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With environmental issues high on the agenda everywhere, interest in so-called “sustainable architecture,” which uses a variety of techniques to minimize a building’s environmental impact, is growing worldwide.
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance has used this idea as the foundation for the new Singapore-based headquarters of the Group’s Asian operations, Tokio Marine Asia Pte Ltd. Named the Tokio Marine Centre, the 21-storey building will adorn Singapore’s financial district after its completion in early 2010. |
Designed by Chan Sau Yan Associates, the v-shaped building sports a striking external support structure emulating a cluster of bamboo. This provides shade for some 30% of the interior, reducing the need for air-conditioning in the Singaporean heat. Other key features are a roof garden for tenants and a high-ceilinged ground floor housing a large landscaped garden for public use. In addition, all plants will be watered by a rainwater collection system, and solar panels will provide lighting in internal lobbies and toilets. Features like waste recycling systems and monitoring of water and energy usage are also under consideration.
Besides all other environmental benefits, the building?½fs |
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annual electricity bills are estimated to be 25% lower than those of a similar-sized conventional building. No wonder, then, that Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority awarded the Tokio Marine Centre with a “Goldplus Award” for its environmental design, a first for an insurance company in Singapore. |
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At the foot of one of Japan’s most iconic symbols, the majestic Mount Fuji, an ambitious forest restoration project is under way, run by the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement-International (OISCA-International).
OISCA-International, an international NGO working to promote sustainable development, aims to restore some 100 hectares of forest on the mountain’s western slope, and has been promoting the project to Japanese organizations and companies since 2007 together with the Yamanashi prefectural government.
One of the companies to respond is Nikon, which has made environmental conservation a key |
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management priority. On Saturday, May 24, 2008, 120 volunteers consisting of Nikon employees and their families descended on Mount Fuji?½fs western slope to plant some 1,000 seedlings of various tree species that grow naturally around the mountain.
The area in question, previously an artificial forest consisting solely of Veitch’s Silver Fir, a type of fir native to Japan, has suffered from extensive damage by pests. The project involves planting a variety of indigenous species to restore the area’s original natural diversity.
Before starting to plant, the volunteers listened to lectures outlining the serious condition of Mount Fuji’s forests and received basic knowledge about afforestation to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the initiative. |
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Cooperation in energy conservation and environmental protection is an important theme in the relationship between Japan and China, and through these efforts, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and its subsidiary, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU), are proactively supporting greenhouse gas emission reduction activities in China, where emissions are increasing rapidly.
In June 2008, MUFG and BTMU signed a memorandum of understanding and a cooperation agreement with China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to construct clean development mechanism (CDM)* project management systems and train local government officials in CDM management.
The NDRC is a Chinese government agency responsible for promoting economic and social development in China, and it is also responsible for CDM projects.
MUFG and BTMU will provide US$1 million in total for the project and sponsor a training |
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June 16, 2008 was a key date in Japan’s fight against rising CO2 emissions.
On this day, the construction of Japan’s largest biomass power plant, Gonoike Power Plant, was completed, an event marked with a grand official ceremony. A large number of guests attended, among them the governor of Ibaraki Prefecture, where the plant is located, and the mayor of nearby Kamisu City.
The plant was constructed by Gonoike Biomass Energy Co., a 50-50 joint venture established in 2005 by Mitsubishi Corporation and Chugoku Lumber Co., Ltd. Gonoike Biomass Energy’s core business is |
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power generation using the leftover sawdust, bark and other scrap wood from Chugoku Lumber’s Kashima Mill, which is located close to the new biomass power plant.
The plant’s proximity to the mill minimizes transportation and related energy needs, thereby reducing the plant’s impact on the environment. With an output of 21,000 kW, the plant is expected to reduce CO2 by a crude- oil-equivalent of some 61,100 kl/year. Due to this contribution to Japan’s CO2 reduction goals, the country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has subsidized the construction costs. |
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In hot weather, a good air conditioner is a godsend. Yet, with increasing concerns over global warming and air conditioners generally being major consumers of precious energy, what can you do?
Relax. The Shin-Save-Oh, a new air conditioner from Toyo Engineering Works is very environment-friendly, with a highly efficient fan that ensures low energy consumption and little maintenance.
The compact air conditioning system has been shown to be up to 31.1% more efficient compared with Toyo Engineering Works’ earlier THS model, thanks to a drastically improved air flow and a redesigned air vent.
These specifications make Shin-Save-Oh the ideal choice for new installations and replacements in facilities where effective air conditioning can make |
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a substantial environmental contribution, including office buildings, hospitals, factories and shopping centers.
In addition, Shin-Save-Oh uses Galvalume® steel sheet, which is coated by an aluminum-zinc alloy, for its exterior panels and framework. Not only does this reduce the framework weight by 60% compared with an earlier Toyo Engineering Works model, it also eliminates the need for welding and coating, thereby enabling further energy savings at the manufacturing stage. |
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