Japan Home Builders Accelerating Green Efforts

Tokyo, Dec. 19 (Jiji Press)--Major Japanese home builders are
stepping up efforts to make houses energy-efficient in a drive to fuel
demand.

Sekisui House Ltd. <1928> plans to launch a joint project with
Osaka Gas Co. <9532> next month to test a system designed to enhance housing
energy-efficiency.
The test will look into how efficiently energy can be utilized with
the combination of fuel cells, solar cells and batteries.
The system will allow households to use surplus electricity
accumulated daytime at night. Sekisui House hopes to put the system into
practical use in two or three years, a company official said.
In October, PanaHome Corp. <1924> built a model house in Tokyo that
uses light-emitting diode lights in collaboration with Panasonic Electric
Works Co. <6991>.
The companies estimate that electricity bills would be reduced by
some 40,000 yen a year if all lights in a house are replaced with LED
lights.
Mitsui Home Co. <1868> has recently drawn up a report on a joint
energy-saving study with a research institute in Asahikawa, Hokkaido,
northern Japan.
The report said that the combination of technologies in 12
energy-saving areas, such as a hot-water supply system using solar power and
a well-insulated wall, can cut annual carbon dioxide emissions per house by
some 50 pct.