We never had solar when I was a kid...
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/06/30/investigation-finds-doe-wasted-millions-solar-powered-ac-systems/

A Hawaii News Now investigation has found that the state Department of Education wasted millions of dollars on solar-powered air conditioning systems that either had to be disconnected or aren’t doing an adequate job of cooling classrooms.

During the past six years, the DOE has installed solar-powered AC systems in 880 classrooms at a cost of $122 million — or more than $138,000 per classroom.

The problem: Many had to be disconnected from the PV systems and those that weren’t disconnected only work half the day, teachers said.

“Shortly after they were installed, some of them started to break down — they just stopped working. And at first, no one really knew what the problem was,” said Jodi Kunimitsu, a Maui High School teacher.

Sounds like they need to get the contractors back in and to the work properly or hold them accountable for installing something they should have known would not function.

Sounds like they need to get the contractors back in and to the work properly or hold them accountable for installing something they should have known would not function.

Maybe the people in government who approved the work before and after completion should be held accountable.  If the task orders, deliverables and standards were properly documented, then the organizations could have withheld funds until the work was properly completed.

Was maintenance part of the contract?  Repairs and corrective actions?  None of that is free.  If the contractors were paid, then the government was satisfied with the installations.  To go back to the contractors and demand they do even more work for free is not going to happen.  If the contracting agency didn't have the expertise to document the requirements properly, they should have hired an expert to help them.

Too often an administrator simply finds the funding and does the paperwork with no idea how the work gets done or how to procure the best equipment for an application.  In fact, they want the contracting requests written without being too overly specific to prevent a sole-source situation (no competing RFP responses).  I've seldom seen a contract written in a way that protects the government customers from contractors.  Budget overruns and "engineering changes" are the norm, so the contractor can get the award amount increased.

Sounds like they need to get the contractors back in and to the work properly or hold them accountable for installing something they should have known would not function.

Sounds like? 

What if their contract stated to just install them?  What if the contract stated it wouldn't be compatible with the PV system due to safety reasons?  What if the contractor went out of business? Do you know for sure it was a licensed contractor who installed them and not just someones uncle?  What if the unit itself has a defect in it and at time of purchase, the state or contractor wasn't aware of it?  What if there was a power surge which cause many to stop working?

All are plausible reasons. So to hold the contractors responsible without answering the above isn't a very good thought experiment.

Im intrigued on what system they bought and what the cost breakdown was.

The cheapest, junkest brand with the highest cost to install.  That's usually the case when I was working anyway.

The cheapest, junkest brand with the highest cost to install.  That's usually the case when I was working anyway.

Yep.  Labor is the largest line item of any construction/installation contract. 

If I'm not mistaken. window A/C units are the second-least-efficient types of A/C, right after the portable floor models that use a hose to vent the exhaust outside.

So below you have the HIDOE mandating the equipment be changed from solar to window A/Cs  based on their own opinion that it'll save "upfront costs."

Based on this article, i would assume the government knew they were getting taken to the cleaners by the solar A/C contractors, which is why they changed to cheaper window A/Cs.  They would have run out of money before all the classrooms had A/C cooling.

As part of Gov. David Ige’s 2016 initiative to cool 1,000 classrooms using $100 million
appropriated by the Legislature, the Department installed air conditioning for 1,300
classrooms. Unlike some of the complex solar-powered systems designed and installed
under that initiative, HIDOE is only allowing energy-efficient window AC units under the
School Directed AC program to help control upfront costs and future maintenance.

“These are less complex units from installation to maintenance, where we’re not having
to tear down walls or install solar panels or battery systems. It will be easier for our schools
to maintain these units rather than having to contract out for maintenance service,” Assistant
Superintendent Shaw said.

The School Directed AC program replaces former guidance on accepting and installing
donated AC units that required approvals by multiple offices.

Recommended equipment:

Capacity: Two 2-ton (24,000 BTU/h) units for a typical 900 square-foot classroom.
Technology: Dual inverter or commercial grade.
Energy efficiency: Energy Star certified.

https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/Schools-Directed-AC.aspx

Maybe the people in government who approved the work before and after completion should be held accountable.  If the task orders, deliverables and standards were properly documented, then the organizations could have withheld funds until the work was properly completed.

Maybe that too. In the end someone should have said "we need a system capable of handling X number of air conditioner units in X number of rooms for X number of students. If the contractor failed to deliver then hold them accountable. If the employee in charge didn't set out the proper parameters then fire them. Unfortunately that wont recoup the expenses though.