Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies, Tokyo City University
Faculty of Environmental and Information Studies
ISO14001
Eco-campus Acquires International Environmental Standard ISO 14001 Certification
In 1998, Yokohama Campus became the first university in Japan to acquire the international environmental standard ISO 14001 certification. This "Eco campus" concept has been reflected in various environmentally friendly technologies and features throughout the campus. One of the main features of our ISO activities is that they are largely student-driven. In addition, the students have recently expanded the range of their eco-friendly activities to areas outside of the campus.
- What is ISO 14001?
- Classifying garbage into eight categories
- Isolated smoking areas
- Eco-Campus
- Environmental education by seniors
- DRP during the School Festival
What is ISO 14001?
ISO14001 is the environment management and audit planning service of the International Organization for Standardization based in Geneva, Switzerland, recognizes companies or organizations that care about environment. A series of objectives are systematically evaluated, including policies concerning environment, existence of appropriate goals, operations, and checks on the achievement for continual improvement.
Classifying garbage into eight categories
In our campus, we have trash receptacles called "Resource Collection Boxes", in which garbage is separated into eight categories: glass bottles, plastic (PET) bottles, aluminum cans, steel cans, petrochemical garbage, combustible garbage, paper and cigarette butts.
Isolated smoking areas
The Yokohama campus has smoking areas for smokers that are completely isolated from the surrounding environment to secure healthy conditions for non-smokers. Smoking is permitted only in specified areas mainly set up near the entrances of the buildings. On campus, smoking is totally prohibited in other areas, including the walking paths, central garden area, classrooms, etc.
Eco-Campus
Heat Pump Air Conditioning with Ice Storage [Every building]
Heat pump air conditioning systems with ice storage are used to shift the energy peak load from daytime to nighttime. Electricity supplied during the night hours is used to store ice in tanks to provide chilled air in daytime in summer and also to store heated water in the tanks to provide warm air in winter.
High-side Lights [Lobby of the Main Building/2nd-floor of Cafeteria]
Double window panes and Low-E glasses (specially coated glass with high thermal insulation), which are seldom used in school buildings in the Tokyo/Yokohama area, are used for windows facing the north and south. Use of these windows helps reduce energy use for heating and cooling.
Double Panes [Classroom and Faculty Building/Administration Office, etc.]
Double window panes and Low-E glasses (specially coated glass with high thermal insulation), which are seldom used in school buildings in the Tokyo/Yokohama area, are used for windows facing the north and south. Use of these windows helps reduce energy use for heating and cooling.
Overhangs/Side-fins [South-facing windows in the Classroom and Faculty Building/Cafeteria, etc.]
Overhangs and side fins are installed outside the south-facing windows, which are exposed to strong sun, to increase the effectiveness of shading direct sunlight. They improve the interior environment in summer to minimize the use of air-conditioning.
Design of Lighting System [Classroom and Faculty Building/Research Laboratories/Hallways, etc.]
Utilizing natural lighting and systematizing electric-lighting switches also economize electricity consumption.
Use of Rain Water [Lawn Sprinklers (installed at 27 locations on campus)/Roof-top Sprinkler System on Gymnasium]
Rainwater is collected in a tank installed beneath Building 3, which is used for watering plants which is sprinkled onto the roof of the gymnasium, which is exposed to direct sunlight in summer.
Solar Water Heater [Gymnasium]
Solar panels are installed on the rooftop of the gymnasium, which convert solar energy into thermal energy to heat up the water used in the shower rooms.
Promenade for the Public (Wood Chip Course)
Trees around the campus are preserved in their natural condition to protect the environment, and the paths along the woods are covered with wood chips.
Practice of environmental education by seniors
When the freshmen first join our faculty, upperclass students give lectures on ISO environmental education to freshman. This program is called "Eco-campus tour", in which freshmen learn the policies and facilities of our eco-campus.
Dish Return Project (DRP) Campaign to Reduce Garbage during the School Festival
The Dish Return Project (DRP) is one project that has been carried out during the MI-TECH Yokohama Festival every year. A lot of garbage is normally produced during school festivals, but Yokohama Festival aims to reduce garbage by not use paper cups and paper plates. Instead booths at the festival use plastic dishes and utensils and ask for a 50-yen deposit. When festival guests finish, they return their dishes to DRP collection booths and receive their 50 yen back.
In addition to the DRP, other measures, such as composting garbage, are utilized in an effort to reduce the overall volume of waste.
