nancy Makowski.