State Capitol to get seawater air conditioning

The state Department of Accounting and General Services said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC to air-condition eight state buildings, including the Capitol.

The state said in a news release it expects the switch to seawater air conditioning “will reduce state consumption of electricity by over 5.3 million kilowatt-hours each year and avoid the production of 10 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually. Additionally, potable water consumption is expected to drop by 11.4 million gallons per year, and sewage discharge will be reduced by over 1.7 million gallons yearly in buildings covered by the preliminary agreement.”

The seven other buildings covered under the agreement are Keoni Ana (1170 Alakea St.), Kalanimoku (1151 Punchbowl St.), Keelikolani (830 Punchbowl St.), Kinau Hale (1250 Punchbowl St.), Leiopapa A Kamehameha (235 S. Beretania St.), Queen Liliuokalani (1390 Miller St.) and No. 1 Capitol District Building (250 S. Hotel St.).

The Seawater Air Conditioning company takes cold water from deep in the ocean, uses it to cool fresh water at a cooling station, then pumps the cold fresh water to buildings’ air conditioning units.