231
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES TO
   CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON ICE COOLING SYSTEMS OF PUBLIC
   SCHOOLS. 


 1       WHEREAS, air-conditioning would be a means to provide a
 2   conducive learning environment by reducing the distraction of
 3   outside noise and maintaining a cool environment; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, it is difficult for students to learn, and for
 6   teachers to work in hot, humid, malodorous, noisy environments;
 7   and
 8   
 9       WHEREAS, the Department of Education understands the need
10   for air-conditioned classrooms, but cannot fulfill all requests
11   due to budget constraints; and
12   
13       WHEREAS, ice storage air-conditioning is a technology which
14   freezes water (i.e. makes ice) in containers during off-peak
15   hours in order to shift cooling loads from peak power periods;
16   and
17   
18       WHEREAS, ice cooling, although having a high start-up cost,
19   may be a more cost-effective form of space cooling than
20   traditional air-conditioning due to the savings incurred in
21   reduced energy use; and
22   
23       WHEREAS, Iolani, Maryknoll, and Pearlridge Elementary
24   currently use ice cooling in their schools as a means to
25   control overall costs to the systems; and
26   
27       WHEREAS, these existing ice cooling systems have been made
28   possible through private industry assistance; and
29   
30       WHEREAS, Iolani and Maryknoll also took advantage of tax
31   credits by installing these systems in their schools; and
32   
33       WHEREAS, Pearlridge Elementary's system was installed with
34   the help of parents, teachers, and administration's voluntary
35   efforts; and
36   

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, because ice cooling is relatively new to the
 2   islands, and installation, repair, and maintenance is very
 3   different from the traditional air conditioning units in the
 4   public school system, current Department of Accounting and
 5   General Services (DAGS) personnel may lack the knowledge and
 6   expertise of working with these ice cooling systems; now,
 7   therefore,
 8   
 9       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
10   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
11   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Department of
12   Accounting and General Services, in cooperation with the
13   Department of Education, is requested to conduct a feasibility
14   study on ice cooling of schools to evaluate the cost-
15   effectiveness of using ice storage systems and refrigerant/ice
16   storage hybrid systems to cool public school buildings; and
17   
18       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, for purposes of its study,
19   DAGS shall include the cost factors involving the acquisition,
20   maintenance, and personnel requirements of the cooling systems;
21   and
22   
23       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DAGS is requested to report on
24   its findings to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior
25   to the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and
26   
27       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
28   Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of
29   Accounting and General Services, the Superintendent of
30   Education, and the Chairperson of the Board of Education.
31 
32 
33 
34                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________