Among the environmental goals announced in 2017, Chiba University achieved its target for 2018 of achieving a renewable energy rate * of 101.0% for the year, thereby achieving its 2018 goal of "equaling the amount of electricity generated by the university's mega solar Noda Power Plant and other facilities with the amount of electricity consumed by Chiba University of Commerce."
*Renewable energy rate: The amount of energy created divided by the amount of energy consumed (rounded down to the second decimal place)
On Wednesday, February 27th, a press conference was held at the Japan National Press Club, where President Yukihiko Harashina, CUC Energy Co., Ltd. Director Susumu Teshima, student group SONE member Taiga Uchiyama (a graduate of Chiba Kita High School), President 's Project 4 leader Professor Yuriko Takahashi introduced the results of the initiative.
To achieve the environmental goals, we are developing a university-wide scheme with three pillars: hardware, software, and heartware, centered on the global warming countermeasures activities that our university has been working on up until now. In the year since the environmental goals were established, in terms of "hardware," we have added more panels from the Noda Mega Solar Power Plant and converted the campus lighting to LED. In terms of "software," we have introduced an EMS (energy management system) to make the energy used on campus visible. Furthermore, in terms of "heartware," which is awareness that leads to concrete actions that are considerate of the environment, we have launched a student group that works with the university to aim for a 100% natural energy university. We are planning and implementing measures such as energy-saving patrols to check for forgotten lights and air conditioners in unused classrooms, raising awareness of energy-saving behavior through summer water-splashing events, and reducing energy consumption by installing green curtains.
Also attending the press conference was Satoshi Morishita, Director-General of the Global Environment Bureau of the Ministry of the Environment, who commented, "As the world moves toward decarbonization, universities are institutions that will play a major role in nurturing excellent human resources who will open up a new era, and in the field of technological development and research. As a business establishment, it would be great to see the net-zero energy movement like that of Chiba University of Commerce spread."
We will continue to create and conserve energy, aiming to become a "100% renewable energy university" for all energy sources, including gas, by 2020. We have also begun experimenting with self-generation by adding solar panels to the roofs of the school buildings and solar sharing on campus. We will also encourage neighboring educational institutions to follow our model.
Students, faculty and staff will continue to work together towards achieving a society based on 100% renewable energy.
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