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Japan

Current Codes

Commercial, Public Buildings
Japan Criteria for Clients on the Rationalization of Energy Use for Buildings
Country Specific Mandatory
Friday, January 1, 1999
Monday, January 1, 1979
Residential
Japan Criteria for Clients on the Rationalization of Energy Use for Homes
Country Specific Mandatory
Friday, January 1, 1999
Tuesday, January 1, 1980
Residential
Japan Design and Construction Guidelines on the Rationalization of Energy Use for Homes
Country Specific Mandatory
Friday, January 1, 1999
Tuesday, January 1, 1980
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Additional Code Information

Code Adoption & Change Process
History: 

.

Economic Indicators
Government Type: 

a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy

Climate Zone: 

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Population: 

127,078,679 (July 2009 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 

4% (2008 est.)

Construction Activity: 

Total Private Households: 46,862,900
By Type:
          o Detached House: 26,491,200 (56.53%)
          o Apartment w/ 5+ Floors: 8,205,400 (17.51%)
          o Apartment w/ >5 Floors: 10,527,400 (22.46%)
          o Tenement House: 1,482,600 (3.16%)
          o Other: 156,300 (0.33%)

Source: 2003 Census

Projected Construction Rate: 

6.9% per year (2003-2008)

GDP Per Capita: 

$34,000 (2008 est.)

Projected GDP Growth: 

-0.7% (2008 est.)

Industrial Production Growth: 

-2% (2008 est.)

Primary Exports: 

transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals

Primary Imports: 

machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials

Local Resources: 

negligible mineral resources, fish
note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas as well as the second largest importer of oil

Energy Data
Primary Energy Source: 

Petroleum: 49% (2005)

Energy Consumption: 

22.79 Quadrillion BTU (2006)

Energy Snapshot: 

Japan has virtually no domestic oil or natural gas reserves and is the second-largest net importer of crude oil and largest net importer of liquefied natural gas in the world. Including nuclear power, Japan is still only 16 percent energy self-sufficient. Japanese companies have actively pursued upstream oil and natural gas projects overseas in light of the country’s lack of domestic hydrocarbon resources. Japan remains one of the major exporters of energy-sector capital equipment and Japanese companies provide engineering, construction, and project management services for energy projects around the world. Japan has a strong energy research and development program that is supported by the government. The Japanese government actively pursues energy efficiency measures in an attempt to increase the country’s energy security and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Oil is the most consumed energy resource in Japan, although its share of total energy consumption has declined by about 30 percent since the 1970s. Coal continues to account for a significant share of total energy consumption, although natural gas and nuclear power are increasingly important sources, particularly as Japan pursues environmental policies. Japan is the third largest consumer of nuclear power in the world, after the United States and France. Hydroelectric power and renewable energy account for a relatively small percentage of total energy consumption in the country. Total energy consumption from 2003 to 2030 is forecast to grow by 0.3 percent per year on average, relatively small as compared to China’s forecast growth rate of 4.2 percent per year on average, according to EIA data.

Source: EIA

Renewable Trends: 

Japan had installed hydroelectric generating capacity of 22 GW in 2005, or about 9 percent of total capacity. While additional development of hydropower could boost the country’s energy security, it is not expected to account for much additional power capacity in coming years and has suffered from some drought conditions recently. Wind and solar power are more actively pursued in the country and installed capacity from these sources has increased in recent years, although they continue to account for a relatively small share of generation at this time.

Source: EIA

Climate Concerns
CO2 Emissions: 

1246.76 MMT CO2 (2006)

Green Building Initiatives

Local Revision and Green Codes:
Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency

National Environmental Milestones and Stragegies:
Act Concerning the Rational Use of Energy (Updated 2008)

Building Sector Economic Incentives:
Incentives for Efficient Homes and Businesses

Mandatory Building Energy Codes:
Criteria for Clients on the Rationalization of Energy Use for Buildings
Criteria for Clients on the Rationalization of Energy Use for Homes
Design and Construction Guidelines on the Rationalization of Energy Use for Homes
These energy codes are mandatory for all new buildings in Japan, and contain a detailed set of energy efficiency requirements covering most building elements.

Strengthening National Policies:
Act Concerning the Rational Use of Energy, Last Updated 2008
Japan's Energy Efficency and Conservation Law, which was first passed in 1979 and has been updated 6 times.  All building energy codes are passed under this law, and the law helps raise public awareness and support for energy efficiency, as well as goals and standards.

Economic Incentives for Efficiency:
Incentives for Efficient Homes and Businesses
Low-interest loans on purchases for energy improvements and leases on energy efficient spaces.

Green Building Rating System:
Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency
A voluntary green building rating system that assess new, existing, and renovated buildings on extrodinary energy efficiency measures.

Based on the current status of building energy codes and policies, as well as potential for energy efficiency, BCAP recommends the following actions.  Also noted are states or countries that successfully employ the suggested action, and may be used as a model.  These suggestions are meant only to show opportunities for energy efficiency.  Please contact BCAP for more information or assistance.

Establish a Code Change and Update Process
Japan already has a mandatory building energy code, as well as national programs in place to help support the code and assist residents and tennants with energy efficiency.  The next step for the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy is to develop an update and change cycle to their codes.  This will systematically ensure that the code stays current and incorporates the most recent advancements in building science.

Model State:
Florida
Florida has a regulatory code update process, managed by the Florida Building Comission (FBC).  Every three years the FBC updates the code in accordance with state guidelines.

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