Dr. Toshiharu IkagaProfessor, Department of System Design Engineering, School of Science for Open and Environmental Systems at Keio University
In the real estate industry, I think that the Mitsui Fudosan Group is pouring the most effort and fervor into environmental activities and has been carrying forward environmental activities from an early stage. In view of the fact that other companies have also recently begun to carry out such activities, I would like the companies in the industry to compete with each other in a good sense and strive to attain a higher level. At the same time, I expect to see the Group playing a leading role in the real estate industry.
This report clearly and widely sets forth the Group's scope of responsibilities in carrying out environmental initiatives as a general developer which handles buildings, retail facilities, housing and other types of properties. After having done so, it then provides reports concerning its advanced incorporation of CASBEE, construction of top-level buildings which take into account reduction of CO2 emissions and biodiversity, etc., their challenge to proactively help visualize the volume of CO2 emissions, and other things. Furthermore, as its Tokyo Midtown shows, I think that the greatest strength of the Mitsui Fudosan Group is its power to change the surrounding local city itself through creation of a beautiful city which is environmentally superior in general terms.
Moreover, I have felt that it is very meaningful that they are also ceaselessly pouring effort in making a breakthrough regarding the most important theme of the civilian sector, which is “partnership and cooperation between companies and stakeholders,” through the formulation of the environment communication word, “
,” creation of environmental communication booklets based on the perspective of customers, and implementation of activities at retail facilities and condominiums.
Ms. Fumiko YamakawaRepresentative of Energy Conscious
(Advisory specialist for consumers' affairs and instructor for energy conservation promotion)
To reduce the environmental impact in households, environmental efficiency of a residence itself and an effort to carry out an environmentally-friendly lifestyle are both necessary. The Mitsui Fudosan Group not only supplies highly environmentally efficient residences, but is also working on measures to induce or promote among residents low environment impact activities after taking up residency, by visualizing the amount of CO2 emissions or through the “ECO Challenge for Residences” website. What is more, the fact that factors essential for continuing or increasing such activities have been employed, such as the fun aspect, connection with others and the participatory aspect, and that it is not just provision of a system, makes the Groups measures quite unique. Furthermore, the activities of an individual resident lead to increased communication among residents, and further on to the development of a city. I think that the “Kashiwanoha Campus City Project” is a leading model in this effort.
Furthermore, it is really nice that the standard specifications of their custom-built detached houses are set at a performance exceeding Next-generation Energy Conservation Standards. The general public tends not to be so conscious of heat insulation capabilities, etc. and so the provision of housing which subconsciously saves on energy is truly meaningful.
Lastly, I thought that this report was well-organized and easy to read because the pages dedicated to the Environmental Activities Report was divided into activities of the Operations Area and Housing Area. In the future, if the Group makes further disclosure of operational improvements and investigations of the effects of partnerships and cooperative efforts made with tenants and residents, the report would become even more convincing.
Moving forward, I would like to see the Mitsui Fudosan Group continue leading the industry by making progress on the creation of concrete targets and indicators, as well as on the investigations of such.
