Creation of Energy Projections and Environmental Measures Scenario

2012-1001-03
researcher's name
affiliation
research field
Architectural environment/Equipment
keyword

background

In the wake of the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake on March 11, 2011, electricity shortages were forecasted to become even more severe during the summer months when air conditioning demand increases considerably. For this reason, the government of Japan imposed mandatory power cuts during peak hours on some electricity consumers. Power saving measures restrict the scope of use and settings of air conditioning and lighting, and to some extent, ask employees to bear with a more uncomfortable indoor environment. In this vein, such measures could cause the intellectual productivity of employees to decline.

summary

A fact-finding survey was conducted of several office buildings that adopted summer energy-saving measures. The purpose of the survey was to explore sustainable energy-saving methods that would deliver high energy reduction effects without compromising productivity and comfort.

[Research Outcomes]
The survey found that the percentage of dissatisfied employees was smaller and that intellectual productivity could be better maintained when the lighting is decreased rather than when the temperature is raised, and that this measure significantly decreased electricity consumption.
When implementing power-saving measures, it is believed that the electricity consumption amount can be decreased effectively without compromising the comfort level and productivity of employees by giving priority to saving electricity through lighting, installing desk lamps, and selecting appropriate power-saving approaches tailored to the attributes of employees who occupy the floor.

application/development

Surveys on awareness about power-saving as well as follow-up will continue to be carried out in FY2012.

predominance

There are few studies which carried out detailed measurements of the indoor environment at multiple actual offices under a particular kind of environment, i.e., power-saving. 
We proposed effective power-saving methods for achieving both intellectual productivity and energy conservation, looking ahead to the expected changes in energy demand in Japan.

purpose of providing seeds

Sponsord research, Collaboration research, Technical consultation

material

  • Buildings at which measurements were taken: Measurements were taken at six buildings
  • Awareness about power saving: Results of questionnaire survey
posted: 2014/05/21