In Tokyo, the amount of energy consumed in office buildings and houses is large and accounts for a half of the total energy consumption. This trend accelerates global warming and the heat island phenomenon and has significant effect on the environment. Many buildings will be reconstructed in the near future. If new buildings are constructed or annexes are built with due consideration for the environment, such efforts will contribute significantly to improving the environment of Tokyo in the future.
Since June 2002, TMG has been implementing the Tokyo green building program, which compels building owners to submit plans outlining energy conservation measures and other initiatives based on environmental considerations and assessments thereof when building or expanding large-scale buildings exceeding 10,000 square meters in floor area pursuant to the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Security Ordinance, in order to induce building owners to undertake initiatives based on environmental considerations by evaluating exceptional environmentally friendly initiatives and establishing a framework for having such buildings assessed at market values. Since October 2005, “Measures to Improve the Heat Island Phenomenon” have been added to the items to be considered at the time of construction so that the standard for evaluation of energy conservation and greening can be strengthened. TMG has introduced a practical program for condominiums titled the “Green Labeling System of Condominiums,” which requires sellers of condominiums to express the building’s environmental performance in their advertising, so that purchasers are aware of this performance.
Moreover, in March 2008, the scope of buildings subject to the Tokyo green building program was expanded by the
Tokyo metropolitan environment council and a report on, among other points, an energy conservation performance evaluation
reporting program designed to indicate the environmental performance of new buildings other than condominium
apartment buildings to end users in an easy-to-understand format was compiled. The ordinance in fiscal year 2008 (which
are slated to take effect in fiscal year 2009) was revised based on the Council.
| Contents of revised provisions of the ordinance pertaining to the Tokyo green building program (1) Applicable scope of the Tokyo green building to be expanded; (2) Applicable scope of the requirement to indicate the environmental performance of condominium apartment buildings to be expanded; (3) Implementation studies concerning renewable energy to be conducted; (4) A program for evaluating performance in terms of energy conservation to be established; (5) Minimum standards for performance in terms of energy conservation to be introduced. |
This label provides the following information:
- The difference in environmental performance between condominiums can be recognized at a glance.
- The ratings for “heat insulation property of building” and “energy saving property of facilities” will make a difference in heating and electricity expenses.
- High ratings of “long operating life of buildings” and “greening” are expected to contribute toward increasing the property value of the condominium.
◎ Tokyo Specifications for Energy Conservation 2007
In May 2007, TMG enacted “the Tokyo Specifications for Energy Conservation 2007”, which prescribes changes to government offices, schools, hospitals, and other TMG facilities to ensure conformity with optimal energy conservation specifications. Efforts will be made to achieve further CO2 reductions at TMG facilities by applying “the Tokyo Specifications for Energy Conservation 2007” -under which well-insulated, high-efficiency equipment is deemed to correspond to standard specifications - to TMG facilities that are to be upgraded. In addition, reductions in CO2 emissions throughout Tokyo will be promoted by advocating the adoption of “the Tokyo Specifications for Energy Conservation 2007” by municipalities and private-sector businesses.
◎ Converting street and park lighting to energy-saving lighting
By progressively converting existing street lighting and park lighting situated inside metropolitan area parks to energy conservation lighting, the current volume of CO2 emissions will be reduced by approximately 40% by fiscal year 2015.
Street lighting: We will endeavor to convert conventional mercury lamps used in existing streetlights to ceramic metal halide lamps and other similar lighting options characterized by low power consumption.
Park lighting: We will endeavor to convert mercury lamps used in park lights situated within metropolitan area parks to lighting fixtures characterized by low power consumption.
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