Page 101 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

78 Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

sectors to keep working at full capacity. To respond to the effects of pollution,
municipalities began working earnestly on ways to reduce emissions and clean
up the environment, while the Japanese industry responded to the oil crisis by
pushing for an increase in energy efficiency.
At the same time, Japan’s economy was evolving more toward information
processing and high technology, which held the promise of further increases in
energy efficiency. Japan created new innovative management “team” systems
that were copied in the United States and the European Union. Many
manufacturing firms saw value in establishing plants in other developed
countries in part to create a market for their products, employ local workers,
and establish firm and solid roots. For example, Toyota and Honda established
their Western Hemisphere Headquarters in Torrance, California. Other high-
tech companies established large operations throughout the US. In this way,
Japanese in government, industry, and academia have worked collaboratively
with local and regional communities to reincorporate traditional Japanese
ideas about conservation and respect for the environment to create sustainable
lifestyles compatible with modern living.
Community-level government efforts in Japan, supported by national
government initiatives, have led to unique advancements in energy efficiency
and sustainable lifestyles, including novel ways of preventing and eliminating
pollution. As it stands, Japan is responsible for some 4% of global CO 2
emissions from fuel combustion, and although this is the lowest percentage
among major industrialized nations, it is still something the country intends to
reduce, with a long-term goal of reducing emissions by 60%e80% by 2050.
With the majority of energy still coming from coal, Japan is also attempting a
large shift toward renewable energy.
As of November 2008, residential-use solar power generation systems have
been put in place in around 380,000 homes in Japan. A close examination of
the data on shipments domestically in Japan shows that 80%e90% are
intended for residential use, and such shipments are likely to increase, as the
government aims to have solar panel equipment installed in more than 70% of
newly built houses by 2020 to meet its long-term goals for reductions in
emissions. Current goals for solar power generation in Japan are to increase its
use 10-fold by 2020 and 40-fold by 2030, and large proposed subsidies for the
installation of solar power generation systemsd9 billion yen or $99.6 million
total in the first quarter of 2009dalong with tax breaks for consumers will
continue the acceleration of solar adoption by Japanese households.
In recent years, places like Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan,
saw tremendous growth in energy generation almost entirely from solar power
installations. However, these have mostly involved large-scale solar concen-
trated power facilities not fit for individual households. In Japan, however, as
solar power generation systems for residential use become increasingly
commonplace, they have become concentrated by creating sustainable com-
munities through use on roofs of local homes and businesses.