UH Mānoa Expands Energy Savings Through LED, HVAC and Revolving Fund Investments

Mark Brost

Aug 2

2 min read

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has completed a series of energy-efficiency upgrades across campus, including major LED lighting retrofits and HVAC controls. The projects are reducing electricity use, operating costs and maintenance demands, while new funding is helping advance additional improvements aligned with the university’s goal of reaching net-zero energy by 2035.

Key takeaways

UH Mānoa’s upgrades illustrate how coordinated lighting and building-system improvements can deliver measurable financial and operational benefits.

Nearly 1,800 parking-structure lights were replaced with LEDs, saving about $470,000 annually.
Stan Sheriff Center lighting upgrades cut electricity use by 462,630 kWh per year.
HVAC occupancy controls at Sakamaki Hall are designed to reduce energy use when spaces are unoccupied.
A $50,000 grant helped replenish the campus Green Revolving Fund for future projects.

LED retrofits deliver measurable returns

The Zone 20 parking structure received one of the largest upgrades, with outdated high-pressure sodium fixtures replaced by LEDs. Hawaiʻi Energy provided a $260,000 rebate, while the retrofit is expected to reduce the university’s annual energy bill by approximately $470,000.

At the Stan Sheriff Center, 139 older fixtures were replaced with broadcast-quality LEDs. The project is projected to save more than $138,000 in annual electricity costs and earned a $46,000 rebate. Additional lighting work at the Institute for Astronomy machine shop and Agricultural Science Building is improving visibility while reducing maintenance and energy consumption.

For contractors and facility managers planning similar work, the project reinforces the value of evaluating fixture counts, operating schedules, utility incentives and lifecycle maintenance together. Led Lumenaires supports these decisions with spec-ready LED SKUs, bulk availability, layout assistance and rebate guidance for commercial and institutional applications.

HVAC controls target wasted consumption

UH Mānoa also installed an advanced occupancy-control system at Sakamaki Hall. The system adjusts HVAC operation based on building use, helping limit unnecessary conditioning during off-peak periods and when rooms are empty. The project qualified for an estimated $13,642.20 rebate.

Combining lighting retrofits with HVAC controls can produce broader savings than addressing either system alone. Efficient LEDs reduce lighting loads and maintenance requirements, while controls help building operators match energy use to actual occupancy.

Funding supports the next phase

In 2023, the university’s Green Revolving Fund received $50,000 through the Ulupono Fund at the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. The fund finances efficiency projects upfront, then uses energy savings, rebates and other support to help finance future upgrades.

The grant supported an exterior-lighting retrofit expected to use 64% less energy than the existing high-intensity discharge fixtures. UH Mānoa also installed a solar photovoltaic shade structure over a lower-campus parking area.

A broader campus strategy

UH Mānoa has completed a second phase of its Strategic Energy Management Master Plan and moved into a third phase focused partly on installing additional solar photovoltaic panels. Planned and ongoing measures include LED replacements, HVAC improvements, battery storage, water efficiency and waste management.

For property managers, hospitality operators and electrical contractors, the campus program demonstrates a practical pathway: prioritize high-use lighting, capture available rebates, measure operating savings and reinvest those savings into the next improvement. Reliable, warranty-backed products and accurate project support remain central to making that cycle work at scale.

Sources

Upgrades boost energy savings across UH Mānoa, University of Hawaii System.
$50K boost for energy efficiency projects at UH Mānoa, University of Hawaii System.