Environment Seeking for a Symbiotic Home - Steps in Establishing a Certification System 1999

Environment Seeking for a Symbiotic Home - Steps in Establishing a Certification System 1999

In Japan in the 1990s, housing policy and environmental measures began to intersect, and the improvement of housing performance, such as energy conservation, high thermal insulation, and high airtightness, became important issues. With the aging of the large supply of housing built during Japan's period of rapid economic growth, the heat island phenomenon in urban areas, and air pollution becoming more apparent, a foundation affiliated with the Ministry of Construction established the "Environmentally Conscious Housing Certification System". The system included mandatory criteria such as energy-saving performance, durability, barrier-free accessibility, site conditions, and greening rate, as well as evaluation of proposal-based designs such as rooftop greening, rainwater harvesting, and use of natural energy.

The first related technology at the time was the improvement of thermal insulation materials and window performance. In addition to the widespread use of glass wool and foam insulation, double-glazing and plastic sashes were introduced to reduce the heating and cooling load. In addition, energy-efficient water heaters, high-efficiency gas and oil appliances, and solar water heaters have begun to be used in the residential sector. In addition, passive design, which takes advantage of natural lighting and ventilation, has been attracting attention, and efforts have been made to enhance environmental performance from the design stage.

Greening technology was also important. Rooftop greening was expected to reduce the rise in temperature in urban areas and reduce urban flooding through rainwater harvesting. In addition, the introduction of rainwater harvesting systems and gray water systems contributed to the effective use of water resources and symbolized the shift to a recycling-oriented society.

Furthermore, in the late 1990s, the introduction of photovoltaic (PV) power generation into homes began to gain momentum, and the design of a system for reverse transmission of surplus power to the grid was also discussed. These technologies were incorporated as evaluation items for "environmentally symbiotic housing" and became pillars supporting the significance of the system.

However, the international trend at the time - the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 - was a backdrop to the pioneering efforts to promote energy conservation and environmental load reduction in the housing sector. However, against the backdrop of the international trend at the time - the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 - it was positioned as a pioneering effort to promote energy conservation and environmental impact reduction in the housing sector. The "Eco-Symbiosis Housing Certification System" was the point at which technology and systems were combined to change the house from a "vessel for living" to a "place where the environment and people coexist".