This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Turn to the nation's most objective and informative daily environmental news resource to learn how the United States and key players around the world are responding to the environmental...
Hotels and department stores will be subject to Japan’s “top runner” energy conservation program starting April 1, pushing the industries to cut energy use by more than 15 percent over the next five years, the government said.
Most leading hotel chains and franchises are operating in Japan and will be affected by the move, including Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Sheraton and Westin, and Wyndham Worldwide’s Ramada.
Costco Wholesale Corp., IKEA and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which owns the Seiyu supermarket chain, are the foreign owners of Japanese retail outlets that could be affected.
Achieving a 15 percent energy conservation goal won’t be easy for retail stores, whose profits are greatly influenced by wider economic conditions, Ako Takahashi, an official of the Japan Department Stores Association and a member of a Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry subcommittee told Bloomberg BNA. “We’ll make our best effort to reduce energy use,” she said. “That’s all we can say at this time.”
In 2018, shopping malls, supermarkets, business offices and warehouses will also fall under the industry top runner directive, the government said Feb. 13.
Introduced in the late 1990s to help Japan cut greenhouse gas emissions, the top runner concept has spread across much of the economy by pressuring companies to match the energy efficiency levels of the best performers—the top runners—in their industrial sector.
For instance, the top runner program was applied to the Japanese auto industry in 1999, and resulted in companies that could not themselves catch up to the most fuel-efficient producers borrowing technologies from competitors.
Companies that do well under the program are lauded by the government and can use their energy-efficiency status as a marketing tool; those who fare poorly face the prospect of government warnings and ultimately publication of their status in government websites and documents.
While not carrying fines or other penalties, the process has worked in Japan in part because of the economic and marketplace benefits to the producer. In 2009, the program was applied to steel mills and cement manufacturers. It now covers 53 percent of industries in terms of industrial energy consumption, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Ultimately, Japan hopes to have more than 70 percent of Japanese industries cooperating in a top runner program, the ministry said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Toshio Aritake in Tokyo at correspondents@bna.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Greg Henderson at ghenderson@bna.com
More information is available, in Japanese, at http://src.bna.com/men
Copyright © 2017 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
All Bloomberg BNA treatises are available on standing order, which ensures you will always receive the most current edition of the book or supplement of the title you have ordered from Bloomberg BNA’s book division. As soon as a new supplement or edition is published (usually annually) for a title you’ve previously purchased and requested to be placed on standing order, we’ll ship it to you to review for 30 days without any obligation. During this period, you can either (a) honor the invoice and receive a 5% discount (in addition to any other discounts you may qualify for) off the then-current price of the update, plus shipping and handling or (b) return the book(s), in which case, your invoice will be cancelled upon receipt of the book(s). Call us for a prepaid UPS label for your return. It’s as simple and easy as that. Most importantly, standing orders mean you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you’re relying on. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.960.1220 or by sending an email to books@bna.com.
Put me on standing order at a 5% discount off list price of all future updates, in addition to any other discounts I may quality for. (Returnable within 30 days.)
Notify me when updates are available (No standing order will be created).
This Bloomberg BNA report is available on standing order, which ensures you will all receive the latest edition. This report is updated annually and we will send you the latest edition once it has been published. By signing up for standing order you will never have to worry about the timeliness of the information you need. And, you may discontinue standing orders at any time by contacting us at 1.800.372.1033, option 5, or by sending us an email to research@bna.com.
Put me on standing order
Notify me when new releases are available (no standing order will be created)