Protecting the precious environment
Decarbonization

Initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions at construction sites

The Haseko Group is promoting the following initiatives at certain sites to reduce CO₂ emissions at construction sites. Going forward, we will continue to increase the number of cases of adoption and promotion of these initiatives, while taking the scale and location of project into consideration.

Adoption of “H-BA Concrete,” an environment-conscious concrete

Produced by blending ordinary Portland cement and blast furnace cement type-B, H-BA concrete is so versatile that it can replace conventional concrete. It is eco-conscious concrete that reduces CO₂ emissions derived from concrete materials by approximately 20%.
To date, it has been used in projects including a part of the common-use areas of “Renai Yokohama Totsuka” (Totsuka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa; total 439 units) and the entirety of the “Gakuen Higashimachi Project” (foundations and above-ground framework), a rental condominium building targeting students (Nishi-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo; total 120 units). In August 2022, H-BA concrete obtained the “Special Evaluation Method Certification*2,” which is recognized as an alternative evaluation method to methods that comply with the “Evaluation Method Criteria*1,” from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This certification allows it to be used in for-sale condominiums that use dwelling performance indications.
In 2021, we established the Haseko Group’s Climate Change Response Policy: “HASEKO ZERO-Emission”, and we are working to popularize “H-BA concrete” to reduce greenhouse gas (CO₂) emissions. Based on the Special Evaluation Method Certification, “H-BA concrete” has been adopted for the first time as sale condominiums for the entirety of the above-ground framework in the THE-KENSINGTON-RESIDENCE-KAMIIKEDAI (Ota-ku, Tokyo; total 42 units) in the Tokyo area, and the “Renai Esaka Enokicho” (Suita City, Osaka; total 149 units) in the Kansai area. We will continue to utilize H-BA concrete in the Group’s projects. In addition to Group business projects, we will work to popularize H-BA concrete in the projects of other companies to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas (CO₂) emissions across the entire supply chain.

*1 Evaluation Method Criteria: Criteria for methods of evaluating housing performance to be indicated in accordance with the Japan Housing Performance Indication Standards stipulated in the Housing Quality Assurance Act.
*2 Special evaluation method certification: Certification method approved on an individual basis by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for new materials and construction methods (e.g., structural safety, reduced deterioration, thermal environment, sound environment) that cannot be evaluated in accordance with evaluation method criteria stipulated in the Housing Quality Assurance Act.

Introduction of biomass electric power

In cooperation with an outside power generation company, we have introduced a resource recycling initiative to utilize renewable energy from biomass power generation, which uses waste wooden materials generated at construction sites as part of its fuel, as a temporary power supply at construction sites. In addition, in May 2023 Haseko Corporation completed the transition to using renewable energy sources for 100% of electricity* used at construction sites.

*This excludes sites pending requests to switch to renewable energy electricity subsequent to the commencement of construction and sites switching to (non-renewable) power company supply before delivery.

Contribution to CO₂ emissions reduction

This initiative can reduce CO₂ emissions from power generation, as compared with the case of using electricity supplied from conventional thermal power plants, contributing to the mitigation of global warming.

Participation in the biomass power generation business

Haseko Corporation participates in biomass power generation business with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality.
We participate in a woody biomass power generation business in Ikoma city in Nara undertaken by TJ Group Holdings Inc. Scrap wood and unused timber from the Kinki region will be used as fuel for generating power in the business, which makes it possible to supply locally produced and locally consumed electricity, including fuel for power generation, for users in the Kinki region. (Commercial operation is scheduled to start in April 2025.)
In Matsusaka City in Mie, we participate in a decarbonized power source development business undertaken by Power Aid Mie that uses hybrid fuel of only NON-FIT wood and manufacturing byproducts. In this business, waste recycled wood chips and plastic chips generated from various construction sites will be repurposed as fuel, leading to the reduction of the administrative burden of waste disposal operation and the contribution to the creation of a local circular resource and energy economy. (Commercial operation is scheduled to start in January 2025.)
We will continue our efforts to contribute to creating carbon zero cities through initiatives such as biomass power generation business.

