Compendium on Energy
Conservation Legislation
in Countries of the Asia and Pacific Region
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Part Two:
Country Profiles and Case Studies of National Legislation for
Promotion of Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency
Regulatory Framework for
Energy Conservation Legislation in Japan
by Akira Ishiyama*
SECTIONS IN THIS CHAPTER
Introduction
Fundamental principles of energy conservation legislation in
Japan
Regulations on buildings and construction
Regulatory measures for energy using equipment
Energy efficiency in the transport sector
Energy efficiency in electrical appliances
Consumer information and awareness
Outlook: Energy conservation policy in the future
Annex 1
The promotion of energy conservation has been a high priority of the Government of Japan since the first oil crisis. As a result, the energy intensity per unit GNP was 35 per cent better in 1997 than at the time of the 1973-1974 oil crisis. This constitutes a remarkable reduction of energy intensity over the past two decades.
However, in recent years the low level of oil prices and continuing change in people's lifestyles caused an increase in the amount of energy consumed. The annual average energy growth rate of the past seven years was as high as 3.1 per cent per annum, with the residential and commercial sector and the transport sector recording the highest growth. The growth in consumers' purchasing power has led not only to more people buying more products and consuming more energy, but notably, buying more sophisticated products which often consume higher amounts of energy than previous models.
Concern about the persistently high growth rate of energy consumption brought energy conservation back to the top of the Government of Japan's priorities. Furthermore, the Government became more sensitive to the growing concern about global climate change. As a result, in 1993 the "Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Conservation Law)", which had been passed in 1979, was revised with a goal of further enhancing the efficiency of energy use. The text of the Law concerning the Rational Use of Energy is included in Part Four of this publication.
2 Fundamental principles of energy conservation legislation in Japan
In the Energy Conservation Law, "energy" refers to such fuels as oil, flammable natural gas and coal. It also includes heat and electricity produced using these fuels as heat sources.
Obligations of energy users are determined by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). The Minister shall establish and announce basic policies aimed at comprehensively promoting the rationalization of energy use in respective fields. By systematically compiling information and announcing guidelines on measures to be taken by energy users, the Government encourages energy users to actively make efforts to rationalize their energy use. <return to top>
2.1 Regulations concerning designated industries
In 1995, the industrial sector accounted for some 50 per cent of total energy consumption. Accordingly, it is important to promote the rationalization of energy use in factories and other manufacturing establishments (hereinafter referred to as factories). The Energy Conservation Law of Japan provides the following regulations on industry.
2.1.1 Guidelines for business operators
MITI has established and announced guidelines (Standards and Targets) for business operators who use energy in their factories and other business locations. These guidelines concern:
a) Rationalization of fuel combustion (combustion equipment)
b) Rationalization of heating, cooling, heat transfer
c) Prevention of heat loss due to radiation, conduction, etc.
d) Recovery and utilization of waste heat
e) Rationalization in the conversion of heat to power
f) Electricity loss due to resistance
The basic policies provide guidelines to be referred to by business operators when they formulate concrete measures for effective rationalization of energy use in factories.
2.1.2 Guidance and advice
The Energy Conservation Law authorizes the regulatory authority to provide guidance and advice to industrial energy users. The Energy Conservation Centre of Japan (ECCJ) was established and designated as the entity to offer such technical advice.
2.1.3 Designated energy management factories
The Energy Conservation Law designates large scale energy consuming factories to implement energy management and conservation measures. Designated energy management factories are defined in Government Ordinance as factories which consume amounts of fuel or electric power of more than 3,000 kilolitres of fuel per year in terms of crude oil equivalent, or more than 12 GWh of electric power per year. <return to top>
2.1.4 Instructions, announcement and orders to make rationalization plan
Designated energy management factories are expected to follow energy rationalization guidelines. Factory operators are required to prepare a rationalization plan for submission to the designated authority.
2.1.5 Energy managers
2.1.5.1 Appointment of energy managers
The Law requires the operator of a designated factory to appoint a certain number of licensed energy managers in charge of activities for rational energy use. Every year, energy managers shall report the status of energy consumption to MITI through the company management.
