Six companies, the State Senate, and the East-West Center received this year’s Hawaii Green Business and Green Government Awards.

The awards were presented yesterday as part ot the Hawaii Clean Energy Day at the Capitol coordinated by the Energy Office of the State Department of Business, Economic Development.

This year’s recipients are:

–Central Pacific Plaza. The downtown office building has earned the Energy Star building designation for the last seven years, the longest of any building in Hawai‘i. Last year, the building saved 1,397,600 kWh, or approximately 25 percent less than their 2003 baseline, and 397,000 gallons of water, over 50 percent off their 2003 baseline.  It also uses green cleaning products.

–East-West Center. Electricity use dropped 37.5 percent, or 27,160 kilowatt hours, at Lincoln Hall and 22.5 percent, or 474,600 kilowatt hours at Burns Hall by installing new CFL lighting, LED exit signs, motion detectors, timers, and less air conditioning use.

 –Hawaii State Senate.  The Senate’s Paperless Initiative reduced paper use by 80 percent.  A Green Office Working Group implemented energy conservation and recycling measures and participates in ongoing conservation initiatives at the State Capitol.

–Honeywell Utility Solutions.  The company, which assists in the fulfillment of energy efficient rebates offered by Hawaii Energy, uses only recycled paper products and printer toners; implements a workplace recycling program; permits only washable (no plastic) utensils; and subsidizes bus passes to cut employee transportation energy use.

–PBR Hawaii and Associates.  The landscape architecture company conserves with lower refrigerator temperatures, low-flow faucet aerators, recycling or donation of electronic equipment, and using only recycled paper products made up of 30 to 100% post-consumer waste.

–Sustainable Island Products.  This Hilo-based supplier of eco-friendly paper goods, office supplies, and cleaning materials buys carbon offset credits for company vehicles; offers free packaging reclamation; and uses 100 percent recycled office paper. It also funded the planting of a Koa tree on the Hamakua Coast to offset its carbon footprint.

–WATG Architects.  The firm reduced paper use by one third through double-sided printing, uses shredded paper for packing, and saved 80 percent on plastic and paper products costs through conservation measures. It also uses natural or low emission building materials, carpets, and furniture.

–Whole Foods Maui.  Part of the first major retail chain to offset 100 percent of its energy use with wind energy credits, the grocery store diverts 58 percent of the 20,000 pounds of trash generated on average per month through efforts like donating spoiled produce and biodegradable waste to Freebird Farm, where it is turned to compost; and donating all HI 5 containers to the Community Work Day Program.  Last month, the Maui store diverted 34 tons of trash.