Building a waste cooking oil utilization system to provide an alternative fuel to light oil

We have built a waste cooking oil utilization system in which the waste cooking oil generated by kitchens of Haseko Senior Well Design’s facilities for the elderly is supplied to construction sites as an alternative fuel to light oil for construction equipment, after being refined into biodiesel fuel (B5)* by Sanwa Energy.
Using this biodiesel fuel can lead to a 5% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to light oil.
We will continue with further studies on similar initiatives to utilize waste cooking oil emitted by the condominiums developed by Haseko Real Estate Development, Sohgoh Real Estate, and other Group companies, as well as the condominiums managed by Haseko Community.
*A blend of fuel that consists of light oil mixed with 5% or less biodiesel fuel

Reduction of CO₂ emissions relating to transport

As close to 90% of CO₂ emissions at construction sites are generated by consumption of light oil, reducing the amount of light oil used will significantly affect CO₂ emission reductions.
Industrial waste generated at construction sites is separated by type (wood waste, waste plastics, mixed waste, etc.) and processed by designated companies. Of these, mixed waste is generated over an extended period of time spanning the commencement of construction to completion of the building, notwithstanding significant reductions in volume generated. We reduce the distance over which waste is transported by selecting the waste processing company nearest to the construction site, from a pool 6 companies and 12 plants in the Tokyo region and 6 companies and 11 plants in the Kansai region.
In addition, soil generated from excavation work is used as backfill material on the site to the greatest extent possible. By improving the efficiency of waste accumulation and transportation, less dump trucks are required, thus reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition, most of all waste soil that is removed from construction sites is processed for use in land reclamation, which is destructive on the environment. Thus, by reducing the amount of waste soil that leaves our construction sites, we contribute to environmental protection.

Reducing rainforest-sourced materials and environmental burden

Plywood for concrete formwork is made of materials sourced from rainforests. Loss of vast rainforests means losing a huge CO₂ absorber, so there is an urgent need to preserve them also from the viewpoint of biodiversity.

In the construction division, we are advancing our efforts to use precast concrete (PCa) units for handrails and edges of corridors and balconies, decorative columns, exterior stairs, floors and PCa for edges of corridors, in addition to employing the ALC method for non-load bearing walls. We also use steel formworks and plastic formworks where possible in order to reduce the use of plywood formworks made of rainforest wood.
In fiscal 2023, we achieved a reduction of the use of rainforest wood by 14.9% equivalent to 173,651 m² in the Tokyo region and by 24.5% equivalent to 175,033 m² in the Kansai region.
Replacing wooden formworks by industrial products or alternative formworks or other products has led to reduced waste in preparing formworks and fewer concrete mixer trucks, which contributes to reduction of industrial waste and CO₂ emissions.

Initiative for Expo 2025 pavilion construction

The Haseko Group is involved in the design collaboration and construction work for the “Future of Life” installation at the Signature Pavilion of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. To reduce CO₂ emissions, we are undertaking initiatives such as the adoption of solar power generation housing units and GTL fuel-powered heavy machinery.

Blast furnace slag cement type B

Blast furnace slag cement type B, which is superior against cracks and in terms of chemical resistance, is mainly adopted in concrete piles. CO₂ generated during cement production is the largest in volume during the manufacturing process of clinker, an interim product of cement. The production of blast furnace slag cement involves mixing large volumes of blast furnace slag fine powder into normal cement, which leads to a much lower composition ratio of clinker than in normal cement, and in turn, reduction of CO₂ emissions.
In fiscal 2023, adoption of blast furnace slag cement type B was 209,483 m³ resulting in the reduction of CO₂ emissions by 23,672 tons.

Utilizing CO₂ Emissions Calculation Sheet

In April 2017, we revised Haseko Corporation’s proprietary “CO₂ Emissions Calculation Program,” which we had continued to operate since its development in 2011. Based on the revision, we began calculating the CO₂ reduction rate based on the “CO₂ Emissions Calculation Sheet” using the figures calculated in accordance with the Act on the Improvement of Energy Consumption Performance of Buildings. We have been implementing the revised program since then.

In fiscal 2023, we set CO₂ reduction rate of 10% or higher (Ratio of standard values under the Building Energy Conservation Act) as our numerical target and implemented it in 106 projects of condominiums designed between April 2023 and March 2024 (82 projects in the Tokyo region and 24 projects in the Kansai region).

