On the height of this bustling city of Honolulu, on a quiet and unique hillside, some of the richest inhabitants of the island live there, with a luxurious home, not the same as the othersThe 6,000-square-
The Foot house overlooks the Diamond Head, Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean, along with two Tesla cars in the driveway.
It's not two electric cars that distinguish the property from trendy neighbors.
The difference is this solar energy.
Powered home is completely independent of energy.
Hunk Rogers, a 61-year-old homeowner, wants the technology he uses at home to help other families in Hawaii --and the world -
Energy independence.
Rogers is known for discovering the video game "tetris" more than 20 years ago.
He now manages the global rights of the game with his business partner Alexey Pajitnov, who wrote the program.
When talking about Hawaii, Rogers said that if you want to clean the world, you must first clean your own room, and its energy cost is the highest in the country.
Rogers will announce his new company, the blue planet energy system, on Monday ".
The new company, which will sell and install battery systems for homes and businesses using solar technology, is scheduled to start selling in August 1.
He declined to disclose the cost of these systems, but said that for a typical project that his company will install, the investment will have a return of five to seven years.
He said that the blue ion system that Rogers had been testing at home last year used Sony's lithium-ion battery, which can be used for 20 years without cooling.
Rogers works with Sony to think the battery can solve the long term problem
Long-term problems storing solar energy and helping to reduce energy costs in Hawaii.
Sony has been developing lithium-ion batteries since 1991, and the batteries used in Rogers's home are top notch.
The battery stores the energy of the solar panel and one can use it at night without having to rely on the expensive energy of the grid.
Rogers will sell and install battery systems for commercial and residential use, providing everything from residential to software that monitors and maintains systems.
Robert Harris, spokesman for the advocacy group Solar Choice Alliance, said that because of the cost and incentive programs that encourage people to stay connected with the grid, consumers don't have much to call for investment in battery storage systems.
Harris, who is also the director of public policy for Sunrun, a Honolulu solar equipment supplier, said homeowners with solar panels usually put energy into the grid and take it back as needed, called net metering
Harris says a lot of energy can now be put into the grid, so it's not necessarily a big incentive for homeowners to invest in storage.
This could change in the coming months, with several new systems in addition to Rogers's expected listing.
The products will be able to store and release energy every day at a reasonably reasonable price point, Harris said.
Rogers, who also owns an energy-independent ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii, said he had a heart attack and a near-
Death in 2006
During his recovery, he decided to take advantage of the second opportunity.
Rogers read that all coral reefs in the world are likely to disappear due to ocean acidification, which is related to climate change and the increase in ocean carbon.
We will end the use of carbon.
This is my mission, no. 1,' he said.
Rogers is the founder and chairman of the Blue Planet Foundation, which works to promote clean energy alternatives and lobby politicians to change policies.
Recently, the foundation created a children's painting and letter book calling on state councillors to authorize Hawaii to become an energy independent state.
He made sure that the books were worth less than $25, the highest amount that lawmakers could receive as gifts, and delivered a copy to every lawmaker in Hawaii.
It must be the message of the children, Rogers said, because what we are trying to save is the world of the children.
Earlier this year, Hawaii Governor David Iger announced that by 2045, the state of Hawaii will fully realize energy independence.
"I would say our highest honor is 2045," Rogers added . ".
Hawaii Senator Lorraine Inoue, who is a member of the energy and transport committee, said she was encouraged by the initiative to become an energy independent person.
Well said, I am happy to have private attempts to provide a sustainable power supply on their property.
The plan for energy independence by 2045 "can be completed, but we need to remove barriers," she added ".
If we don't have anything in the regulations to meet our future goals, private entities, utilities, are able to put things in their hands and do what they want to do.