Tokyu Land to Use Energy-Efficient Water Heaters in New Condos

Tokyu Land Corp., a major Japanese real estate company, announced on September 27, 2007 that it will install a type of energy-efficient gas water heater, the "Eco Joze," as standard equipment in most of the new condominiums it will build in the area served by Tokyo Gas Co.

Conventional gas water heaters waste 20 percent of energy input as exhaust heat, but the Eco Joze is equipped with an exhaust (latent) heat recovery system that reduces this energy loss to 5 percent. This has led to an increase in heat efficiency from the conventional level of 80 percent to 95 percent, as well as 13 percent less gas consumption. Thus, the Eco Joze can cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 13 percent, while releasing less waste heat to the air.

Tokyu Land estimates that 187.7 tons of CO2 will be reduced annually by installing the Eco Joze in the 1,500 new condominium units it expects to sell during the year in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Using the Eco Joze will also mean lower gas bills for homeowners. Compared to conventional water heaters, for example, annual savings per residential unit will be about 8,000 yen (about U.S.$71) for hot water only and 12,000 yen (about U.S.$106) when the unit is used for both hot water and under-floor heating.

http://www.tokyu-land.co.jp/english/

Posted: 2008/02/15 05:39:09 PM
Japanese version