2.1.5.2 Duties of Energy Managers
The energy managers shall be responsible for maintaining the facilities for the consumption of fuel, heat and electricity, improving and supervising the method of using fuel, heat and electricity, and conducting all other work as provided by a MITI Ordinance for the rational use of fuel, heat and electricity. Energy managers shall also be responsible for the preparation of annual reports to MITI. <return to top>
At a Designated Heat Management Factory, items to be reported are:
a) Consumption of fuel and heat produced by such fuel (hereinafter referred to as Fuel) by type and total consumption;
b) Efficient use of Fuel;
c) Conditions of installing, remodeling or dismantling equipment consuming Fuel, and operating conditions of such equipment;
d) State of observance of standards and targets related to the rational use of Fuel, and other measures taken for rational use of Fuel; and
e) Amount of production including monetary value of production.
At a Designated Electricity Management Factory, items to be reported are:
a) Consumption of electricity;
b) Efficiency of use of electricity;
c) Conditions of installing, remodeling or dismantling equipment consuming electricity and operating conditions of such equipment;
d) State of observance of standards and targets related to the rational use of electricity and other measures taken for rational use of electricity; and
e) Amount of production including monetary value of production.
2.1.5.3 Designated institute for training and licensing of energy managers
The Law provides for the procedures and criteria for the designation of an examination institution. The Law establishes rules for administration of the examination, rules concerning the formulation of work plans and budgetary plans, and the selection of examiners for the energy manager examination. On 18 April 1984, the ECCJ was designated as the examination institution. Since that time, ECCJ has been responsible for all training and certification.
2.1.6 Energy audits
The Energy Conservation Law provides a regulatory framework for mandatory and voluntary energy audits. <return to top>
2.1.6.1 Energy audit for small and medium-sized companies
Energy conservation assessments of small and medium-sized companies began in 1985 and approximately 5,600 assessments have been carried out nationwide. Target companies are those with capital of less than 100 million yen or less than 300 employees. The assessment is free. It is conducted by one or two assessors from ECCJ for one or two days. They give advice on heat energy and advice on electric energy.
2.1.6.2 Detailed energy audit
A fee is charged for large and medium-sized companies. Two to three experts from ECCJ perform a preliminary survey, which is then followed up by a detailed survey of the production process. A list of areas in need of improvement is drawn up and prioritized. Concrete measures are suggested to address the priority of the improvement plan and a proposal is set forth which presents the expected benefits of these measures as well as the investment required to implement them.
3 Regulations on buildings and construction
Most energy consumed in the residential and commercial sectors in Japan is used in buildings. Because measures such as the insulation of buildings can be highly effective for the rational use of energy, the Law stipulates the following rules for rational energy use in buildings.
3.1 Obligations of building owners
Any person who intends to construct a building must take appropriate measures for prevention of heat loss through external walls, windows, floors and ceilings as well as for efficient utilization of energy for building facilities such as air-conditioners, ventilation systems, lighting, water heaters and elevators. MITI and the Minister of Construction have established standards for building owners to refer to when making decisions for rationalizing energy use in their buildings.
Important ways to save energy in buildings include:
a) Prevention of heat loss through walls, windows, floors and ceilings; and
b) Efficient use of energy for air-conditioners, mechanical ventilating equipment (other than air-conditioners), lighting facilities, hot water supply system, and elevators. <return to top>
Owners of hotels, hospitals, commodity merchandising stores, business offices and schools shall strive to address the following concerns by attaining values below the standard values as set out in Table 2.2.6 in Annex 1.
3.2 Guidance and advice
The Minister of Construction may, whenever necessary, give guidance on building design and construction to the owners of buildings (other than private dwellings), taking into account the energy use standards. For private dwellings, the Minister has established guidelines for their design and construction in accordance with the energy use standards.
In addition to these rules, the Minister of International Trade and Industry may give insulation and other construction material manufacturers guidance and advice for improving the insulation properties of their materials.
3.3 Instructions for specific buildings
If the Minister of Construction deems that any building (not for dwelling) of 2,000 m2 or more in total floor area does not meet the rational energy use standards, instructions to the building owner may be given on the matters concerning design and construction work.
4 Regulatory measures for energy using equipment
Three main criteria used to identify electrical appliances which fall under the Energy Conservation Law are: wide or common use; high energy consumption; and particularly poor performance. The Law requires that manufacturers and importers of equipment such as automobiles, air-conditioners or other electrical or heat using appliances ensure the rational use of energy by that equipment.
