Top > Press Releases > Back Issues > December 2009 >Announcement of a report by the Committee on the Development and Dissemination of Net-Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs)
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) commissioned the Committee in May 2009 to discuss the Development and Dissemination of ZEBs (Chairman: Prof. Yuzo Sakamoto, professor at the School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo). The results of the Committee to propose a new vision toward developing ZEBs in Japan, to identify challenges, and to suggest measures to solve them are hereby released.
No other sector needs to tighten up measures to cut energy consumption as much as the commercial sector does in Japan. Final energy consumption in the commercial sector including office buildings, retail stores, hospitals and school buildings has remained high after having increased by about 40-50% from the 1990 level.
The Committee set up by METI had eight meetings to discuss a concrete road map toward the achievement of ZEBs. In the course of discussions, it conducted field surveys to examine ZEB-related policies and technological trends in the U.S. and UK.
Through these discussions and surveys, the Committee has compiled a report to propose a new vision toward developing ZEBs in Japan, to identify challenges, and to suggest measures to solve them.
- Illustration of a zero energy building(PDF:25KB)
A New Vision for the Achievement of ZEBs by 2030 and Measures for Its Implementation
New vision for the adoption of ZEBs
• Japan’s vision for the achievement of ZEBs needs to be more ambitious, considering Japan’s new medium-term target and the technical potential to achieve ZEBs. The new vision should boldly expand the target to all kinds of new buildings by 2030 from the current one formulated in April 2009, in which the target is covered with only new public buildings.
• Primary energy consumption in the commercial sector can be reduced by about half in 2030, when the new vision is implemented and the energy efficiency of existing buildings is significantly improved as a result of energy saving renovation. About ¥800 billion of additional investment will be needed each year.
• Making Efforts to achieve ZEBs will provide a growth opportunity for a wide range of industries. Japan should lead the world in the design and control of energy efficient buildings as well.
Toward implementing the vision
Regulation
• The Japanese government should raise the standards for buildings under the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy as soon as possible, for the current ones were established in 1999.
• A comprehensive evaluation based on the energy consumption of the whole building should be conducted. The Japanese government should consider making it obligatory to meet energy saving standards in the future.
• The government should set detailed benchmarks under regulations to implement the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy, and encourage companies to move into energy efficient buildings.
Support and guidance
• Drastic tax incentives (e.g., property tax) and budgetary support (e.g., to help ZEBs to be widely accepted) should be introduced.
• Support for technical innovation (especially total design and integrated control for the achievement of ZEBs) is also important.
Promotion of social awareness and understanding
• A labeling system to indicate the energy efficiency level of buildings should be established to allow access to the building’s energy efficiency data and reflect it into the building’s real estate value.
• Introducing "eco-friendly offices", changing people’s work styles, and improving workers’ awareness of energy conservation are essential. Eco-friendly activities at the workplace level should be developed into a national movement by giving awards to pioneering practices and setting up a promotion forum.
International expansion
• Japan’s Prime Minister Hatoyama and U.S. President Obama agreed during President Obama’s visit to Japan in November 2009 to strengthen bilateral cooperation on energy efficient buildings.
• The government should promote Japanese ZEBs to be introduced in China and other Asian countries with similar climates to Japan.
Release Date
November 24, 2009
Division in Charge
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Division, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
