## Column – Establishment of the Housing Eco-point Scheme

The proportion of residential $ CO_{2} $ emission caused by energy generation in Japan is 14% (1/7 of the total). For achieving the target of reducing 25% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 compared with that of 1990, it is necessary to enhance residential energy-saving functionality and reduce residential $ CO_{2} $ emission to a great extent.

The establishment of the “Housing Eco-point Scheme” is incorporated into the “Urgent Economic Measures for future security and growth”. The “Housing Eco-point Scheme” is a system for acquiring eco-points when carrying out the new eco-house construction and the

## Housing Eco-point Scheme

## ■ Housing Eco-point Scheme

1. New construction of eco-housing (which began between Dec. 8, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2011)

- Housing with energy-efficiency levels equivalent to Top Runner Standards for housing, target levels set based on the Energy Conservation Act, (exterior walls, windows and building parts that conform with the 1999 energy-efficiency standards + 0 [highly-efficient MEP systems, such as hot-water supply systems])

- Wooden housing that conforms with the 1999 energy efficiency standards

2. Eco-renovations and replacement work on existing housing (which began between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011)

- Energy-efficient windows (double glazing by installing a second glass pane on the interior side [double sash], or replacement of glass [multiple glazing])

- Insulation in exterior walls, roofs, ceilings and floors

- Additional points are awarded when renovations for barrier-free features are carried out with these eco-renovations and replacement work

## ■ Number of points awarded

1. New construction of eco-housing: 300,000 points per unit

2. Eco-renovations and replacement work: 2,000 to 100,000 points depending on type of work (max. points: 300,000 per unit)

## ■ Goods and services exchangeable for eco-points

For instance

- Energy-efficient and eco-friendly products • Locally sourced food

- Coupons and prepaid cards

- Donation to groups working in environmental conservation

- Additional work by contractors that have constructed new eco-housing or have carried out eco-renovations and replacement work

eco-renovation as well as for exchanging points for various products, services and environmental contributions.

For new constructions, target points are awarded for wooden houses that meet the energy-saving standard (the standard of 1999) and residential housing that meets Top Runner Standards for housing.

For renovations and replacement work, target points are awarded for heat-insulating repair of windows and outer walls (e.g. high heat-insulating glass like multi-layer glass) as well as renovations for becoming barrier-free (e.g. constructing handrails, resolving bumps, expanding corridors etc.) that are carried out.

Through implementing the “Housing Eco-point Scheme”, the new construction of eco-housing and eco-renovations and replacement work on existing housing is carried out. Also, residential energy-saving enhancement is being pushed forward and it is expected that the effect on residential $ CO_{2} $ reduction will be boosted to a certain extent. Furthermore, citizens’ concern over measures on residential housing with high energy-saving functionality is rising. Great contributions to future $ CO_{2} $ reduction and the vitalization of activities in the industrial sector are expected.

2) Developing appropriate apartment management and facilitating repair and reconstruction

The total quantity of apartment stock has reached 5.62 million units (as of the end of FY 2009) and it has become an important lifestyle for citizens. On the other hand, it is necessary to formulate measures to deal with various issues when performing the appropriate maintenance management and the increase of decrepit apartments.

In FY 2009, support was provided for revising ideal management methods in both soft and hard aspects of maintenance management and resurrection of apartments. At the same time, the “Project on Promoting Secure Housing such as Apartments” system is being implemented for propelling the development of regional consultation. Additionally, regarding apartment management, the results of the “Comprehensive Apartment Survey”, which is carried out every five years for gathering fundamental information, was released.

Furthermore, the promotion of utilizing subsidies,

finance and taxation measures is being worked out in order to carry out the repair or reconstruction of decrepit apartments smoothly. As of 1 $ ^{st} $ October 2009, 49 apartment reconstruction projects that utilized the “Act on Facilitation of Reconstruction of Condominiums” were carried out successfully.