Nearly 18 years after its construction, Honolulu's Nauru Tower was named Hawai'i's 2009 Building of the Year by the Institute of Real Estate Management. The statewide award was bestowed upon the sleek, luxury tower for its ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable environment for the more than 300 residential condo owners and 10 commercial businesses that call the building home.
Photo: John Ciccarelli
The new initiatives include the use of biodegradable cleaning products free of phosphates and other chemicals, the installation of low-energy light bulbs throughout the residential building structure, common areas and service rooms, and window tinting for the expansive 4,000-square-foot Makai Lobby. Worn epoxy-coated steel cooling towers were replaced with brand-new stainless steel towers, rated to have nearly twice the lifespan of the original equipment and expected to last 30 years. The drive motors were reduced in horsepower by 60 percent and come equipped with a variable frequency drive to conserve electricity.
"We have spent the past year and a half working together to improve efficiencies and sustainability at Nauru Tower," said Chuck Heitzman, president of the Nauru Tower board. "By making better choices, we save energy and natural resources and become better stewards for our environment and community."
By making this substantial upgrade, the reduction in Nauru Tower's carbon footprint is 149,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, equivalent to having 3,100 additional trees on O'ahu. This also translates into monetary savings for Nauru Tower, with a net annual savings estimate of nearly $25,000 in electricity costs. Nauru Tower's management is also researching the installation of rooftop solar panels to supply some of the building's hot water needs and is currently installing timed drip irrigation and low-energy lighting throughout the main lobby gardens.