Japan's Ministry of the Environment (MOE) reported on June 8, 2007, the completion of "eco-renovations" on Kuromatsunai Junior High School in Hokkaido, the first of fifteen model schools being renovated so far under its Eco-Renovation of School Buildings and Environmental Education Project (the Ecoflow Project). It also named the next model school chosen for eco-renovations to be Otokoyama Dai-ni Junior High School in Yawata City, Kyoto.
Promoted since fiscal 2005, the Ecoflow Project was implemented based on an environmental policy proposal titled "Eco-Renovation of Existing School Buildings and Environmental Education," one of the excellent ideas submitted by non-governmental and non-profit organizations and companies in response to the ministry's call for proposals in fiscal 2003. The project focuses on (1) renovating school buildings to reduce their contribution to global warming, (2) promoting ecology conscious architecture in local communities, and (3) using the renovated school buildings themselves for enhanced eco-education.
The first fifteen schools were designated as model schools for this three-year-long project in fiscal 2005 and 2006. Kuromatsunai Junior High School in Hokkaido, designated in fiscal 2005, was the first of these to have its eco-renovation completed (in March 2007). Galbarium steel plates and an exterior insulation method were used on the building's exterior to keep it strong and warm. Inside, an open and bright learning space was created, thanks to the warmth of beechwood flooring and a hallway space two-levels-high, called "hikari-no-michi" (the path of light), covered with a glass roof. The result of the new building is reduced energy consumption for lighting, and it provides concrete examples of improved design and technology for use in environmental education. (Please see JFS article #1303 for the photo of the school.)
The MOE plans to select one or two more schools for the second-round of nominations in fiscal 2007. Furthermore, it intends to establish a group to study eco-school renovation and, for the purposes of eco-education, have local governments review the results of renovating each model school and the eco-education benefits resulting from utilizing the renovated school buildings.
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