What Will the Future Hold?

Transcription

1 What Will the Future Hold? University of Hawaiÿi at Mänoa Sea Grant College Program 2525 Correa Road, HIG 238 Honolulu, HI 96822

2 1. There are many issues that affect Hawai i. From the following list, please rank the five issues you think are most important, with 1 being the most important, 2 the second most important and so on down to 5. (Please choose only five issues.) The cost of living (price of housing, utilities, food, gasoline, etc.) Crime The economy / job creation Food security (a reliable supply of food) Hawaiian sovereignty The health of the environment Homeland security (threat of terrorism) Homelessness Overdevelopment Pacific Islander migration Public education Reliance on imported energy (for electricity generation, transportation, etc.) Other (please specify) 2. Now think in more detail about environmental issues that affect Hawai i. Again, from the following list, please rank the five issues you think are most important, with 1 being the most important, 2 the second most important and so on down to 5. (Please choose only five issues.) Air quality Availability of freshwater resources Cleanliness of beaches (free from trash and litter, etc.) Climate change Coastal water quality Habitat protection Invasive species Preservation of coral reefs Preservation of fisheries Preservation of land-based plants and animals Preservation of marine mammals Other (please specify) 2

3 From what energy source do you believe Hawai i generates most of its electricity? (Please check only one box.) Biofuels / biomass (energy derived from plants and solid waste) Coal Geothermal (thermal energy stored under the earth s surface) Natural gas (the gas you can buy from the Gas Company) Nuclear Oil Solar power / photovoltaics Wind What percentage of Hawai i s electricity do you believe comes from fossil fuels (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil)? 1% 5% 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% 100% What percentage of Hawai i s electricity do you believe comes from renewable energy (e.g., wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels)? 1% 5% 10% 30% 50% 70% 90% 100% 3

4 What is your general attitude toward renewable energy (e.g., wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels)? Very positive Positive Neutral Negative Very negative Approximately how much is your household monthly electricity bill? $ per month I do not receive an electricity bill Today, Hawai i generates about 10% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. Would you be willing to pay more for your household electricity if 40% of the electricity came from renewable sources? Yes Go to Question 9 No Go to Question 11 Not sure Go to Question 11 If you would be willing to pay more for electricity if 40% of it was generated from renewable sources, please state how much extra you would be willing to pay each month. $ per month Now please indicate the reason that best describes why you would be willing to pay more for electricity if 40% of it was generated from renewable sources. (Please check only one box.) To help reduce the impacts of climate change To help make Hawai i more self-sufficient in terms of energy generation To create new green jobs To make electricity prices more stable as they would be less dependent on oil prices To use Hawai i's renewable resources; it makes sense to use them Have you ever heard of using seawater for air conditioning purposes? Yes No 4

5 Seawater air conditioning works by pumping cold (44-45 F), deep (1,600-1,800 feet) seawater into a cooling station. Here, the cold seawater is used to chill fresh water flowing in nearby pipes. The chilled fresh water is then piped into hotels for cooling purposes while the seawater (slightly warmed to F) is pumped back into the ocean at a shallower depth ( feet). A private developer is interested in building a seawater air conditioning system in Waikīkī. The system would serve hotels and other large buildings. 12. Would you support or oppose the installation of a seawater air conditioning system in Waikīkī? Strongly support Support Neither support nor oppose Oppose Strongly oppose Please briefly state why you feel this way: 5

