2019.03.05
R&D DISCUSSION Vol. 08
Environmentally friendly architecture and healthy spaces drive the economy
ESG Investment and Wellness Offices [Part 2]
Shinichi Tanabe Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University
Q: What are the latest trends in environmental initiatives both in Japan and overseas?
A: In Japan, the E (environment) aspect of ESG has been promoted through mandatory energy conservation and various subsidies and tax incentives as national policies, but the system is being reviewed with the aim of further energy conservation in the future. concept design, approved by the Cabinet in 2018, aims to achieve a zero-sum balance between energy generation and consumption for newly built public buildings by 2020, and for all newly built buildings, including residential buildings, by 2030. The idea is to reduce energy consumption during the operation of a building by using energy-saving technologies and renewable energy such as solar power generation, and to reduce it to as close to zero as possible. However, while this is easy to achieve for small buildings such as convenience stores, it is difficult for large buildings such as high-rise buildings to achieve this goal. This is because there is a limit to the amount of renewable energy that can be generated due to the limited rooftop area. Therefore, there is a movement to allow offsetting by purchasing renewable energy and achieving this through cooperation between multiple buildings in the future. If the building is built by the same business operator, the surplus renewable energy from the ZEB building can be used to assess other buildings, and the entire business will be considered to have achieved ZEB. It is expected that this will also help promote the spread of renewable energy to large-scale users, which is currently a bottleneck.
Among global private-sector initiatives, the RE100 (Renewable Energy 100%) project has been a hot topic. This is an international initiative that aims to procure 100% of business operations from renewable energy. Companies can generate their own energy or purchase it on the market, but they must submit a report every year. Launched in 2014, 152 companies worldwide are members (as of October 6, 2018), including American companies Apple, Google, and Goldman Sachs, Swedish companies IKEA and H&M, and Japanese companies Ricoh, Sekisui House, Askul, Daiwa House, and Aeon. Apple also actively uses renewable energy in its branches in Japan, and an increasing number of foreign companies are making the introduction of renewable energy a condition for the office buildings they occupy as tenants.
Q: Social consideration is becoming a trend in the construction industry these days. What is the background to this?
A: The most attention is now being paid to S (society), that is, efforts such as consideration for the working environment, responding to human rights issues, and contributing to the local community. Until now, in Japan, E (environment) has been prioritized, and comfort and productivity have tended to be sacrificed. For example, there is an initiative called COOLBIZ, which is promoted by the government to combat global warming. In the summer, people are encouraged to wear light clothing such as ties and jackets, and the room temperature setting of the air conditioner is set to 28°C. I am in favor of COOLBIZ, but I have always opposed setting the temperature at 28°C. 28°C is merely a guideline, and it is fine to set the room temperature within a reasonable range without cooling it too much, and productivity should not be sacrificed. Finally, in recent years, "wellness offices" that consider not only the environment but also health promotion, comfort, and improvement of intellectual productivity have begun to spread. This spring, an office version of CASBEE, a building environmental performance certification system born in Japan, is scheduled to be introduced, and health and intellectual productivity improvement will be added to the evaluation.
The background to this is the decline in Japan's labor force. According to calculations made in my laboratory [Figure 1], the labor force in 2030 will be 13 million fewer than in 2010, 20 years ago. Furthermore, if overtime is reduced to zero as part of the recent work style reforms to eliminate long working hours, working hours will decrease by 22.7%. A simple calculation of this means that to maintain Japan's current GDP, we need to be about 1.5 times more efficient. The government is now actively calling for shorter working hours, but since scientific research into working efficiently has not progressed, productivity will not increase no matter how much people are told to "try harder." In fact, in corporate management, labor costs account for a larger proportion than energy consumption [Figure 2]. It is said that if labor costs are 100, the rent for tenant offices is 10 and energy costs are 1, so the proposition is how to induce employee health promotion and increase intellectual productivity.
It is difficult to measure intellectual productivity, but there is an American research paper that says that intellectual productivity increases when a person is highly satisfied with their working environment. In addition, although factors such as wages, superiors, and colleagues are also involved, it is also known that there are people whose productivity drops drastically when there is even the slightest dissatisfaction with the space, such as room temperature, light, or noise. The office version of CASBEE is also scheduled to include items to investigate satisfaction with the spatial environment.
Regarding office design, ABW (Activity Based Working), which is a trend in the West, has recently become a hot topic in Japan. It is a way of working where you choose where to work and where to desk depending on the work content, and there are spaces where you can concentrate on working alone, sofas for meetings, and plenty of refreshment spaces such as fitness gyms and showers. Japanese people tend to be bad at concentrating, so I think this style is effective, but it tends to be seen as getting rid of fixed seats and adopting a free address system, and many people think that it will save space. However, the key is to create an environment where you can choose the activities that suit you [Figure 3], so if you prioritize space efficiency, it often doesn't work. It is important to choose a style that suits your business, not just ABW.
