Japanese House Manufacturer Launches Sales of Low-Carbon Lifecycle Homes

Copyright Misawa Homes Co.

Misawa Homes Co., a major house manufacturer in Japan, recently launched nationwide sales (except in Hokkaido and Okinawa prefectures) of its wood-based house called the GENIUS LCCO2 Minus Model. This is a mass-produced version of its ECO flagship model that was completed in November 2010, the industry's first concept house aimed at realizing a "Lifecycle Carbon Minus" performance.

Lifecycle Carbon Minus refers to the goal of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to zero or below throughout the overall lifecycle of a building -- from construction and occupancy to dismantling -- through substantial reduction of CO2 emissions, even before people take up occupancy, by utilizing the latest technologies.

Aside from its Cascade Solar System (utilizing solar power and heat) and an additional insulation system, the house is equipped with Misawa's energy monitoring system and an outdoor charging station for electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHV) as standard features.

The company says that by more fully utilizing solar energy and adopting more eco-friendly building designs to improve energy efficiency and conservation, an annual energy self-sufficiency ratio of 147 percent can be achieved.

Posted: 2011/06/26 06:00:15 Am