The city of Nagoya, in Japan's Aichi Prefecture, launched a new certification system, called "Nice Green Nagoya," in July 2008, to promote the creation of more green space around homes and offices. Nagoya is using the system to evaluate and reward the greening efforts of its citizens and local companies. Projects that achieve a high ranking are awarded a certificate and permission to use the program's logo, along with other economic perks.

Under the system, lots are graded as fair, good, or excellent based on satisfying certain criteria such as the ratio of green area to total lot area, the ratio of trees compared to other vegetation on the site, preservation of existing trees, the greening of rooftops and walls, and efforts to maintain and manage green spaces.

Five regional banks in Nagoya, including Chukyo Bank and the Bank of Nagoya, agreed to offer a preferred interest rate to land owners who ranked high under the system for housing loans. Chukyo Bank, for example, is offering loans to customers rated as "good" at an interest rate of 0.1 percent and "excellent" customers at 0.2 percent more favorable than the regular rates.

http://www.city.nagoya.jp/global/en/

Posted: 2008/10/19 11:36:41 PM

TAG Ecosystem , Local government , Manufacturing industry , NGO/Citizen , Non-manufacturing industry , System/Law