PROFILE
Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University
Doctor of Engineering (specializing in architectural environment)
Shinichi Tanabe
Shinichi Tanabe
Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1958. Graduated from the Department of Architecture, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University in 1982, and completed the master's course at the same university's graduate school in 1984. Studied at the Technical University of Denmark from 1984 to 1986, and at the University of California, Berkeley from 1992 to 1993. Served as an associate professor in the Department of Architecture, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University from 1999, and has been a professor there since 2001 (current position following reorganization in 2007). Served in positions including chairman of the Building Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Association, vice chairman of the Architectural Institute of Japan, and chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Council. Currently, he is chairman of the Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan, and director of the Housing and Built Environment Research Institute at Waseda University's Smart Society Technology Fusion Research Organization.
OTHER DISCUSSIONS
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.56
Mind change――
Aiming for a company that will develop into the future [Part 2]
Hidehito Kawahara, President and CEO of ALFA PMC
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.55
Mind change――
Aiming for a company that will develop into the future [Part 2]
Hidehito Kawahara, President and CEO of ALFA PMC
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.54
Mind change――
Aiming to become a company that will develop into the future [Part 1]
Hidehito Kawahara, President and CEO of ALFA PMC
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.53
Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 2]
Professor Akinori Morimoto, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University; President, City Planning Institute of Japan
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.52
Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 2]
Professor Akinori Morimoto, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University; President, City Planning Institute of Japan
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.51
Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 1]
Professor Akinori Morimoto, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University; President, City Planning Institute of Japan
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.50
The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 2]
Nobuyuki Ueda Professor Emeritus of Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Director of Neo Museum
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.49
The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 2]
Nobuyuki Ueda Professor Emeritus of Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Director of Neo Museum
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.48
The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 1]
Nobuyuki Ueda Professor Emeritus of Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts, Director of Neo Museum
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.47
Light is Life: Humans on the Solar Earth [Part 2]
Hiroyasu Shouji ShojiLighting Designer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.46
Light is Life: Humans on the Solar Earth [Part 1]
Hiroyasu Shouji ShojiLighting Designer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol45
Building fire-resistant wooden buildings [Part 2]
Noboru Yasui, Architect and Chairman of NPO team Timberize
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.44
Building fire-resistant wooden buildings [Part 1]
Noboru Yasui, Architect and Chairman of NPO team Timberize
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.43
What is a sign? What is sign design?
What? [Part 2]
Toshiaki Yashima Information Designer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.42
What is a sign? What is sign design?
What? [Part 2]
Toshiaki Yashima Information Designer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.41
What is a sign? What is sign design?
What? [Part 1]
Toshiaki Yashima Information Designer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.40
Data-driven urban development that makes people happy [Part 2]
Taro Hitokoto Director of Neural Pocket Co., Ltd.
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.39
Data-driven urban development that makes people happy [Part 1]
Taro Hitokoto Director of Neural Pocket Co., Ltd.
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.38
Japan's Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050 [Part 2]
Takuzo Saito Director of the Evaluation and Assessment Department, Housing and Construction Center, Better Living Foundation
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.37
Japan's strategy for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 [Part 1]
Takuzo Saito Director of the Evaluation and Assessment Department, Housing and Construction Center, Better Living Foundation
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.36
The "extra" required for architecture revealed through regional projects [Part 2]
Yasushi Takeuchi Professor, Tohoku Institute of Technology (-2021), President and CEO, Abisei Planning Co., Ltd. (2022-)
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.35
The "extra" required for architecture revealed through regional projects [Part 1]
Yasushi Takeuchi, Professor, Tohoku Institute of Technology (-2021), President and CEO, Abisei Planning Co., Ltd.
