Saitama Prefecture Introduces First "Green Roof" Convenience Store Project

Copyright Saitama Prefecture

Saitama Prefecture in central Japan announced on March 13, 2012, the introduction of a green roof project on the top of a convenience store, the first such attempt in the prefecture to plant vegetation on a roof as a greening initiative. The store is the Kumagaya Mikajiri branch of Ministop Co., a major convenience store chain in Japan. The prefecture and Ministop agreed on comprehensive cooperation in 13 areas, including environmental conservation, starting in 2010. Two-thirds of the cost of the project was subsidized by the prefecture, in line with its plans to encourage more greenery in private facilities.

Ministop's green rooftop project adopts an innovative technology of installing "moss boards," also known as eco-moss, which allow vegetation to grow without the need for watering, thus reducing maintenance costs. It is also greatly expected to reduce the high power consumption related to air-conditioning in convenience stores.

The initiative for green rooftops on convenience stores is attracting attention to the prefecture's regulations, which were amended on April 1, 2012, that require builders of facilities of 1,000 square meters or more (previously, only buildings of 3,000 square meters or more were included) to submit a greening plan, and because of this an increased number of convenience stores will have to comply with the revised regulations.

Japanese Convenience Store Chain Introducing Eco-Friendly Stores Built Using 'Eco-Wood' (Related JFS article)
Ministop to Open Japan's First Store Built with FSC-Certified Domestic Wood (Related JFS article)

Posted: 2012/06/27 06:00:15 AM

TAG Ecosystem , Global warming , Local government , Non-manufacturing industry