JR East Promotes Energy Saving at Stations

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced on November 6, 2008, that in order to curb global warming, it will aim to save energy at Mejiro Station (on the Yamanote Line) and Ichigaya Station (on the Chuo Line) to achieve a goal of reducing energy use by 4.5% in its stations and offices in the three years through FY 2010.

The plan includes six measures: (1) Introduction of measurement apparatus to figure out the amount of electricity used in the station according to application; (2) Unification of luminance by adjusting placement of platform lighting; (3) Rewiring for turning on/off lights in specific areas; (4) Introduction of automatic lighting control units; (5) Introduction of effective lighting, LED lights and LED display boards; (6) Replacement of transformers with energy-efficient ones with a new standard.

For lighting equipment, JR East will introduce the "BT-OWL," a LED light developed by JR East Facility Management Co. This model consumes 50% less electricity than conventional fluorescent tubes. Introduced in JR East offices since the spring of 2008, this lighting has a long usage life and results in lower maintenance costs as well.

JR East is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 40 tons annually per station as well as to reduce electricity and maintenance costs. JR East will assess the energy-saving effect in both stations through the end of March 2009, and consider extending these measures to other stations as well.

- East Japan Railway Co. official website
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html

Posted: 2009/02/22 06:00:15 AM