By SHINICHI SEKINE/ Staff Writer
October 26, 2022 at 17:09 JST
Solar panels installed on a roof in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Household CO2 emissions can be cut to a third via measures such as insulation retrofitted to reduce air conditioning and heating usage and installing a solar electric system, according to the Environment Ministry.
The ministry presented a new model on Oct. 25 that will help lead to decarbonization.
“We hope each and every one of you will take action while realizing the economic benefits,” a ministry official said.
The government’s goal is to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by fiscal 2030 compared to the fiscal 2013 level. Households are being asked to take further measures, requiring a 66-percent reduction (138 million tons).
The ministry said the model it presented can mean achieving reductions of greenhouse gas emissions required in the household sector.
It also said the model leads to savings of approximately 36,000 yen ($243) per month, or 430,000 yen per year, in utility costs.
To achieve the goal, the required CO2 reduction per household is around 2,400 kilograms annually.
The ministry has proposed 14 items for reducing CO2 emissions. Of these, the most effective is to properly insulate the home, which would reduce about 1,100 kg of CO2 emissions per year.
This was followed by installing a solar electric system--a 3.5-kilowatt solar electric system can reduce CO2 emissions by around 920 kg per year. Another was installing heat pump water heaters, eliminating around 520 kg of emissions annually.
About 40 kg of CO2 can also be reduced through the government’s Cool Biz and Warm Biz initiatives, which allow office workers to wear casual clothing, thereby reducing electricity consumption by limiting air conditioning and heating use in office buildings.
However, support for the initial investment is key. Installing a solar electric system requires an initial cost of around 1 million yen, while installing a heat pump water heater costs about 270,000 yen.
The government has provided a subsidy program, and Environment Minister Akihiro Nishimura said the government is considering providing more support.
“We are launching a campaign to promote renovations for thermal insulation. We will provide the necessary support,” he said.
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