Eco home innovations from Mitsui

Written by: Rebecca Milner on July 2, 2008 at 11:59 pm | In 01 Technology & Gadget Trends, 03 Fashion & Lifestyle Trends | No Comments

From June 26, major developer Mitsui Home will begin offering an eco-friendly construction option that will reduce yearly home CO2 emissions by up to 42% compared to standard home construction practices.

The design employs energy efficiency measures such as using 2×6 beams instead of the usual 2×4 and argon gas filled windows in order to improve insulation, plus a low energy-loss ventilation system. The resulting energy efficient home would produce only 998kg of CO2 gas a year, sparing the efforts of the equivalent of 74 Japanese beech trees to absorb the CO2 and saving 349 liters of gas.

The plan is available for homes more than 42 tsubo (3.31 square meters) at a cost of 25,000 per tsubo.

Japan has the technology to push construction in general to the next level, as exemplified by the model for the Eco&Ud house (pictured below) Panasonic released in 2006 and the almost C02-free model house created in cooperation with more than 50 companies on display at this summer’s G8 summit in Hokkaido; however, we hope that plans like the one above from Mitsui Homes will mean more environmentally conscious development for the mainstream population rather than just showcase pieces.

Meanwhile, Mitsui Real Estate Residential is releasing the “Save Earth Display” in cooperation with Tokyo Gas from July 1. The device shows the energy consumption level (and cost) from your home gas use and is based on the idea that being aware of your energy use tends to lower consumption by 5-10%.

The indicators will be first introduced at the Park Homes residential complex in Meguro and gradually make appearances in new developments around Tokyo. With slogans like “Save Earth” (and a product debuting in fashionable Meguro no less) and Mitsui Home’s “Make LOHAS with Mitsui Home” these new projects tap nicely into the trendy eco boom.

Tags: development, Eco, LOHAS, Mitsui Home, Mitsui Residential

Eco-friendly inventions for household appliances

Written by: Rebecca Milner on April 24, 2008 at 8:05 pm | In 01 Technology & Gadget Trends, 02 Marketing & Ad Trends, 03 Fashion & Lifestyle Trends | No Comments

The current mania for all things eco is producing a fair number of impressive innovations in addition to the expected gimmicks. An example of the former is “Eco Tokukun” from Kankyo Souken, a product to make your household fish grill more environmentally friendly.

These small stones, made from recycled paper sludge and silica, aluminum oxide, and calcium oxide and designed to lie in the bottom of the gas grill, promise to cut carbon emissions from the cooking process by 25%. They also increase thermal efficiency, cutting cooking time by 25% and thus your gas usage (and bill). Considering that the fish grill is a kitchen appliance common to pretty much all Japanese homes, and used on a regular basis, these are pretty significant numbers.

As if all that weren’t enough, Eco Tokukun (only ¥450 a pack) also absorbs the odor and juices from the cooking fish, which eliminates waste and the need for unpleasant cleaning, and can be used up to 30 times before needing replacement.

Meanwhile another eco-gadget, the Eco Watt (¥3,150), from Enegate, aims to educate people about their own energy consumption. While similarly named products have flitted in and out of the market for a few years now, the current eco boom has brought the Eco Watt back into the spotlight in a new sleek modern form.

Plug any of your household appliances into the Eco Watt, which then itself gets plugged into the wall outlet, and the digital screen displays the amount of electricity being used, the estimated cost of said electricity, the estimated amount of carbon emissions the power use is causing, and amount of time the power has been running.

Tags: Eco, food, gadgets

Japan Inc. March/April: Eco Fashion

Written by: Michael Keferl on March 24, 2008 at 6:06 am | In 04 Press coverage | No Comments

Rebecca wrote the latest piece in our collaboration with Japan Inc. for the March/April issue. This time we’re reporting on Eco Trends in fashion, though it’s safe to say that the “Eco” factor has a lot more to do with image than ecology!

See our first piece on Convenience Store Trends HERE.

If there are any topics you’d like to see CScout Japan report on, be it on the web, in print, or for television, please contact us and give us your suggestions.

Tags: Eco, Fashion, Japan Inc.