A14 - Reverse Energy Injustice to the Underserved Communities in Hawaii with 100% Energy from the Sun

The global carbon numbers continue to climb, in May of 2022, CO2 level measured on Mauna Loa was 421PPM. The residential solar program in Hawaii has been very successful with 1/3 of homes (~75K) having rooftop solar accounting for 41% of Hawaii’s 38% renewable clean energy in 2021. But this has created a severe social economic “Energy Divide” with families who can afford the average $30,000 solar+storage system benefiting from the economic energy cost savings between 60-93%, reducing their energy burden from ~6.8% of income to < 0.3% and with the State and Federal solar energy rebate and tax incentives, a payback of 2-4 years is achievable. To Fight Climate Change will require everyone to do their part starting at home and we must make energy cost savings equitable to all. The underserved communities, including the remaining 2/3 homes (~150K), renters, low income families and those living without access to rooftop solar in apartments, condos and Section-8 housing are left behind with some families having an energy burden reaching 20% of income which can be extremely stressful when living pay-check to pay-check. In Hawaii the cost of electricity is ~3-4 times higher than the national average with Oahu at 39.7¢/kWh. To reverse energy injustice and bring energy cost savings equity to underserved families in Hawaii, I am proposing “Best Practices and Lessons Learned” from my 6+ years residential Solar+Storage results using Home Energy Ecosystem Digitization and Automation to achieve 100% energy from the Sun (light & heat) with >90% monthly energy cost savings. This requires use of battery storage as a household appliance to meet 100% of the overnight energy needs and “Energy-Star” household appliances to maximize energy efficiency. Three underserved examples are: 1) Grid-Tie homes, 2) Grid-Tie rental homes/apartments without rooftop solar access and 3) Off-Grid Native Hawaiian homes.