(6) Promotion of measures taken by citizens and private business operators

In order to further advance measures against global warming, it is essential to obtain the understanding from different

In order to further advance measures for national sections and take action actively. Therefore, the popularization of carbon offset in traffic and tourism is being promoted. Moreover, in order to have medium and small-size business operators push forward environmentally-friendly business activities voluntarily, the "Green Business Certifying System" is being carried out by business operators based on the Green Business Promotion Manual on each business including automobiles, marine transportation, warehouses and port transportation.

In addition, for the purpose of further controlling energy consumption in transportation, based on the Energy Conservation Act, the designated transportation business operators and freight owners are obligated to submit regular reports, as well as to carry out measures for energy-saving.

### 3. Measures regarding Residential Housing, Buildings, Sewerage and Urban Greening

## (1) Enhancement of energy-saving functionality in residential housing and buildings

The energy consumption of private (commercial and residential) sectors is 30% of total energy consumption and is still tending towards an increase. Therefore, the enhancement of energy-saving functionality in residential housing and buildings is an important issue. The Act on the Rational Use of Energy obliges the owners to submit a report about energy-saving measures, whenever they build, extend or renovate large-scale housing or buildings in order to promote rational use of energy of housing and buildings. Moreover, the popularization of further energy saving is being worked out through the establishment of the Housing Eco-point Scheme.

Furthermore, the Housing Performance Indication System for showing residential housing energy-saving functionality in an understandable way, and the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE) for the assessment of comprehensive environmental functionality for livability improvements of residential housing and buildings, as well as burden reduction to the earth’s environment, are being developed and popularized. Additionally, at the same time as taking supportive measures (e.g. reducing the interest) utilizing the framework of securitization business of Japan Housing Finance Agency, the development and popularization of energy-saving design and construction technology is being worked out through support on leading technology development by private business operators and holding training sessions for designers and construction technicians.

Moreover, in order to promote energy-saving among existing housing and commercial buildings, several tax reductions have been initiated such as income tax and fixed property tax reductions concerning specific energy-saving renovations in existing housing, and exemption from corporate tax for special depreciation and tax reduction concerning specific energy-saving equipment installation in commercial buildings.

## (2) Promotion of environmental burden reduction in government facilities

For the development of government facilities, development in consideration of the reduction of environmental burden is being pushed forward in the life cycle from planning to construction, utilization and retirement. For the renewal of decrepit equipment in existing facilities, renovation in consideration of reduction of environmental burden is being implemented and the appropriate utilization management is performed thoroughly for further pushing forward greening.

In addition, based on the “appropriate utilization and development in the future Kasumigaseki district” (the infrastructure council report of June 2008) etc., $ CO_{2} $ emissions reduction is being further pushed forward through the adoption of environmental technology in the reconstruction of the Cabinet Office Building and the renewal of decrepit equipment or facilities in the Central Government Building in order to realize a “low-carbon society in Kasumigaseki”.

## (3) Measures against global warming in sewerage

Based on the target achievement plan on the Kyoto Protocol, energy-saving measures by high-efficiency machinery introduction, and new energy measures by effective utilization of sewage sludge derived fuel and biogas, as well as the reduction of $ CO_{2} $ caused by high-temperature burning of sewage sludge are being pushed forward. The $ CO_{2} $ reduction target