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Implementation of LCA has become indispensable for effective utilization of environmental information. In order to have comprehensive and accountable assessment results, background data play as crucial a part as foreground ones. Hence, first given here is an overview of the current status and issues of major background databases, both international and Japanese, followed by a detailed description of IDEA, one of Japan’s largest and well-known database. Subsequently, important points for using background data are noted. Lastly, based on the results of our recent questionnaire survey on Japanese building industry, future issues to work on are discussed.

With the further development of ESG （Environmental, Social and Governance） investment, the corporate environmental information is becoming more and more important. Above all, in the field of climate change management, it can be said that the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures （TCFD）, which was launched at the same time as the Paris Agreement, has globally given us a common understanding and guidance of the climate change disclosure. In this paper, based on CDP’s activity for many years to promote environmental information disclosure on behalf of the investors, I will first introduce the environmental information usage in Japan and abroad. Then, I analyze how companies are currently disclosing their information aligning with what TCFD is aiming for, and consider how information disclosure will be in the future.

Daigas Group, whose main business lines are in energy, finds it vitally important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We have taken actions to reduce CO₂ emissions from our business activities and also from our energy customers. From the standpoints of“in-house management”and“outside accountability”, we show cases in which our actions are reflected in environmental information; and they are linked to disclosure and environmental management. With an increasing social demand for information disclosure relating to climate change, we also state some middle- to long-term issues to be tackled in the future.

In recent years, the spread of smart meters and HEMS has made it possible to acquire household energy data, and demonstration experiments utilizing that data have been actively conducted. In this paper, we report on household power saving advice using a nudge method and demand-side energy controlling systems. In addition, we have made suggestions from the perspective of social psychology to further expand the usage of household energy data.

Utilization of personal data has attracted attention towards realizing “Society 5.0” in Japan. This paper overviews the practical considerations and latest trends in utilizing personal data. Firstly, we present the definition of individual data based on the Act on the Protection of Personal Information of Japan. Secondly, we argue considerations in providing personal data based on a national guideline. Thirdly, we introduced the concept of data portability and information bank which have been received the movement to utilize personal data for one’s own.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental performance of a ground source heat pump （GSHP） system in a tropical region. We conducted a life cycle inventory （LCI） analysis wherein an optimally-designed GSHP system is installed in a commercial building in Bangkok, Thailand. An air source heat pump （ASHP） system was chosen as a comparison system. LC-CO₂, NO_x and SO₂ emissions were estimated for the LCI analysis. Based on the condition of the circulated water temperature, LC-CO₂, NO_x and SO₂ emissions of the GSHP system were reduced by 28.8%, 25.3% and 26.6%, respectively in the optimally-designed GSHP system compared with the ASHP system. Next, a sensitivity analysis was conducted by changing the length of the geothermal heat exchanger and the scale of the building within the design standards of the heat exchange rate commonly used in Japan. The results indicated that the life-cycle of the environmental load of the GSHP system decreases with increasing length of geothermal heat exchanger, and within the range of the sensitivity analysis, is lower than that of the ASHP system. However, a large geothermal heat exchanger is required for comparison at the scale of the building. Furthermore, the sustainability of the GSHP system with a long-term rise in underground temperature is not determined. Further research is required to evaluate and determine the sustainability of GSHP system as well as conducting investigations from an economic perspective.

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