Agreement between the City of Kawasaki and a solar power generation company (Kawasaki, 2006)

Agreement between the City of Kawasaki and a solar power generation company (Kawasaki, 2006)

In the mid-200s, the spread of solar power generation was strongly promoted in Japan from the perspective of preventing global warming and increasing energy self-sufficiency, and following the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and its entry into force in 2005, the national and local governments actively developed measures to support the introduction of renewable energy, and solar power generation subsidy programs for households The subsidy system for solar power generation for households also spread throughout the country. At the same time, however, the popularity of the program has led to social problems with high-cost contracts and poor workmanship by malicious remodeling contractors, who have taken advantage of the program's popularity, and there has been a string of complaints to the Consumer Affairs Agency and the National Consumer Affairs Center.

In 2006, Kawasaki City responded to this situation by concluding an "Agreement on Prevention of Consumer Trouble in Residential Construction Contracts" with a solar power generation company in the city. The agreement requires that only contractors who have undergone training by the manufacturer present an estimate in advance and clarify the details of the contract, thereby establishing a system that allows citizens to choose a contractor with peace of mind. The city's seal of approval is issued to the best operators, and the list is published on Kawasaki City's official website. This has helped to "visualize" and "assure reliability.

The background of the project is that Kawasaki has been leading the city's environmental policy as an "environmentally advanced city" through the Eco-Town project and the concentration of recycling industries in the waterfront area. Kawasaki is unique in that it did not limit the wave of renewable energy introduction to a mere subsidy policy, but built a model for promotion based on a relationship of trust among citizens, the government, and businesses. Citizens responded by saying, "I can feel secure in making a request because of the agreement seal," and for business operators, it was an opportunity to restore trust and expand the market.

While "malicious remodeling" and "home construction troubles" have become social problems nationwide, Kawasaki's efforts have attracted attention as a pioneering example of balancing consumer protection and the spread of renewable energy, and have subsequently led to the introduction of similar certification systems and agreement methods in other municipalities.