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Condominium Developments with Individual Solar Power Generation Systems
ORIX Real Estate is making progress with condominium developments equipped with solar power generation systems for individual units. This is a type of system that allows all housing units in a condominium development to act as a power company and sell excess electricity produced by each unit through solar power generation to the power utility. By selling excess power generated during the day, this type of residence reduces heating costs by approximately 50%* (compared with standard residences that use a combination of gas and electricity), and cuts CO2 emissions and promotes energy savings. Furthermore, each housing unit is also equipped with a monitor that makes it possible to determine at a glance the amount of electric power generated and consumed per day, leading to increased energy savings benefits through the "visualization" of energy usage.
* ORIX Real Estate's calculation
CASBEE Certification Achieved
ORIX Real Estate is committed to lightening the burden that buildings make on the environment. Its track record with regard to this goal include the Minatomirai Center Building (Yokohama City, Kanagawa) completed in May 2010, which attained the highest rank of "S" under the CASBEE Yokohama certification system, and The Tower Osaka (Osaka City, Osaka), which received a rank of "A" evaluation under the CASBEE Osaka system.
CASBEE, which stands for "Comprehensive Assessment for Built Environment Efficiency," is a system for applying an objective environmental performance rank to buildings. ORIX Real Estate is striving to attain a high CASBEE evaluation rank for the condominiums, logistics facilities, commercial facilities and office buildings it develops.
ORIX Hommachi Building (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture) completed in March 2011 is positioned in the heart of Osaka, and is expected to consolidate the functions of the Osaka Headquarters for the ORIX Group. ORIX Real Estate has attained CASBEE Osaka "S" rank certification for the building through a modern, environment-conscious design which includes the installation of a roof high-rise solar power generation system approximately 130m from the ground. Further, solar panels will be installed on the roof of this large-scale logistics facility. In addition, a power generation system adopted for the three different buildings will be implemented in order to cover part of the power consumed by the facility. On top of a solar power generation system, ORIX Real Estate will also implement measures such as LED lighting and rooftop/wall gardening to attain CASBEE certification and turn this into an environmentally-friendly, energy-conserving facility.
Suginoi Hotel's Food-Recycling Project
Suginoi Hotel (Beppu City, Oita Prefecture) is implementing a "food-recycling project." All of the leftover food (food waste) produced by the hotel is collected and composted by Oasis Japan, Co., Ltd., a local business. The compost is then used at farms run by Oasis Japan and its affiliate farms to produce various agricultural products. By purchasing those products, Suginoi Hotel is endeavoring to increase the recycling rate of food waste, and has eliminated fees for food waste collection and disposal.
Further, the same undertakings are being conducted even at the "Blue Ridge Hotel" (Tomioka City, Hyogo)
"Enosui ECO" Environmental Initiative at Enoshima Aquarium
Enoshima Aquarium (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture), which opened in April 2004, is dedicating its efforts to "Enosui ECO," an initiative incorporating both the ecology of living organisms and "eco-action" activities that involve environmental-consciousness. Enosui ECO stresses the preciousness of life and the environment to children through hands-on programs that make it possible to have fun while learning about the environment and living organisms. The initiative is also responsible for monthly beach cleaning efforts under the theme of "Let's all work together to keep the coast beautiful and garbage-free!" that are carried out in cooperation with partners including the Kanagawa Coastal Environmental Foundation. Going forward, Enoshima Aquarium will continue to think earnestly about what it can communicate to the public, as well as activities that can be enjoyed together with visitors, and it will promote activities connected to biodiversity conservation.
Introduction of a Solar Power Generation System at Kyoto Aquarium
Scheduled to open at Umekoji Park (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) in 2012. As Japan's first large-scale aquarium built inland, Kyoto Aquarium has been designed in harmony with the environment as a "site of culture, exchange and activity" that will be much-loved by local citizens as well as a "place for environmental learning" that goes beyond the usual school curriculum.
The building's amount of CO2 emissions will be controlled by the introduction of measures such as a solar power generation system, leading-edge ventilation system and LED lighting.
