Global Warming Prevention

The "Yokogawa Group Green Promotion Committee" was formed to step up our efforts to preserve the global environment and enhance our programs to counter global warming. We have set CO2 emission reduction targets for the Yokogawa Group (Japan) for the phases 2010-2014, 2015-2019 and 2020, and are implementing emission reduction programs to achieve those targets. Our ongoing CO2 emission reduction programs include the introduction of high-efficiency heating/cooling equipment, the installation of inverter-driven lights, and the use of green power.
For our offices and factories, we have employed "InfoEnergy," Yokogawa's proprietary energy conservation support system designed to visualize energy data, in order to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Yokogawa Group (Japan) has set its CO2 emission reduction targets toward 2020, and is directing its efforts to achieve the targets.
By using the annual average of emissions measured over the 2005 to 2007 period as the baseline (56,560 tons of CO2), we have set different reduction targets for three phases with the ultimate objective of achieving the goal set for 2020.
Specifically, we are implementing a range of activities to achieve the reduction targets described below:
2010 to 2014 period: A 7% reduction in total emissions (263,005 tons of CO2, with an annual average of 52,601 tons of CO2)
2015 to 2019 period: An 18% reduction in total emissions (231,895 tons of CO2, with an annual average of 46,379 tons of CO2)
2020: 20% reduction (45,248 tons of CO2)
In 2011, the Yokogawa Group (Japan) achieved its reduction target with CO2 emissions amounting to 42,044 tons of CO2.

We have been promoting the visualization of electricity use within the premises of Yokogawa's headquarters since 2010 by installing new and additional units of our proprietary "InfoEnergy" energy conservation support system.
In 2012 we initiated the management of "InfoEnergy" data by dividing it into smaller categories--buildings, floors and electrical systems--in an effort to further reduce power consumption. Specifically, an Energy Conservation Coordinator appointed for each of the buildings and floors monitors the electricity consumption in the area under his/her charge in order to discern any improper use of electricity. Any unnecessary or excessive usage is eliminated through corrective measure(s) designed to accommodate the work performed on the applicable floor and the requirements of the equipment being used, as part of our proactive effort to reduce energy consumption.

“InfoEnergy” Monitor	“InfoEnergy” Screen This screen allows us to monitor the hourly electricity consumption per electrical systems such as lighting and air conditioning.

As part of the electricity supply and demand strategies we implemented during the summer of 2011 in response to the imposed "Restriction of Electricity Use Based on Article 27 of the Electricity Business Act," we changed our working conditions and calendar and stepped up the ongoing energy conservation efforts. At the respective factories and offices, we ran the air conditioners and production equipment in energy-efficient mode, limited the use of elevators, turned on fewer lights than usual and switched off lights when they weren't needed. Furthermore, we raised employee awareness about power conservation by monitoring and visualizing the power usage status for each factory. As a result of these efforts, during the summer of 2011 the six offices (factories) that participated in the Scheme for Joint Restriction of Electricity Use (our headquarters in Musashino and other factories in Sagamihara, Kofu, Komine, Oume and Tachikawa) achieved an overall reduction of 28.2% in peak electricity usage from the 2010 baseline. The total electricity usage for the 2011 summer season was cut down by 16.6% from the 2010 level.

Electricity Usage Screen

The air conditioner for the semiconductor manufacturing clean room needs to run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and cleanliness must be carefully controlled and monitored. We were able to significantly cut down on power by properly running the fan filter units (FFUs) and dry coil units (DCUs), which are equipment for the clean room air conditioner.
The FFUs are mainly installed in the upper area of the clean room in order to blow clean air into the clean room. We used to run the FFUs in the third to seventh gears according to the cleanliness set for the clean room. The first power saving measure we took was the introduction of a programmed operation system, through which we've made some improvements such as reducing the FFU speed on non-working days and during overnight hours when the clean room is not in use. Moreover, when we took additional measures to save more energy during the summer months, we were able to confirm that the cleanliness of the clean room could be maintained even if all FFUs were brought down to first gear during the hours in which the clean room was not used on non-working days.
The DCU cools down the heat generated in the clean room and circulates the air. We used to run DCUs at a fan speed of 50 Hz (frequency). However, through the careful calculation of heat-source loads in the clean room, we were able to reduce the speed to 30 Hz and still maintain the same indoor environment.
These efforts toward improvement have resulted in an annual reduction of approximately 530 MWh (202 tons of CO2).

FFU (fan filter unit) and DCU (dry coil unit) Layout

Yokogawa companies outside Japan are also implementing efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.
Yokogawa Australia and New Zealand has reduced its CO2 emissions by reducing fuel consumption through converting sales fleet to petrol efficient vehicles; installing energy wise lighting throughout offices; utilizing heat reflecting blinds to reduce energy intake; and recycling paper and printer cartridges.
Yokogawa Corporation of America (YCA) has replaced all of the 115 lights used in the manufacturing area of its factory with energy-saving ones. YCA has reduced the power consumption of the lighting by replacing the 400-watt metal halide lamps it formerly used with 135-watt LED lights. Because the LED light generates less heat, it also helps reduce the power used for air conditioning.

The light at the top of the picture is a 135 watt LED fixture. The light at the bottom of the picture is the old metal halide 400 watt fixture.

Employees representing Yokogawa Manufacturing Kofu Factory participated in the "Industrial Innovation Conference 2012" held by the Japan Management Association and gave a lecture on "Improving Factory Energy Conservation Directly Linked to Environmental Management." The lecturer introduced Kofu Factory's energy conservation activities, specifically the foundation built during the 1990s for environmental and energy conservation activities; the effort made during the 2000s to visualize environmental data; and the ongoing energy conservation activities and employee-driven improvements, which are linked to the current corporate objectives.

A portion of the electricity used by the headquarters building of Yokogawa Electric come from "Green Power" harnessed through "biomass power generation"(300,000 kWh/year).