Figure 3-5-4 The Concept of Smart Community

Source: the Ministry of the Environment

2011, the excess electricity created as a result of proactive power saving measures combined with the system's normal excess electricity was supplied to the Tokyo Electric Power Company. This system clearly fulfilled its role as an autonomous, distributed urban power plant capable of standing up to disasters.

This effort to achieve energy self-sufficiency for Roppongi Hills by utilizing a co-generation system is attracting a great deal of attention, in terms of interest in initiatives aimed at developing low-carbon communities via autonomous, distributed energy for the purpose of utilizing local resources and developing disaster-prevention facilities.

## 3 Efforts for Low-Carbon Public Transportation (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

Here is a challenge with public buses as an example of a progressive initiative being undertaken in communities throughout Japan as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.

In Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in recent years there has been an increase in commuters at Shonandai Station, which has resulted in more traffic congestion in the surrounding area. In order to alleviate this, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kanagawa Prefecture, the Kanagawa Prefectural Police, Keio University, Fujisawa City, Kanachu (Kanagawa Chuo Transportation Co., Ltd.), and other groups got together in May 2003 to launch a committee to study the introduction of a new public transportation system. This committee explored a variety of systems and approaches geared towards resolving the congestion problem. The new public transportation system decided upon by the committee facilitates smoother traffic flow by adding articulated buses, which offer roughly twice the transport capacity of a normal bus, to the existing stock of feeder buses, as well as by incorporating an Intelligent Transport System (ITS). Bus transportation has been made smoother thanks to the establishment of a Public Transportation Priority System (PTPS) by the police; transportation operators have introduced articulated buses; a bus locator system has been established, which lets users find out where buses are in real time through their mobile phones; and various other initiatives have been implemented to augment the public transportation system and make it more convenient. All of

Photo 3-4-1 Gas Turbine Co-Generation and Bird's-Eye View of Roppongi Hills

Photos: Mori Building Co., Ltd.

this has resulted in less traffic congestion, which has meant fewer carbon dioxide emissions.

These initiatives represent seeds that came to fruition in the form of a demonstration project carried out in 2011 by the Ministry of the Environment as part of the Challenge 25 Regional Development Project. During this demonstration project, a low-noise, emission-free large-scale electric bus underwent demonstration testing. Development of this electric bus (an electric, fully non-step bus) began in July 2009 as a collaboration between Kanagawa Prefecture, Kanagawa Bus Association, Keio University, and others, and the first model intended for service was completed in March 2011. This 100% electric bus provides excellent environmental performance combined with a universally accessible design.

Because it is electric, there is no need to change gears, which means that it is easy to operate and offers smooth

acceleration. It also means that the bus is quiet with minimal vibrations, making the ride more pleasant. In addition, the bus consumes one-fourth as much energy as an equivalently sized diesel bus. Moreover, the adoption of wheel hub motors, in which the propulsive motors are located in the wheel hubs, does away with the need for an engine compartment; this allows the bus to be completely non-step from front to back (with only a slight difference in floor level), giving it superior accessibility (Figure 3-4-6).

As the above-mentioned initiatives show, it is extremely important for local governments, private business, and universities to work together, in order to introduce advanced transportation systems and vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art technology that will contribute to alleviating traffic congestion and also to building environmentally friendly communities.

Figure 3-4-6 New Public Transportation System and an Electric, Fully Non-Step Bus in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture

■New public transportation system incorporating articulated buses, a PTPs, and so on. ■Electric, fully non-step bus

Source: Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Co., Ltd. website

Source: SIM-Drive Corporation

## Section 5 Towards Establishing Local Recycling Zones

It is important to look at regional challenges from the perspective of establishing a sound material-cycle society. This section will look at the thinking on local recycling zones, which are part of the Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society.

## 1 What are Local Recycling Zones?

Resource constraints are becoming more pronounced throughout the world, and the value of recyclable resources is increasing. Therefore, in addition to utilizing recyclable resources, it is becoming increasingly important to make efforts to reduce the amount of waste being generated at all stages of socio-economic activity: resource extraction, production, distribution, consumption, disposal, and so on. This will minimize the quantity of new resources being extracted and the burden being placed on the environment, thereby facilitating the creation of a sound material-cycle society. The key to realizing such a society on a large scale is to first create local recycling zones that take advantage of characteristics and vitality of a given community to foster the creation of a sound material-cycle society on a local scale. From this perspective, the Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society advances the concept of local recycling zones, based on the idea that locally recyclable resources should be recycled locally, while the material cycle should be extended over a larger area for those resources that cannot be recycled locally. Put another way, the plan aims to create local recycling zones, which are premised on the proper disposal of waste materials, and which promote recycling on an optical scale for the local characteristics of each type of recyclable resources, from the perspectives of scarcity, utility, fighting global warming, and protecting biodiversity.

Actually creating local recycling zones requires more than just the development of resource recycling systems. It requires a focus on creating a low-carbon society to combat global warming, as well as a focus on creating a society