Hawaii’s Energy Future: Building for 2027 With Smarter Rooftops

Hawaii’s energy landscape is on the verge of a major transformation. By 2027, a new law will require Hawaiian Electric (HECO) to open its grid to independent power producers. This process, known in the industry as “wheeling”, allows businesses and homeowners to sell their surplus electricity directly over the utility’s power lines for a fee. Until now, HECO has controlled how energy flows and what customers can sell back. This shift marks the beginning of a more flexible energy marketplace, and for property owners, it’s an opportunity to rethink how we use our rooftops.

Now, here’s where HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) comes in. Traditionally, rooftop air conditioners and refrigeration condensers sit in the open sun, fighting against high ambient heat while consuming a lot of electricity. But picture a different setup: a solar canopy raised above the roofline, with the HVAC units shaded below. Not only do the solar panels generate renewable energy, but the shade they create helps air conditioning equipment run more efficiently. In HVAC terms, this lowers the condenser inlet air temperature—the temperature of the air flowing into the unit’s coils—reducing compressor strain and cutting electricity use.

One of the main reasons many businesses and homeowners hold off on renewable power today is the cost of energy storage. Batteries are still expensive, and while they allow you to save power for nighttime use, the upfront investment can make projects less appealing. On top of that, grid programs that once made solar easier to justify are no longer widely available. Enrollment for Customer Grid-Supply Plus (CGS Plus) has already closed, and even the Smart Renewable Energy Export programs have limited structures that don’t always provide strong financial returns.

Right now, you can still export power to the grid and receive credits to offset your usage later in the day, but the value of those credits is locked by HECO’s terms and isn’t nearly as favorable as retail rates. What changes in 2027 is not simply getting credits for nighttime use, but gaining the ability to choose where your excess power goes. Instead of only sending it back to HECO for a fixed credit, you’ll be able to sell your surplus directly across the grid — for example, to another restaurant you own, your retail branch across town, or even tenants in your rental and Airbnb properties. That flexibility turns a renewable-ready building into a true energy asset, with far more control over both costs and revenue.

This strategy is particularly powerful for industries with heavy cooling demands. Restaurants and grocery stores, for example, could schedule ice production or refrigeration cycles during the sunniest hours, taking full advantage of daytime solar output. Hotels and property managers could pre-cool common spaces, using the building itself as thermal storage—a strategy where the building’s mass holds cool temperatures into the evening.

The effectiveness of both approaches, however, depends heavily on proper insulation. Without well-maintained insulation, much of that cooling is lost, forcing HVAC and refrigeration systems to work harder and negating the benefits of solar timing. That’s why Alltemp places a strong focus on insulation efficiency inspections, helping property owners detect weaknesses and improve building envelopes so that every kilowatt of cooling is preserved. For homeowners, the same principle applies—oversizing solar installations now will be far more rewarding if the cooled air actually stays inside. With insulation optimized, these solar and HVAC strategies work together seamlessly, creating a stronger foundation for long-term energy savings.

Of course, these benefits depend on careful design. A rooftop solar canopy must be engineered for Hawaii’s typhoon-class wind loads (calculated using standards like ASCE 7). HVAC units need proper airflow lanes to prevent hot air recirculation, and corrosion-resistant materials are a must in salt-heavy air. Controls also play a role—modern energy management systems (EMS) can be programmed to shift HVAC loads into the daytime window when solar output is highest, and then scale back during evening peaks.

At Alltemp, we see this as a chance to bring together technology, design, and policy in a way that delivers real value. By reimagining rooftops as integrated systems — solar above, efficient cooling below, and smart controls tying everything together — property owners can cut bills now while getting ready for the opportunities of 2027. The payoff isn’t just about generation; it’s also about squeezing the most efficiency out of every kilowatt. That means adopting Smart HVAC monitoring to catch problems before they drive up energy costs, scheduling regular insulation efficiency inspections to ensure cool air isn’t being wasted, and using services like high-pressure jet coil cleaning to keep systems running at peak performance in Hawaii’s tough climate. With the right foundation, property owners can reduce expenses today, maximize what their systems deliver, and be fully prepared to profit when wheeling opens up the grid.