Audio Visual Co. cuts power bill through solar

The Audio Visual Co. has finished an 18,000-square-foot build-out, which includes a solar power system with 352 panels, for its sales floor, warehouse, showroom, repair area, presentation space and executive offices.

The system went live Jan. 8 and has since then saved 5,170 gallons of gas, kept 45 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, and preserved 370 trees, according to a statement from the company.

Thomas Lee, the Aiea company's president, said he expects to save about $48,000 annually with the system, which was designed and installed by Distributed Energy Partners. “;The system should pay for itself in about three to four years. And if oil prices go up, I will save even more,”; he said.

U.S. newspaper ad revenue falls 10 percent

SAN FRANCISCO » Advertising revenue at U.S. newspapers fell 10 percent to $6 billion in the first quarter from the same period last year. That is the lowest rate of decline in more than two years.

The statistics released by the Newspaper Association of America are the latest sign that the industry's financial woes may be easing in the fourth year of an advertising downturn that has triggered bankruptcy filings and dramatic cutbacks in staff.

Newspapers traditionally have relied on advertising for about 80 percent of their revenue. But recently they have been raising their subscription and newsstand prices to counter a marketing shift that has driven more spending to the Internet.

Homebuyer Fair set for June 19 in Kapolei

The seventh annual Homebuyer/Homeowner Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 19 at Kapolei Hale. Among resources available will be financial literacy workshops, homebuyer tips, credit repair assistance and access to nonprofit agencies that can help with home-buying strategies. Foreclosure counseling workshops also will be offered.

The free event is sponsored by the city and various homeownership partners. Call Judy Pulido, city Department of Community Services, 768-7090; or Reina Miyamoto, Hawaii HomeOwnership Center, 523-8116.

Physical therapy office opens in Kihei

The Kalama Heights Retirement Community has opened a physical therapy office at its site in Kihei. Venture Physical Therapy offers physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as aquatic therapy and vestibular balance training. Call 633-4480.

Total recall

» About 108,000 Hoover WindTunnel T-Series bagless upright vacuum cleaners with cord rewind feature. They are being recalled because the power cord is not properly routed or securely seated in the cord rewind assembly, allowing the cord to be pulled loose and posing fire and shock hazards. The company received three reports of minor burns to carpet and furniture and one report of a minor burn to a consumer's hand. The vacuum cleaners, made in Mexico and imported by Hoover Inc., of Glenwillow, Ohio, were sold at mass merchandisers, department stores and independent vacuum retailers nationwide and online from August 2009 through May 2010. Details: by http://www.hoover.com/ tseriesrewindrecall or http://www.cpsc.gov.

Coming up

Today: Markets closed for Memorial Day.

Tomorrow: Commerce Department releases construction spending for April.

Wednesday: National Association of Realtors releases pending home sales index for April.

Thursday: Labor Department releases first-quarter productivity. Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims. Commerce Department releases factory orders for April. Retailers report sales results for May.

Friday: Labor Department releases May jobs data.