Copyright Tohoku University

Description:

Ecollab., one of the main buildings at the Tohoku University research institute, is a wooden school building made from timbers harvested from the Field Science Center, a part of the university. The natural and warm texture of wood can be felt, and various experimental features were introduced into its construction to make it an eco-house and still function as one of the main buildings of the university. The name "Ecollab" comes from "eco", "collaboration", and "laboratory." The idea was to make this building a place to achieve an integration of interdisciplinary expertise from different academic areas into a new approach for tackling environmental challenges.

Ecollab. is supposed to be a place to research and develop new technologies for solving environmental problems. While securing room for the flexible application of technologies being developed at the lab, the building is designed to have the warm, soft touch of wooden materials along with high levels of insulation and an airtight structure.

From the Ecollab. viewpoint, in realizing a lower carbon lifestyle without reducing the quality of life, it is essential for people to smoothly integrate into their everyday life the practices of utilizing renewable energy, reducing energy loss, and capturing & storing small amounts of energy with its "DC Table" providing electricity outlets at the center of the room, solar air-conditioning system, etc. The lithium battery used at Ecollab. proved its potential right after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 by providing electricity to Ecollab. in the midst of blackouts due to the damage sustained by the electricity distribution infrastructure.

Location:
Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture

Category:
Eco-product, Lifestyle, Energy

Actor:
Citizen

More info:
Tours of Ecollab. Graduation School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University
http://www.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp/en/ecollab.html
※Previous Reservation Required upon a visit

Related JFS articles:

[Newsletter] Children Visit Tohoku University's Ecollab. -- Learning
Future Technologies through Environmental Study
http://www.japanfs.org/en/mailmagazine/newsletter/pages/031478.html

[Newsletter] Technologies to Save the Earth -- Learning from Nature Part 1 & 2
http://www.japanfs.org/en/mailmagazine/newsletter/pages/031329.html
http://www.japanfs.org/en/mailmagazine/newsletter/pages/031396.html

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