The Factory Location Act on the matter of greening was revised. Since April 2004, partial deregulation has been executed.
While only the outdoor grounds of the factory site were counted as green space to date, it is currently possible to include areas of green rooftops and walls within the scope of green space thanks to the deregulation of restrictions on the area of production facilities.
［Factories involved］
Type of industry: Manufacturing, electricity, gas, heat-providing companies
(excluding hydroelectric and geothermal power plants)
Scale: Factories with site areas of 9,000 m2 or more, or with building areas of 3,000 m2 or more.
Type of industry: Manufacturing, electricity, gas, heat-providing companies
(excluding hydroelectric and geothermal power plants)
Scale: Factories with site areas of 9,000 m2 or more, or with building areas of 3,000 m2 or more.
entage area of production facilities as a proportion of total site area・・・・・・・・・・・・10-40%
Percentage area of green space as a proportion of total site area・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・10-40%
Percentage area of environmental facilities (including green space) as a proportion of total site area・・・10-40%
Percentage area of green space as a proportion of total site area・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・10-40%
Percentage area of environmental facilities (including green space) as a proportion of total site area・・・10-40%
※Local governments can independently set the required area percentage for green spaces and environment-related facilities (fountains, streams, squares, company museums and so on).
※The area of green rooftops and walls can be included within the scope of the green space area, provided they
do not exceed five percent of the total site area (quarter of the green space).
※The area of green rooftops and walls can be included within the scope of the green space area, provided they
do not exceed five percent of the total site area (quarter of the green space).
Under the Factory Location Act, “green space” must be installed in the site of “specific factories”. However, the required percentage areas differ among different zonings of the factory location and also among different prefectures. One of the important characteristics of this law is the fact that the state government only sets up the framework via the Factory Location Act, and that it is up to each local government to fix the content by setting local rules with the particularities of each region in mind. Please contact the competent local authorities for more detailed information such as the required percentage, as local governments have wide discretion on this matter, meaning the regulations can be flexibly adapted to suit the circumstances of different regions.
Each local government, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, offers subsidies to facilitate greening work on the rooftops and walls of private buildings in order to prevent global warming, reduce the heat-island phenomenon and purify the air, thus promoting a human-friendly and eco-conscious living environment rich in green.
The buildings concerned, as well as the content and conditions of the subsidies, differ considerably among different local authorities, so it is advised to check them in advance.
The buildings concerned, as well as the content and conditions of the subsidies, differ considerably among different local authorities, so it is advised to check them in advance.
【Measures taken by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government】
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government promotes the greening of building rooftops, walls and verandas, as well as that of ground surfaces including “roadside greening”, consisting of installing green space along the streets.
For more details, please consult the following web site.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government promotes the greening of building rooftops, walls and verandas, as well as that of ground surfaces including “roadside greening”, consisting of installing green space along the streets.
For more details, please consult the following web site.
Official web site of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of the Environment http://www2.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/green/index.htm
The revised Law regarding the Rationalization of Energy Use was promulgated on May 30, 2008 in order to meet the CO2 reduction goal stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol. This law creates a framework, whereby the state government obliges companies owning factories, buildings or stores or occupying buildings to report on the energy consumption, and orders them to take improvement measures or fines them if they cannot attain a certain level of energy saving. In urban areas, there is an increasing need for wall and rooftop greening by private companies as part of their energy-saving measures.
【Outline of the revision】
Under the revised law, the regulations apply to each company, instead of each facility as was previously the case. Consequently, many of the franchise chains of convenience stores and supermarkets, for example, will be subject to regulations, likewise headquarters and affiliated stores considered to belong to the same company. More effective energy-saving measures will be promoted based on the management judgment of business operators.
Related web sites
Under the revised law, the regulations apply to each company, instead of each facility as was previously the case. Consequently, many of the franchise chains of convenience stores and supermarkets, for example, will be subject to regulations, likewise headquarters and affiliated stores considered to belong to the same company. More effective energy-saving measures will be promoted based on the management judgment of business operators.
Related web sites