* The CO₂ Emissions Calculation Sheet is a sheet for computing the CO₂ reduction rate by converting the standard value and the design value of primary energy consumption of condominium unit areas and communal areas calculated with respect to each project using a Web program in accordance with the Act on the Improvement of Energy Consumption Performance of Buildings into CO₂ emissions (t-CO₂/year).

Promotion of wood use in construction of condominiums

In recent years, the effective use of domestic forest resources has been drawing attention as part of efforts to build a sustainable social environment, and moreover, the mental relaxation effect of the warmth of wood we have long been familiar with has been re-evaluated.
We have established the Wood Use Promotion Committee and are promoting wood utilization for communal buildings in condominiums as the first step in an effort to use more wood for the main structure of condominiums as appropriate.
“ComRezi Akabane” utilizes wood for the common living spaces on the second to fifth floors of the student residence building. “BRANSIESTA Urayasu” was our first completed condominium featuring wooden construction in exclusive areas, with the top floor residential units (14 in total) being constructed from wood.
The Haseko Group has worked on research and development of wooden architecture since 2014, and we have completed 16 projects and have 7 projects currently under construction. (as of July 2024)
A project featuring fire-resistant wooden structure on the its top four floors, “Meguro-ku Chuocho 1-chome Plan” is scheduled to be completed in March 2025. We have expanded the HASEKO-version BIM system to make it compatible with wooden structures, and utilized it in the basic design and detailed design phases of this project. We will continue our efforts to challenge the adoption of wood in high-rise buildings and expand its application from the current rental condominium to include for-sale condominium development.
We will continue to promote the use of wood in construction with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality in 2050.

Structural diagram of Meguro-ku Chuocho 1-chome Plan

Operationalization of Support Tools for Energy-Saving Performance Calculation

We have developed an energy-saving calculation system which is linked to BIM (Building Information Modeling) data. We make notifications in accordance with the Act on the Improvement of Energy Consumption Performance of Buildings and examine thermal insulation specifications using this system. We developed a tool with the aim of further labor saving through automation of calculation as well as visualization of calculation results and launched it at design divisions in the East and West Japan in January 2020. The operation of this tool has enabled a 50% reduction in work hours and a reduction in input errors through automated calculations. We will use these technologies to promote optimal design that meets energy-saving performance requirements.

Initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions through activities at offices

The Haseko Group is promoting energy saving in offices, centering on the “activities by the Response to Climate Change Office Working Group (WG).”
The Office WG carries out organization-wide activities to reduce energy consumption in and reduce CO₂ emissions of offices.
We obtained SBT certification in fiscal 2022 and calculate the volume of CO₂ emissions by aggregating the monthly total energy consumption of each company. By compiling quarterly aggregate data, we are able to visualize our progress and are working hard to reduce our energy consumption volume.

Reduction of CO₂ by Donating PET Bottle Caps

The Haseko Group donates PET bottle caps as a part of its daily ecological activities. In fiscal 2023, we collected PET bottle caps equivalent to 809.14 kg from our Offices and construction sites and donated them to the Japan Committee, Vaccines for the World’s Children (JCV).

This contributed to the reduction of CO₂ emissions resulting from incinerating PET bottle caps by 2,550 kg.

Initiatives in connection with Haseko Anshindeli’s rice paddy fields

Haseko Anshindeli is a company engaged primarily in the cultivation of rice, and was established in January 2015.
In Japan, conventional agriculture that utilizes agricultural chemicals and chemical fertilizers is the norm. However, Haseko Anshindeli uses decarbonized and environmentally-friendly farming techniques.
An example is the rice farming technique of “mid-season draining” in which draining water from the paddies at a specific period in the middle of summer for around one to two weeks in order to improve yield and quality. Haseko Anshindeli extends this period by around one week, which minimizes the impact on rice yield while reducing the amount of methane produced.
We achieved a reduction of 50.6 t-CO₂ in fiscal 2023 as a result of decarbonized and environmentally-friendly farming techniques, at the core of which is this “extended mid-season draining” technique.

Registered as a Supporter of “COOL CHOICE” Campaign Promoted by the Ministry of the Environment

The Haseko Group is registered as a supporter of “COOL CHOICE,” a national movement promoted by the Ministry of the Environment.

Within the Group, we disseminate information to make “smart choices” for measures to prevent global warming, with the aim of enabling each employee to choose actions in their daily lives.

Source: The Ministry of the Environment’s COOL CHOICE website (Japanese Only)