6 Currently, the Public Benefits Fund (which is funded by a surcharge included in your electricity bill) is being used to pay for renewable energy programs such as rebates for solar water heaters and energy efficient appliances. Would you support using a portion of the Public Benefits Fund to develop a seawater air conditioning system in Waikīkī? Strongly support Support Neither support nor oppose Oppose Strongly oppose If a seawater air conditioning system were built in Waikīkī, the amount of energy used by buildings connected to the system would be reduced by about 30%. Knowing this, would you be: More supportive of seawater air conditioning Less supportive of seawater air conditioning Less opposed to seawater air conditioning More opposed to seawater air conditioning It would have no effect on my opinion If seawater air conditioning in Waikīkī caused traffic disruptions for up to six months during construction of the system, would that make you: More supportive of seawater air conditioning Less supportive of seawater air conditioning Less opposed to seawater air conditioning More opposed to seawater air conditioning It would have no effect on my opinion If a seawater air conditioning system were built in Waikīkī, the amount of fresh water used by Waikīkī would be reduced by about 110 million gallons a year (1% of what O ahu uses). Knowing this, would you be: More supportive of seawater air conditioning Less supportive of seawater air conditioning Less opposed to seawater air conditioning More opposed to seawater air conditioning It would have no effect on my opinion 6

7 If seawater air conditioning in Waikīkī caused minor damage to Waikīkī s reef during construction of the system, would that make you: More supportive of seawater air conditioning Less supportive of seawater air conditioning Less opposed to seawater air conditioning More opposed to seawater air conditioning It would have no effect on my opinion If a seawater air conditioning system were built in Waikīkī, Hawai i s carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by about 120,000 metric tons (1% of Hawai i s total carbon dioxide emissions). Knowing this, would you be: More supportive of seawater air conditioning Less supportive of seawater air conditioning Less opposed to seawater air conditioning More opposed to seawater air conditioning It would have no effect on my opinion If seawater air conditioning in Waikīkī caused algae to form off Waikīkī beach, would that make you: More supportive of seawater air conditioning Less supportive of seawater air conditioning Less opposed to seawater air conditioning More opposed to seawater air conditioning It would have no effect on my opinion How important do you think tourism is to Hawai i s economy? Very important Important Somewhat important Not important Do you think that building a seawater air conditioning system in Waikīkī would make Waikīkī a more attractive tourist destination? Yes No Not sure 7

8 22. Hawai i has a number of choices when it comes to either generating more electricity from cleaner sources or reducing electricity usage through energy efficiency measures. Please rank the following technologies in the order you think they should be developed in Hawai i, with 1 being the most important, 2 the second most important and so on down to 9. Biofuels / biomass (energy derived from plants and solid waste) Geothermal (thermal energy stored under the earth s surface) Natural gas (the gas you can buy from the Gas Company) Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) Rooftop solar water heaters Seawater air conditioning Solar power / photovoltaics Wave energy Wind energy These last few questions ask about you and your household. This information will be used for statistical purposes only and will greatly help us with our analysis Are you: Male Female How old are you? How long have you lived in Hawai i? 26. Were any of your parents or grandparents born in Hawai i? Yes No 8

9 27. How would you describe yourself? (Check all that apply.) American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Indian Black or African American Chinese Filipino Guamanian or Chamorro Native Hawaiian Japanese Korean Other Asian Other Pacific Islander Samoan White 28. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? Yes No 29. How often do you visit Waikīkī? Less than once a year 1-4 times a year 5-11 times a year Once a month 2-3 times a month 1-2 times a week 3 + times a week 9

10 Why do you visit Waikīkī? (Check all that apply.) I live there I work there For dining / entertainment To shop To visit friends / family To visit the beach / swim / surf Do you work in the tourism industry? Yes No What is the highest degree or level of school that you have completed? Elementary or middle school Some high school High school graduate Some college credit Associate degree Bachelor s degree Graduate or professional degree What category best describes your household income (before taxes) in 2011? Less than $10,000 $10,000 - $14,999 $15,000 - $24,999 $25,000 - $34,999 $35,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $74,999 $75,000 - $99,999 $100,000 - $149,999 $150,000 - $199,999 $200,000 - $249,999 $250,000 and above How would you describe yourself politically? Democrat Independent Libertarian Republican 10 Other

11 That s it! Thank you for your assistance with this research. If there is anything else that you would like to share, please feel free to tell us in this space. Please return this survey booklet in the enclosed envelope. If the envelope was misplaced, return it to the address on the front cover. Mahalo nui loa! 11

12 Please direct all inquires to Jon Lilley University of Hawaiÿi Sea Grant College Program