Analysis by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is helping inform energy efficiency discussions in Hawaii.

The Aloha State is considering upgrading its building codes to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code, which includes codes that are specific to tropical climates such as Hawaii's.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported proponents of the upgrade, the Blue Planet Foundation and Hawaii Energy, cited PNNL research when presenting to the State Building Code Council in December 2016.

A 2016 PNNL report found adopting the new code could cut Hawaii's residential building energy costs by 21 percent.

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