Global Warming Prevention

To reduce the amount of CO2 emission, Yokogawa is actively improving production lines and installing high-efficiency equipment. Specifically, Yokogawa is making efforts to reducing its electric usage by continuously conducting "Cool Biz" and "Warm Biz" campaigns. This campaign promotes turning off the lights at lunchtime and setting the air conditioner thermostat to an appropriate temperature. In addition, Yokogawa's factories and sites have continuously participated in "Black Illumination," in which the lights are turned down in the facilities

In fiscal year 2009, Yokogawa group companies’ CO2 emissions in Japan, based on unit sales, amounted to 9.8 t-CO2 per 100 million yen. This is a 62.3% decrease compared to fiscal year in 1990.Factors such as energy conservation activities, improved energy efficiency in the new factories, and weather conditions reduced CO2 emissions. However, the reduction of CO2 emissions was counterbalanced by the decrease in total unit sales. Thus, compared to the previous year, it roughly leveled off.

Yokogawa has developed packing boxes that can be reused up to 200 times (100 round trips) for transporting products and parts between factories. These boxes, developed jointly with JP Sankyu of Japan Post Group, are mainly used for transportation between factories in Japan and China. Traditionally, cardboard and wooden boxes were used, however, by replacing them with these reusable packing boxes, the amount of CO2 emitted from the manufacturing and disposal of the boxes were reduced by 70%. In addition, the box height can be adjusted to three different levels to fit the amount and the size of contents. If nothing needs to be put in, the box can be folded flat and use of cushion can be successfully reduced, which also improves the load efficiency. The plan is to use the boxes for transporting between other sites.

In Yokogawa Manufacturing Kofu factory, which is a production plant, there were more people commuting by cars and motorcycles, than by public transportation. When Yokogawa invited approximately 1000 workers to take on the "Eco-Commute Challenge" (a campaign to commute in an eco-friendly way), over 600 joined the movement. These employees actively made changes such as turning off idling engine and using a motorcycle or a bicycle instead of a car. Invitations were made in hopes that many people will do everything they can do to help. As a result, each individual person has become more aware of the choices that are made on a daily basis. Yokogawa will continue to invite others to this "Eco-Commute Challenge." This movement has caught the interest of the Yamanashi prefecture, with which Yokogawa has been exchanging information.

In addition, Yokogawa & Co. is raising awareness of eco-commuting by doing workshops using a DVD, and posting flyers.

A portion of the power used at Yokogawa Electric Headquarters building comes from “green power” (300,000 kWh/year) from "biomass power generation."