Seiyu Ltd., a major Japanese supermarket operator announced that the company will analyze the energy consumption in all of the stores and implement effective measures to curtail electricity consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

By applying specific lighting standards to all 235 stores nationwide, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, the company plans to reduce lighting levels in the stores by 100 to 200 luxes. In 101 stores it will install 271 small-size, highly efficient freezers. Also, the company will control air conditioning more carefully during the summer months.

Through these measures, Seiyu estimates that it can reduce annual electricity consumption by approximately 38 million kWh, approximately 6 percent of the electricity used by the company in fiscal 2002. This saving would be equivalent to the annual consumption of 11,000 average-size households. The efforts are expected to translate into an annual cost saving of about 400 million yen (about U.S.$3 million).

To cope with environmental issues, the company has formulated "Green Vision 2005," its medium-term environmental policy, and has been actively implementing measures such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste, expanding sales of eco-friendly products, organizing environmental seminars as community based activities at their stores, and conducting trainings to enhancing employee's understanding towards the environment. Meanwhile, in 2003, the company implemented "Eco Tax," an in-house taxation system levying taxes on energy consumption and waste generation at all of its stores.



Posted: 2003/10/15 03:21:00 PM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Global warming , Material reduction , Non-manufacturing industry , System/Law