Saving the planet one bus ride at a time

by Peter Rosegg | April 22, 2019

Pick a certain day in the week and dedicate it to using public transportation only. It will help to reduce greenhouse gases and improve your health!

I’m no environmental hero. Not an eco-warrior. The greenest I get is in a small boat on a choppy sea.

But for 12 years I’ve helped prepare the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ annual Sustainability Report, tracking our clean energy progress. It always makes me think about my own contribution to saving the planet.

But first, take a look at this year’s report at www.hawaiianelectric.com/sustainability. Put simply, you will see a story that starts a decade ago when 9 percent of the electricity our customers used came from renewable sources to 27 percent in 2018. And we hope to be at 34 percent by the end of 2020, and 67 percent (well over the 40 percent state mandated goal) by the end of 2030.

That’s the big picture. People often ask, “What can I do?” The most important thing, I believe, is this: “No one makes a greater mistake than doing nothing because they can do only a little.”

So here are some ideas from our corporate health & wellness team:

• Conserve water and electricity. No brainer, right? Is there anyone who can’t turn off the lights when no one’s in a room? Can’t turn down the AC a click or two? You can simply turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving, or many other times. These things are not difficult, they are just good habits.

If charging your electric vehicle is an issue at home, there are plenty of options available outside. Use the PlugShare or “HECO” mobile app to find charging stations across the islands.

• Consider an electric vehicle. When you are ready for a new car, an EV may be ready for you. (I’m trying to get my apartment building to install a charger, which will mean it’s time for me to put up or shut up!)

Options like Biki, Uber, and Lyft are making it eco-friendly and convenient to commute in urban areas.

• Take TheBus. Take a Biki. If you’re going to Uber, Lyft or taxi, try to share. (Hawaiian Electric helps with the cost of a bus pass and employees get a discounted Biki membership, which is way cool.) I’ve also heard that some people actually walk a lot!
• Shop for food at a Farmer’s Market and/or subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program like localinside.com. No worries, you will not put grocery chains out of business.
• Limit food waste. A quarter of all prepared food gets tossed out, often after a week or more posing as leftovers in the fridge. Be realistic about what you save, but lots of foods do taste better the second day. Toss the rest, but consider composting.

Some residential apartment complexes offer a Salvation Army drop box option to make it more convenient for people to recycle their serviceable clothing.

• Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. You’ve heard it before, you’ll hear it again. Rather than discard serviceable clothing, household items and other stuff, consider a trip by Goodwill or Savers to give someone else a chance to use it, create jobs and support their charities. Full disclosure: I shop at those places myself for clothes and other treasures.

My big takeaways? 1) No one is perfect. Do what you can; don’t beat yourself up about what you can’t. 2) No one can do it alone, which is why I am glad we are all in it together. 3) Yes, every bit helps. It sure can’t hurt.

Peter Rosegg is a senior corporate relations specialist at Hawaiian Electric Company.