As specified in the Government Ordinance, the Minister of International Trade and Industry (and also the Minister of Transport for automobiles) shall establish and announce by March 1996 standards for energy consumption efficiency improvement for passenger cars, air-conditioners, fluorescent lights, televisions, copying machines, computers, magnetic disk drives, video tape recorders and automobile trucks. The goal is to improve the energy efficiency of the most inefficient products, either by technological improvement or by removing them from the market. These standards are therefore not minimum performance standards, but apply to each manufacturer's shipment-weighted average energy efficiency. <return to top>
The Minister may also make recommendations to manufacturers and importers when it is considered that a considerable improvement is needed in the energy consumption efficiency of their specific products. Typically, such recommendations are only given when production or import volumes exceed a certain minimum level. For example, more than 2,000 automobiles per year or more than 50 air-conditioners per year.
5 Energy efficiency in the transport sector
5.1 Passenger cars
The Ministerial Ordinance and Standards for Motor Vehicles set out target energy efficiency improvements to be achieved by the year 2000. When manufacturers and importers distribute gasoline-fueled cars in Japan, the value obtained by weighting the fuel consumption efficiencies of respective vehicle types by the numbers of vehicles distributed, and averaging the values, shall not be lower than the energy consumption efficiency standard. Table 2.2.3 details the prescribed average fuel efficiency improvement targets expected to be attained by the year 2000.
5.2 Trucks
Regulatory measures for improvement of fuel efficiency in trucks
relates to gasoline-fueled trucks weighing less than 2.5 tons. Target improvements in
energy efficiency are to be achieved by 2003. The energy efficiency standard aims at an
improvement of 4.8 to 5.8 per cent relative to 1993.
6 Energy efficiency in electrical appliances
6.1 Air-conditioners
When manufacturers and importers distribute air-conditioners in Japan, the weighted mean obtained by weighting the energy consumption efficiencies of respective models by the number of units distributed and then harmonically averaging the values, shall not be lower than the prescribed energy consumption efficiency standard. Air-conditioners are categorized as ordinary air-conditioners and air-conditioners for cooling only. The energy consumption efficiency standard of air-conditioners shall not be lower than the respective cooling/heating coefficient of performance (COP) value of each category.
6.2 Fluorescent lamps
When manufacturers and importers distribute fluorescent lamps in Japan, the value obtained by weighting the number of units distributed shall not be lower than the energy consumption efficiency stated in Table 2.2.4. <return to top>
Energy consumption efficiency is the value obtained as total luminous flux (lumen) divided by power consumption (watt) of fluorescent lamps.
6.3 Television sets
When manufacturers and importers distribute televisions in Japan, the value obtained by weighing the numbers of units distributed shall not be lower than the prescribed energy consumption efficiency standard. The energy consumption efficiency standards change according to the type and screen size of the television and are categorized as: standard televisions 21 inches and smaller; standard televisions larger than 21 inches; wide screen televisions; high-definition televisions; built-in satellite receivers; and built-in video decks. Similar target energy efficiency improvements have been specified for other electricity-using equipment including computers, copying machines and video tape recorders. (Table 2.2.5 Energy efficiency standards for televisions in Japan)
7 Consumer information and awareness
As stipulated in the Energy Conservation Law, equipment such as that described above shall be marked to show its energy consumption efficiency so that consumers can selectively purchase equipment of high energy efficiency based on improved information on comparative product performance. The Minister of International Trade and Industry (and also the Minister of Transport for automobiles) shall establish the labelling procedure to be followed by manufacturers including energy consumption efficiency, labelling method and other matters to be observed. Labelling for air-conditioners and televisions is stipulated in the "Household Articles Quality Labelling Law".
To enhance people's awareness of energy conservation, the Council for Promotion of Energy and Resources Conservation Measures prepares and distributes public information materials such as brochures on "Energy Conservation in Summer and Winter". It also holds symposia and offers information through the mass media. In order to promote energy conservation efforts across the nation and throughout the year, the Government of Japan established the first of every month as "Energy Conservation Day", February as "Energy Conservation Month" and the first day of August and December every year as "General Check-up Day for Energy Conservation". <return to top>
8 Outlook: Energy conservation policy in the future
In the industrial sector, energy conservation policies have been pursued through the promotion of capital investment in energy conservation and improvement in energy management. However, energy prices remain low. At the time of slow economic growth, investment in energy efficiency is difficult to promote. To further increase energy conservation in industry, there is a need to strengthen energy management efforts and introduce more energy conservation technology and equipment.
