Promoting Sustainable Lifestyle and Houses: "Lo-House" Promotion
In July 2006, discussions on promoting sustainable housing and lifestyles were initiated jointly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and the Ministry of the Environment (MoE). The established the Lo-House Promotion Committee, with “Lo-House” coined from the concept of LOHAS: Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability.
The committee comprises ministry representatives, as well as experts and experienced professionals from relevant industries. Lo-House is to be promoted as a concept and image, in order to demonstrate to building sector professionals and consumers what options exist for sustainable housing.
The Committee has identified four measures to promote the Lo-House initiative:
Developing a Lo-House concept and image;
Establishing the necessary infrastructure to allow for information sharing and provision on energy-saving housing;
Developing new methods for comprehensively evaluating energy conservation performance in housing, looking at insulation and facilities ;
Providing incentives to promote and popularise energy-efficient housing. Specific measures can include the development of a more visible and comprehensible rating and labeling system for housing.
Comprehensive evaluation of the energy performance of housing is to cover not only building envelope performance, but to account for facilities and appliances. Various incentives can also be used to compensate the initial high cost of energy-efficient housing, through subsidies, financing and tax incentives.
The committee comprises ministry representatives, as well as experts and experienced professionals from relevant industries. Lo-House is to be promoted as a concept and image, in order to demonstrate to building sector professionals and consumers what options exist for sustainable housing.
The Committee has identified four measures to promote the Lo-House initiative:
Developing a Lo-House concept and image;
Establishing the necessary infrastructure to allow for information sharing and provision on energy-saving housing;
Developing new methods for comprehensively evaluating energy conservation performance in housing, looking at insulation and facilities ;
Providing incentives to promote and popularise energy-efficient housing. Specific measures can include the development of a more visible and comprehensible rating and labeling system for housing.
Comprehensive evaluation of the energy performance of housing is to cover not only building envelope performance, but to account for facilities and appliances. Various incentives can also be used to compensate the initial high cost of energy-efficient housing, through subsidies, financing and tax incentives.
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