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.34
Before-Before Architecture Theory
Design techniques that unravel history [Part 2]
Toru Ajisaka, Professor, Kagoshima University
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.33
Before-Before Architecture Theory
Design techniques that unravel history [Part 1]
Toru Ajisaka, Professor, Kagoshima University
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.32
How to create a "water mass" that attracts adults
Turning aquariums into "media" through a customer-centric approach
Gen Nakamura Aquarium Producer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.31
How to create a "water mass" that attracts adults
Sunshine Aquarium "Oasis in the Sky" [Part 2]
Gen Nakamura Aquarium Producer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.30
How to create a "water mass" that attracts adults
Sunshine Aquarium "Oasis in the Sky" [Part 1]
Gen Nakamura Aquarium Producer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.29
Wellness and Performance Management
How to Live in a New Era Vol.2 [Part 2]
Takayuki Hirai
Deputy Director of the CHO Office at DeNA Co., Ltd.; Representative of Ibuki LLC
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.28
Wellness and Performance Management
How to Live in a New Era vol.2 [Part 1]
Takayuki Hirai
Deputy Director of the CHO Office at DeNA Co., Ltd.; Representative of Ibuki LLC
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.27
A work style that brings about innovation
How to Live in a New Era Vol.1 [Part 2]
Takahiro Sakamoto
Representative of SSIN LLC, Advisor of KOKUYO Co., Ltd.'s Work Style Reform Project
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.26
A work style that brings about innovation
How to Live in a New Era Vol.1 [Part 1]
Takahiro Sakamoto
Representative of SSIN LLC, Advisor of KOKUYO Co., Ltd.'s Work Style Reform Project
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.25
Looking at the future design process through "Renovation" [Part 2]
Masataka Baba Architect
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.24
Looking at the future design process through "Renovation" [Part 2]
Masataka Baba Architect
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.23
Looking at the future design process through "Renovation" [Part 1]
Masataka Baba Architect
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.22
Architecture in Film: Special Effects TV and Comedy Films of the 1960s [Part 2]
Tatsuo Iso IsoArchitectural Journalist
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.21
Architecture in Film: Special Effects TV and Comedy Films of the 1960s [Part 1]
Tatsuo Iso IsoArchitectural Journalist
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.20
Pioneering the future with the power of design
Discovering Young Artists [Part 2]
Toshiki Kiriyama Director
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.19
Pioneering the future with the power of design
Discovering Young Artists [Part 2]
Toshiki Kiriyama Director
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.18
Pioneering the future with the power of design
Discovering Young Artists [Part 1]
Toshiki Kiriyama Director
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.17
The present and future of theater space
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.3 [Part 2]
Masaji Ito + Kenji Maruyama Theater Workshop Co., Ltd.
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.16
The present and future of theater space
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.3 [Part 1]
Masaji Ito + Kenji Maruyama Theater Workshop Co., Ltd.
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.15
How to create public spaces with 100% occupancy rate
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.2 [Part 2]
Yuko Yamashita Yamashita, Network creator, Hiroba-nist
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.14
How to create public spaces with 100% occupancy rate
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.2 [Part 1]
Yuko Yamashita Yamashita, Network creator, Hiroba-nist
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.13
Designing "social fluctuations"
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.1 [Part 2]
Shoji Okabe
Evangelist at Snow Peak Business Solutions Co., Ltd., and co-representative of the nonprofit organization "Hama no Toudai"
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.12
Designing "social fluctuations"
Research on Plaza Spaces Vol.1 [Part 1]
Shoji Okabe
Evangelist at Snow Peak Business Solutions Co., Ltd., and co-representative of the nonprofit organization "Hama no Toudai"
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.11
A workplace that fosters innovation
Changing the environment changes the way you work [Part 2]
Tetsuo Kobori Architect
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.10
A workplace that fosters innovation
If the environment changes, the way you work will change [Part 2]
Tetsuo Kobori Architect
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.09
A workplace that fosters innovation
Changing the environment changes the way you work [Part 1]
Tetsuo Kobori Architect
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.08
Environmentally friendly architecture and healthy spaces drive the economy
ESG Investment and Wellness Offices [Part 2]
Shinichi Tanabe Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.07
Environmentally friendly architecture and healthy spaces drive the economy
ESG Investment and Wellness Offices [Part 1]
Shinichi Tanabe Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.06
The centripetal force of a single sketch that depicts a scene from the future [Part 2]
Tetsuo Fukuda Industrial Designer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.05
The centripetal force of a single sketch that depicts a scene from the future [Part 1]
Tetsuo Fukuda Industrial Designer
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.04
Thinking about future redevelopment from postwar "buildings" [Part 2]
Shunsuke Kurakata historian
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.03
Thinking about future redevelopment from postwar "buildings" [Part 1]
Shunsuke Kurakata historian
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.02
Architecture: Perspectives from Industrial Design [Part 2]
Kozo Yamada, Director and Advisor, GK Design Corporation
R&D DISCUSSION Vol.01
Architecture: Perspectives from Industrial Design [Part 1]
Kozo Yamada, Director and Advisor, GK Design Corporation
Update : 2018.09.21
RELATED
INSIGHTS
-
R&D DISCUSSION
2024.06.19
Mind change――
Aiming for a company that will develop into the future [Part 2] -
R&D DISCUSSION
2024.06.19
Mind change――
Aiming for a company that will develop into the future [Part 2] -
R&D DISCUSSION
2024.06.19
Mind change――
Aiming to become a company that will develop into the future [Part 1] -
R&D DISCUSSION
2024.05.13
Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 2]
-
R&D DISCUSSION
2024.05.13
Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 2]
-
R&D DISCUSSION
2024.05.13
Next-generation transportation and future urban planning [Part 1]
-
R&D DISCUSSION
2023.07.13
The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 2] -
R&D DISCUSSION
2023.07.13
The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 2] -
R&D DISCUSSION
2023.07.13
The world is full of possibilities
--Perceive playfully and take action! [Part 1] -
R&D WORKS
2023.05.23
JAPAN SPORT OLYMPIC SQUARE ──Manual natural ventilation system
