Tokyo Reinforcing its Green Building Program

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, on June 25, 2008, approved an amendment to the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Security Ordinance, which includes measures to reinforce its Green Building Program. The aim of the program is to establish a system for evaluating buildings in the housing market for environment-friendly features, so that owners will be more encouraged to incorporate environmental aspects into building design. The revised program will enter into force on January 1, 2010.

The amendment reduces the floor area of buildings subject to the program from the current 10,000 square meters and over. This will mandate owners of mid-sized buildings to also submit plans on energy and environmental conservation, regardless of whether it's new construction or a building extension. Also, the Green Labeling System, which requires condominium sellers to indicate their building's energy and environmental performance in any advertising, will apply to condominiums not only for sales but also for rentals.

Building owners will also be required to consider introducing renewable energy technologies, in accordance with a process set by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), which will later disclose the processes and results of their discussion so that the use of renewable energy may be further promoted.

Building owners will be obliged to prepare assessment statements on the energy conservation performance of their buildings and present them when dealing with sales or rental customers. New building construction or an extension with a total area exceeding 10,000 square meters will be required to satisfy the TMG's minimum standards on energy conservation, which will contribute to raising the performance level of energy conservation in buildings in Tokyo.



Posted: 2008/08/24 04:59:16 PM