PanaHome Corp. (a leading Japanese housing manufacturer and corporate member of the Matsushita Group) launched sales of its new three-story environment-friendly home, model "Solbios EL," on December 17, 2003.

The Solbios EL features a new type of 3-kW solar power system the home's flat roof, capable of generating an average of 3000 kWh of power annually. This solar power system can be installed on small homes that have as little as 120 square meters of total floor space, built on small urban lots. Excess power generated during the day can be sold to power companies.

The home also features a rooftop greenery system that takes advantage of the flat roof, as well as window frames made of an aluminum-resin compound that provides superior insulation, allowing the home to meet next-generation energy-efficiency standards. The original air-conditioning system and design to prevent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) allow for a healthy and comfortable environment. The Solbios EL can also be easily remodeled and "converted" at any time if the owner wishes to change the way it is used.

"Conversion" means changing the way an existing home is used (as lifestyles or the family structure change, for example) in order to maximize efficiency. The ability to convert to meet future needs not only helps maintain the home's value, but it also cuts down on the amount of construction waste compared to the "scrap-and-rebuild" approach," thereby helping to promote a recycling-based society.

PanaHome has set a sales target of 240 home for the first year, as it believes a public increasingly aware of environmental issues will be attracted to this new model.



Posted: 2004/03/03 09:12:06 PM
Japanese version

TAG Eco-product/Business , Energy , Material reduction , NGO/Citizen , Non-manufacturing industry