Terpenes such as α-pinene and β-pinene are emitted from wooden building materials. They have been reported to be relatively high concentration in the indoor environment. In this study, concentrations of α-pinene and β-pinene in indoor and outdoor air in 30 houses in Shizuoka, Japan were determined using a passive sampler. The individual exposures of α-pinene and β-pinene were also determined at each houses. The collection amounts of α-pinene and β-pinene by the passive sampler were converted to the air concentrations by using conversion equations that were determined from the results of simultaneous measurements with both passive and active samplers. Individual exposure concentrations of α-pinene in summer were ranged from <0.2 to 260μg/m³, and average and median concentrations were 18 and 2.3 μg/m³, respectively. The individual exposure concentrations of α-pinene were significantly correlated with those in indoor air, especially in living room. Margins of exposure (MOE) calculated from our results were sufficiently greater than an uncertainty factor (100).

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We estimated the induced effects of construction and equipment operation spending on the installation of photovoltaic and wind power generation plants and corresponding smart-grid systems in Japan. We conducted an input-output analysis based on the assumptions made in technical reports published by METI and CRIEPI. The analysis based on METIʼs findings shows that it is better to control power output rather than introduce large-scale battery storage systems in order to stabilize a power system. Lower costs and reduced CO₂ emissions per GWh also show the merits of shifting consumersʼ electricity usage over time. The analysis based on CRIEPIʼs findings shows that it is less expensive to use thermal power plant control in order to stabilize a power system, but associated CO₂ emissions are higher. Our study shows that emissions decrease with the increase in the amount of energy produced by renewable sources. We also show that the introduction of certain measures to ease the limiting conditions for instantaneous supply-demand balance of electric power are likely to decrease the costs of and CO₂ emissions from the electricity utility. One such measure is to shift consumersʼ electricity usage over time. We intend to examine the impact of this measure in our future research.

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This study identifies the stakeholders and their interests and clarifies the potential disputes to examine sustainable use of groundwater by stakeholder analysis in Obama which depends on groundwater as major source of water. The results demonstrate as follows. Firstly, there are gaps among stakeholders in terms of prerequisite knowledge. Therefore, sharing scientific evidence between stakeholders through Joint Fact-finding will help to build consensus regarding the future direction of groundwater management. Secondly, the degree of interest depends on local communities, generations and possibility of switching groundwater to tap water. It is imperative that adequate consideration is given to the diversity of stakeholders in promoting JFF. Thirdly, there is a lack of cooperation among stakeholders. Especially, Involvement of agricultural sector who should have positive relationship with groundwater in nature will be one of the keys to solve multi-issues solution. From a perspective of adaptive governance which will be more important under in operation of the Hydrological Circulation Fundamental Law, effectiveness of stakeholder analysis is to identify a new issue such as above, while challenge of it is not to provide a new framing. Therefore blowing a whistle from scientists to the stakeholders in the process of the analysis would be needed.

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This study identifies the stakeholders and their interests and clarifies the potential disputes and its prevention measure to realize a harmonious coexistence of geothermal resource between small power generation and hot spring utilization by stakeholder analysis in Beppu which has the top resources of hot spring in Japan. The results demonstrate as follows. First, most stakeholders are interested in small geothermal power generation basically but are not knowledgeable, and the expert knowledge on geothermal resource entail uncertainty. Second, most stakeholders assume the geothermal resource as sightseeing and management resource rather than power generation use, and acknowledge the value of not only economic but also non-economic. Third, explicit disputes are not observed at present because small geothermal power generation have not been utilized everywhere yet. However, the concerns over the depletion of geothermal resource are so serious that disputes might arise in future. Therefore finally, integrating expert knowledge and local knowledge is needed by sharing risk perception of depletion of geothermal resource and by reframing branding strategy in the local community through joint fact-finding. Based on the above, a comprehensive arena of dialogue on geothermal resource are required to examine sustainable use of the resource.

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