HOME		Environment basic philosophy 　City gas utilities as suppliers of energy, which is environment-friendly natural gas, shall pursue the efficient use of energy and resources and contribute to achieving a sustainable society through environmental conservation activities regionally as well as globally. Action Agenda 1. Prevent global warming 2. Create a material-cycle society and conserve the local environment 3. Conserve biodiversity 4. Promote environmental communication 5. Enhance environmental management and awareness among gas industry workers 6. Develop environmental-related technologies     Countermeasures again Target To reduce the CO2 emission intensity per 1m3 of gas from 83.6g-CO2 /m3 in FY 1990 to 9.0g-CO2 /m3 and reduce CO2 emissions from 1,328 ktons-CO2 /y in FY 1990 to 349 ktonsCO2/y both as the five-year average between FY 2008 and FY 2012, all within the gas production and supply process. (The above figures are calculated by compensating for the notevaluated contribution of cogeneration.)   * This compensation involves considering the contribution of cogeneration in reducing the consumption of grid power by the use of the Marginal Emission Factor (MEF), that is, the emission factor for thermal power plants. This allows the evaluation of a certain amount of reduction in CO2 emissions that is not considered by the conventional calculation method based on the average emission factor for all types. This additional reduction in CO2 emissions is subtracted from the AEF-based estimation of the total CO2 emissions.   Measures 1. Improve the efficiency of gas production by utilizing a 　LNG gasification process 2. Promote various energy conservation measures at city 　gas production plants: 　a : Introduction of cogeneration 　b : Utilization of LNG cold energy 　c : Improvement of facilities efficiency 　d : Optimization of operation in line with gas demand     Establishing a sound material-cycle society with measures for waste disposal and recycling Target In fiscal 2010, the amount of industrial waste shall be reduced to less than 1,900 tons (a 90% reduction from fiscal 1990) and final disposal shall be reduced to less than 600 tons (an 86% reduction from fiscal 1990).     Measures 1. Changing feedstock to natural gas or other gas types 　which create less waste during the production of city gas 2. Improving the rates of recycling to reduce the amount 　of final disposal 　a. Expanding the use of sludge as a construction 　material, raw material for cement, etc. 　b. Improving the recycling ratio for plastic, debris, etc., 　by promoting sorted disposal   　CO2 reduction on the customer-side   We, the city gas industry, aim to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 47million t-CO2/year by 2020, by means of introducing high-efficiency gas appliances and utilizing renewable energies, etc. Power generation by renewable energy, which is characterized by unstable generation output, will be expanded by combined with cogeneration whose output can be easily adjusted.   　Provision of energy conservation tools Environmental Household Accounting Book We offer an environmental household accounting book on our website to help workers in the gas industry and their families to reduce CO2 emissions at home.We also encourage the public to join these efforts.   Functions supporting energy-saving operation of equipment   Energy-saving functions installed in remote controllers of highefficiency water heaters and fuel cells help efficient energy-saving operation, and display information on daily and monthly power generation.   　Gas pipeline work by using methods that 　consider environmental preservation Excavation carried out in gas pipeline work inevitably produces waste soil, road materials and other waste. In order to reduce the amount of waste materials, the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) have been promoted. For example, non-excavation method reduces excavation of road as far as possible and reduces waste soil. Construction time has also been shortened so as to alleviate noise pollution and lessen adverse effect to traffic.   　Recycling of gas pipes Scraps of polyethylene pipes (PE pipes) produced and old pipelines dug out during pipeline construction are other targets for recycling. They are reused for a variety of materials for gas business and stationery products.   　Design of environmental-conscious gas appliances 　and recycling of used appliances In cooperation with the Japan Industrial Association of Gas and Kerosene Appliances, “Gas and Kerosene Appliance Assessment Guidelines” have been drawn up, and the making of gas appliances that consider the effect on the environment is being promoted. In addition, used appliances collected by stores are being recycled.