Hawaii Preparatory Academy Celebrates Grand Opening of the Energy Lab

Hawaii Preparatory Academy celebrated the grand opening of its new Energy Lab on April 16 and 17 with a series of school and community activities.

About 300 people toured this remarkable “living” building during a Community Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 17.  Energy Lab Director Dr. Bill Wiecking and architect David Croteau of Flansburgh Architects were on hand to answer questions about this unique educational facility and how it is opening a new era in the way students learn about sustainability.  Deighton Emmons, HPA’s science department chairman, shared information about the work he and his students are doing to restore an ancient Hawaiian agricultural terrace system adjacent to the Energy Lab. 

"We are honored and privileged to be introducing our new facility to our neighbors and, indeed, to the world,” said HPA Headmaster Lindsay Barnes.  “The pioneering work to be done here at HPA will be as exciting as it will be beneficial.  Being first with a facility such as this is a huge responsibility, but it's one we're embracing with a great deal of enthusiasm and dedication."

On April 16, HPA students in grades K-12 were engaged in a series of Earth Day-related activities focused in and around the Energy Lab, including native tree planting, an “Act of Green” footprint pledge, and sharing results of a Footprints Future pilot project that Upper School students are working on jointly with Seabury Hall on Maui and the Global Footprint Network.

The school’s lunch menu featured dishes made from Hawaii products, including marinated tofu, teriyaki Chicken, local vegetable medley, Kekela Farms spring mix, haupia, fresh mahi on the grill, spinach and herb local vegetable wrap, and fried poke wrap with wasabi mayo, local tomato, and Kekela Cucumber.

The students heard from special guest Dr. Jorgen Randers, renowned professor of climate strategy at the Norwegian School of Management.

Randers works on climate issues and scenario analysis and lectures internationally on sustainable development, and especially climate, within and outside corporations.  He spoke to the students about the importance of planning and organizing to help society leave a "light footprint" because "the world is very small compared to the number of people and the amount of economic activity on the globe." 

Randers is a non-executive member of a number of corporate boards in Norway, including the multinational Tomra ASA.  He also sits on the “sustainability councils” of British Telecom in the United Kingdom and The Dow Chemical Company in the United States.  He recently chaired the Commission on Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which reported in 2006 to the Norwegian cabinet on how Norway can cut its climate gas emissions by two thirds by 2050.

Randers is the former President of the Norwegian School of Management and Deputy Director General of WWF International (World Wide Fund for Nature) in Switzerland.  He has authored a number of books and scientific papers, including “The Limits to Growth” and “Limits to Growth—The 30 Year Update.”

The Energy Lab at Hawaii Preparatory Academy is the first of its kind for a school building in Hawaii; a prototype for buildings of the future.  The facility is a submitted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum candidate and a participant in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Living Building Challenge.  If successful, HPA will be the first school in the world to meet the Living Building Challenge.

For more information about the Energy Lab, or to schedule a tour, call 808-881-4266 (e-mail: elabassistant@hpa.edu).