In the commercial and residential sector, efforts to conserve energy in buildings and raise the energy conservation efficiency of household electric appliances need to be continued. To realize more energy conservation in this sector, it is necessary to promote energy conservation in new buildings. Also needed is improved operation of air-conditioners and other related equipment in buildings.
In the transport sector, measures have been taken to increase the energy consumption efficiency ratio of gasoline fueled vehicles and the traffic facilities, encourage the use of public transport, and raise the efficiency of distribution. However, as ownership of vehicles and the size of passenger cars increase, the fuel cost of motor vehicles increase, proportionally. As a consequence, energy consumption in this sector shows a consistent upward trend and the energy consumption rate is increasing. To halt this trend, efforts to enforce these measures must be stepped up.
In addition to the policies for each sector mentioned above, policies to promote changing lifestyles will be necessary and public education on the need for energy conservation needs to be improved. <return to top>
Chapter One Table of Contents Chapter Three
Building regulations for owners of hotels, hospitals, commodity merchandising stores, business offices and schools: definition of standard values <return to place in text>
The definition of the standard values are as follows:
a) Prevention of heat loss through external walls, windows, ceilings and floors of a building
Perimeter Annual Load (PAL)
PAL = Thermal load of the ambient indoor spaces
(Mcal/y)
Total floor area of the ambient indoor space (m2)
- Heat lost through external walls, windows, ceilings and floors for a year; total of heating and cooling load generated in the ambient indoor space.
- The quantity of open air taken in is presumed to be a constant calculated on the basis of the area.
b) Efficient use of energy concerning air-conditioners
Coefficient of Energy Consumption for Air-conditioning (CEC/AC)
CEC/AC = Quantity of energy consumed for
air-conditioning (Mcal/y)
Virtual
air-conditioning load (Mcal/y)
- Quantity of energy of a given air-conditioner consumed to treat air-conditioning load for a year
- The quantity of open air taken in is presumed to be a constant calculated on the basis of the area. Decrease in load by using exhaust heat is not taken into account.
c) Ensuring efficient use of energy concerning mechanical ventilating equipment except air-conditioners
Coefficient of Energy Consumption for Ventilation (CEC/V)
CEC/V = Quantity of energy consumed for
ventilating equipment (kcal/y)
Virtual
quantity of energy consumed for lighting (kcal/y)
- Quantity of energy necessary for covering the design quantity of ventilation on the presumption that standard values are set for the efficiency, total pressure loss, etc. of a fan and that there is no control made.
d) Efficient use of energy concerning lighting facilities
Coefficient of Energy Consumption for Lighting (CEC/L)
CEC/L =
Quantity of energy consumed for lighting (kcal/y)
Virtual quantity of energy consumed for lighting (kcal/y)
- Quantity of energy consumed by lighting facilities on the presumption that standard values are set for the power of lighting facilities and there is no control made.
e) Efficient use of energy concerning hot water supply system
Coefficient of Energy Consumption for Hot Water Supply (CEC/HW)
CEC/HW = Quantity of energy consumed
for hot water supply (kcal/y)
Virtual
hot water supply load (kcal/y)
- Quantity of energy consumed by the whole hot water supply including heat loss in pipes and hot water storage tanks, quantity of energy consumed by circulating pumps, etc.
- Quantity of energy necessary for producing hot water of necessary temperature in necessary amounts at each hot water supplying place
f) Efficient use of energy concerning elevators
Coefficient of Energy Consumption for Elevator (CEC/EV)
CEC/EV =
Quantity of energy consumed by elevators (kcal/y)
Virtual quantity of energy consumed by an elevator (kcal/y)
- Quantity of energy consumed by a given elevator on the presumption that a standard control method is adopted. <return to place in text>
*JICA/ESCAP Expert on Energy
Conservation/Efficiency
Energy Resources Section
Environment and Natural Resources Development Division
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: (66)(2) 288-1528
Fax: (66)(2) 288-1059
E-mail: ishiyama.unescap@un.org
<return to place in text>
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