Free Water Cooler Timers for Businesses

Posted April 8, 2014

Hawaii Energy is offering businesses a free water cooler timer to help save energy now until June 30, 2014.

Water coolers require electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are typically not used during weekends by most businesses. Depending on the make, model and usage, a single water cooler with both cold and hot water spigots can draw up to 700 kilowatt hour (kWh) annually – more than some full-size refrigerators (14 cubic feet).

In terms of electricity costs, that equates to an estimated $217 on Oahu and slightly more on the neighbor islands. A water cooler timer can save about $123 on electricity costs annually based on $0.31/kWh (on Oahu) – a savings of nearly 60 percent.

In order to qualify, businesses must be located on either, Hawaii Island, Lanai, Maui, Molokai or Oahu and on one of the following electric rate schedules: P, J or G.

The water cooler timers provided by Hawaii Energy are distributed through participating vendors only while supplies last. The timers are digital, include an internal rechargeable battery and 7?day programmable on/off settings. The estimated retail value is $30 each.

“Our goal is to encourage simple, yet practical measures such as installing a timer to help more businesses in Hawaii achieve instant savings on their electric bills,” said Keith Block, Business Program Manager, Hawaii Energy. “We want to make people aware that small, every day behavioral changes can mean big cost and energy savings in the future.”

Similar to timers used at home to turn lights on and off at specified times, water cooler timers operate the same way. Customers simply plug the timer into the electrical wall outlet. The water cooler plug is then inserted directly into the timer which can be pre-programed.

To obtain a free water cooler timer, visit Hawaii Energy’s website at www.HawaiiEnergy.com/timer. For more information, call 839-8800 on Oahu or toll-free at (877) 231-8222 on the neighbor islands.