Hawaii lawmakers push for relief from hot classrooms
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
\Ceiling fans are absent in the classroom of instructor Sherwin Aquino on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 at Pohakea Elementary School in Ewa.
Most of Hawaii’s public schools don’t have air conditioning, and record-high temperatures have left teachers and students saying they can’t focus because of the heat.
Hawaii lawmakers are saying it’s time to cool Hawaii’s public schools. A proposal being considered by the House Committee on Finance would fund air conditioning for Hawaii’s public schools and speed up the process to install cooling systems in classrooms.
The proposal would also set a goal that all Hawaii public schools are net-zero in energy use by 2035. The bill requests $130 million in a loan program and bonds to pay for air conditioning and other equipment to help schools become cooler and more sustainable.
The bill says installing air conditioning a single classroom can cost up to $30,000.
11 responses to “Hawaii lawmakers push for relief from hot classrooms”
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Perhaps it would be more economical if The DOE provided each student with a “Akomeogi”? This would also provide exercise for each student and also be therapeutic…
Which came first. The chicken or the egg. Solar first, AC second. Just like the rail. 6 billion and no electricity.
They could just hold classes on the Rail since ridership estimates have been grossly overstated and will be air conditioned.
There are those fans I see at the stadium on the side lines that mist water with a fan. I see them using it in Dallas, Vegas, natural thermal AC. Uses natural evaporation where liquid turning to gas cools the air.
Wow $30,000? I installed mines for $700.
JARP comment.
The classrooms are not “hot” , on some days they are big warm.
Here we go again. Our dysfunctional elected bureaucrats want to borrow money and/or issued bonds to cover the cost. What they refuse to say is how much borrowing and bonds would cost taxpayers in finance charge, interest. Willing to bet millions would be lost on these charges. Not that they care. Not their money.
Prioritize which schools need aircon the most, get them started. All others can wait, use Energy Star ceiling fans to move the air, cool the students, not overload the school’s electrical system.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Home-Decorators-Collection-Windward-IV-52-in-Brushed-Nickel-Ceiling-Fan-26663/204507767
$30,000 for one classroom his beyond ridiculous.
How is it that Hawaii students have survived all these years without A/C? How about moving the stuff blocking the jalousies at the top of the room, open the jalousies and let the heat escape. Trade winds, lightweight clothing, slippa’s and sandals, jalousies. Use them. Jeeze!
Good comment and observation about the jalousies being blocked (and closed) in the picture.