Eco-Friendly Convenience Store Opens in Kyoto City Hall

Copyright Kyoto City

The City of Kyoto and the Kyoto 2R System Project jointly launched a three-month pilot program on June 23, 2009, to operate an experimental, environment-conscious convenience store dubbed the "Eco-Conveni Miyako Style" inside the Kyoto City Hall. This is the first store of its kind in Japan to focus on promoting eco-friendly habits, such as encouraging citizens to carry their own bottles, shopping bags, and chopsticks.

Canned and bottled drinks are not available at the store, so customers must bring their own bottles or cups, which are filled by sales assistants with drinks from the beverage dispenser. This contributes to not only reducing waste but also conserves a considerable amount of energy, because an energy-guzzling, bulky refrigerator is not needed. Drinks are priced at 50 yen (about 50 cents U.S.) per cup (250-milliliter size).

Besides this, the store uses a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system, which requires less electricity than conventional lighting, and only vehicles powered by natural gas are used for deliveries. All electricity used at the store is supplied by renewable energy using green power certificates. The store also provides another social benefit by employing persons with disabilities.

Kyoto City official website
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/index.html

Posted: 2009/09/22 06:00:15 AM