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  Channel NewsAsia 21 Feb 07
Environmentally-friendly Japanese prototype homes come with creative comforts
 By Channel NewsAsia's Japan Bureau Chief Michiyo Ishida

TOKYO : Fears of the threat of carbon dioxide emissions on the earth's environment are growing. While there's an urgent need for big companies to take the lead in reducing CO2 levels, some households are doing their bit too.

Channel NewsAsia checks out a prototype home that can help cut CO2 emission while creating a more comfortable lifestyle.

The beautiful kitchen is built to improve convenience. To bathe, you can programme the type of bath menu you want. The menu includes a choice of a jacuzzi function with coloured lights and soothing nature scenes on-screen. And if you are in a rush, you can opt for a quick morning shower sitting down. The 103-inch screen in the living room is for more than just watching TV. You can also monitor the amount of electricity used at home.

The house is powered on the efficient use and creation of energy. And it uses various types. Solar panels on the roof top produce 30 percent of this prototype home's electricity. The two tanks generate energy through fuel cell. "Hot water heated by the fuel cell is shown in red and yellow, supplying it to the bathroom, dehumidifier and kitchen. In winter, the hot water is used to heat the floors," explains Mayuko Takahashi, an attendant at Eco & Ud House.

But in terms of cost, the fuel cell system is still not affordable. It's currently leased for 1 million yen (US$8,000) for 10 years.

Just outside the house, there are poles which light up through energy generated by the wind and sun. And that's not all. Rainwater is also collected and can be used to wash the car and flush the toilet.

"Compared to 1990, the quality of life and wealth has doubled. However, the impact to the environment is only one-fifth that of today's homes in this proposed dwelling for 2010 called EU House," says Yuko Inoue, senior coordinator at Panasonic Center Tokyo.

Eco-friendly technology like this doesn't come cheap. The prototype home costs US$800,000, including electronic devices. The Masuzawa family rebuilt their house in October.

Although it's not equipped with all the fancy gadgets of the latest Panasonic home, it has solar panels on the roof which generates enough energy for the kitchen and the dishwasher. On a sunny day, the screen indicates that 2.2 kilowatt has been generated, while 2.1 kilowatt is consumed.

"Our (monthly) electricity bill used to be very high - about 40,000 yen (US$330). So I tried to save money by enduring the cold. Today, we don't have to live that way because our electricity bill is now more affordable," says home owner Kenji Masuzawa.

In January, he paid less than one-fourth of electricity fee he used to. The solar panel cost him 2 million yen (US$17,000). He said he could recover that in 7 to 8 years. And it's a small price to pay, for a cleaner and greener world. - CNA /ls
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