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Zero Emission House on Display at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will build a model house called the “Zero-Emission House” in the outdoor car park of the International Media Center (IMC) for coverage by international journalists during the Hokkaido Toyako Summit. This house of the near future, scheduled to be completed by the end of June, will be equipped with a photovoltaic power generation system, fuel cells, advanced robots, and other cutting-edge technologies. As part of the Environmental Showcase hosted by the Japanese government, the Zero-Emission House is aimed at advertising Japan’s outstanding energy and environmental technologies.

1. The Hokkaido Toyako Summit, whose main agenda is the prevention of global warming, will be held on July 7-9 in Toyako Town, Hokkaido. The International Media Center (IMC) (10,000 m2) will be set up at Rusutsu Resort, which is located about 27 km (or 30 minutes’ drive) from the summit venue, Windsor Hotel Toya.

The entrance hall and outside space of the IMC, will be the venue for the Environmental Showcase, an exhibition and demonstration of Japan’s world-leading environmental technologies, as well as presentations of Japan’s initiatives to address environmental challenges.

2. As part of this Environmental Showcase, METI, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology will jointly set up the Zero-Emission House (approximately 280 m2) in the outdoor car park of the IMC. This house of the near future will feature a photovoltaic power generation system, high-efficiency lighting, a heat pump water heater, a residential fuel cell system, eco-friendly construction materials, and advanced robots, as well as other cutting-edge technologies such as energy-saving home appliances, LED lamps instead of fluorescent lamps, and green IT products. Fully using superior technologies developed for Japanese prefabricated houses, including seismic and insulation technologies, the Zero-Emission House will represent a house that makes life easier and more comfortable. This will be a good opportunity for Japan to exhibit its world-leading energy and environmental technologies to the as many as 4,000 national and international journalists that are expected to gather to cover the summit.

3. METI and the New Energy Foundation will jointly operate a fuel cell system to partially supply electricity for lighting and set up a footbath for which water will be heated by waste heat from the system.

4. The Zero-Emission House will be completed by the end of June.

Outline of the Zero-Emission House

  • Location: 13 Aza Izumikawa, Rusutsu-mura, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido (at the car park of Rusutsu Resort)
  • Scheduled date of completion: end of June
  • Floor space: Approximately 280 m2
    (residential section: approx. 200 m2, footbath section: approx. 80 m2)
  • Equipment on display
  • PV (photovoltaic) systems
  • Small wind turbine generator
  • Portable high-capacity lithium ion battery power supply
  • Organic LED lightning
  • High efficient heat pump hot-water supply systems
  • Residential Fuel cell system
  • Environment-conscious construction materials (humidity control building , Woody materials reclaimed from thinned wood and waste wood)
  • Advanced, high-performance vacuum thermal insulators (for home appliances and construction materials)
  • Mirror duct system
  • Energy-saving home appliances, information appliances and systems
  • Demonstration of latest robots
  • Lightweight steel-framed prefabricated house (with a vibration control system and exterior walls covered with a dirt-resistant coating)
  • Footbath heated by a residential fuel cell system
  • Electric vehicles (sports cars)

Sponsors
Sponsor: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Co-sponsors: New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, New Energy Foundation
Cooperation: Kamori Kanko Co., Ltd.

appearance of Zero Emission House photo of the main exhibits in the Emission house

Division in Charge

Policy Planning Division, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

Release Date

June 16, 2008