island phenomenon.

The “Pilot Programs for Inventing Cool City” launched in FY 2007 is a program that uses an integrated approach to combine multiple heat island countermeasures, such as planting trees at buildings to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, installing earth thermal heat pumps, etc., in the central districts of cities with notable heat island characteristics.

In FY 2007, eleven areas in the nation, including Tokyo’s Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho area (OMY area), were designated as model areas with notable heat island characteristics. Based on measures carried out on the rooftops of commercial buildings in the OMY area, we found that temperatures at rooftops that had planted greenery are over 25 $ {}^{\circ} $ C lower than the rooftops with a concrete surface (Figure 3-2-2). Rooftop gardening not only ameliorates the rooftop surface but also has the benefit of cooling the air that passes through the rooftop.

## B City Development Using Solar Power

Many municipalities are implementing progressive measures in regard to the use of solar power to generate electricity. One of these municipalities, Iida City in Nagano Prefecture, utilized the Megawatt Solar Share-Use Model Program sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment that employed funds invested by citizens to install solar power generating systems on the rooftops of day care centers, civic centers, etc. The City has been working on a new system to popularize the Program. The Program aims at providing a channel for citizens to participate in projects through financing, rather than donations, to raise awareness and to promote the Program.

Figure 3-2-2 Changes in Surface Temperature during Thermal Image Monitoring at the Rooftops of Commercial Buildings in OMY Area

Note: OMY area = Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho Area in Tokyo, Japan Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment from the data of Mitsubishi Estate Co., LTD.

Other projects are also being carried out. Stoves using wood pellets are installed in many day care centers in the city. This project aims at reducing the use of fossil fuels by utilizing natural energy and building a system to recycle wood pellets within the local community.

## C City Development Using Wind Power

Various wind-power generation projects are carried out in different regions according to the local wind conditions. Wind-power generation is expected to increase especially in small cities and mountain villages where there are not as many tall and big buildings as in large cities and where the natural wind flow can be fully utilized.

Kuzumaki township of Iwate Prefecture formulated the “Kuzumaki New Energy Vision” in March 1999 to actively promote the use of new energy, such as wind-power and solar power, for electricity generation. As a result, electricity produced from new energy can be supplied to approximately 16,000 households and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 34,000 tons annually. Wind-power generation accounts for over 90% of the electricity produced. Taking into consideration the protection of birds and animals, the township utilizes the wind that passes through a farm at an altitude of 1,000m. In addition, it also supports residents’ activities in making the township eco-friendly by providing subsidies for the purchase of firewood and installation of solar power generation and heat utilization systems.

Day care center using solar power to generate electricity (Photo: courtesy of Iida City)

Wind turbines in Kuzumaki Township (Photo: courtesy of Kuzumaki Township)