"SANGO ORIX" Okinawa Coral Reef Revitalization Project
ORIX Real Estate launched the "SANGO ORIX" Okinawa coral reef revitalization project in 2008, the ICRI International Year of the Reef, in order to protect coral reefs' powerful ability to support biodiversity, and also so that beautiful oceans may be passed on to subsequent generations. At present, it is carrying out coral transplantation efforts in the seas around Nakijin Village in Okinawa Prefecture and other locations. Working in partnership with Okiden Kaihatsu, Inc., part of the Okinawa Electric Power Company Group, ORIX Real Estate continues to undertake coral reef growth verification surveys and other conservation and revitalization activities. As of fiscal 2011, it had transplanted 5,132 pieces of coral, and the plan is to transplant 10,000 pieces over a five-year period.
Announcement from ORIX Golf Management regarding the "SANGO ORIX" Project
ORIX Golf Management (OGM) is taking part in the "SANGO ORIX" coral reef revival project headed by ORIX Real Estate. OGM undertakes coral transplantation activities using contributions from customers as well as funds raised by recycling golf balls that are no longer needed and lost balls that have been recovered at all of the facilities it manages and operates.
OGM will put customers' donations and the proceeds of its recycling activities toward this year's coral transplantation efforts and other environmental initiatives.
(Fiscal 2010 Results)
・Total Donations Received: ¥942,782*1
・Number of Golf Balls Recovered: 159,254*1
・Coral Transplanted in Fiscal 2010: 200 Pieces *2
*1：The figure for total donations received includes conversion funds (approx. ¥530,000) for 85,000 of the total number of golf balls recovered by July 2010.
*2：The number of pieces of coral transplanted as of September 2010.
Promoting the Formation of Low-Carbon Golf Courses
ORIX Golf Management (OGM) manages and operates 39 golf courses (810 holes) and two golf practice ranges throughout Japan (as of December 31, 2010). OGM began the "GOLF de ECO" project in April 2010 with the aim of operating golf courses with a small environmental burden. Current initiatives under the "GOLF de ECO" project are as follows:
Contributing to a low-carbon society = Cutting 1 million kg of CO2 emissions (1,000t-CO2) over three years (compared with fiscal 2008 levels)
- ● OGM is comprehensively reviewing its usage of resources such as electric power, water and fossil fuels, and is promoting the adoption of environmentally friendly equipment. Over a three-year period, OGM will replace 37,000 lighting fixtures, which consume a particularly large amount of power, on an as-needed basis, and install energy-saving fixtures in their place.
- ● Beginning in November 2010, OGM will carry out equipment installation work at the "Rotary Golf Club" and the "Nara Wakakusa Country Club" (updating LED lighting and water chilling-heating devices, installing new heat pumps) using a subsidy provided under the "Japan Voluntary Emissions Trading Scheme" operated by Japan's Ministry of the Environment. The move will reduce annual emissions by approximately 400t of CO2 (total for two golf courses, 13% of overall emissions). Plans are also being developed to reduce energy consumption at other golf courses by installing new heat pumps and renovating air-conditioning systems.
- ● "Musashi OGM Golf Club" and "Nara Wakakusa Country Club" have installed solar power generation systems in March 2011 using a subsidy provided under the Solar Environmental Value Purchase Program offered by Japan's Environmental Ministry.
Contributing to a Recycling-Oriented Society = By fiscal 2012, compost and use 50% or more of mowed grass clippings gathered at all golf courses
- ● The initiative will begin at upward of 20 courses in fiscal 2010. OGM is aiming to compost and use 20% or more of the total amount of mowed grass clippings collected at all of its golf courses.
- ● "Fuji OGM Excellent Club Ise Owashi Course" has installed a dedicated food waste disposal device on a trial basis, and it is working to promote both waste reduction and the secondary use of waste (fertilizer production).
Since June 2009, ORIX Real Estate has been conducting energy-conserving activities at all of the residents' units for Good Time Living; a (fee-based) senior residence established in the Tokyo metropolitan and Kansai areas. The various initiatives implemented include reducing power consumption by revising the usage times for items such as air conditioners, lighting and TVs, as well as reducing the volumes of water and gas used by adjusting bathing time intervals for residents. In particular, steady results are being achieved with regards to energy-conservation at resident's houses through the cooperative efforts of the residents and ORIX Living staff at "Good Time Living Shin-Urayasu" (Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture).
