Synopsis: Week 2.5
The travelling GSE Colorado team from District 5450 has continued to absorb insights from the multitudinous of activities prepared by our hosts in northern Japan, District 2520.
As was noted, we visited with officials from the Toyota affiliate, Kanto Auto Works in Kitakami City. There are a number of initiatives that the company is employing that are part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability programming. Included within this: focusing on MPG in all stages of automobile design, utilizing recycled steel in assembly parts, piloting a solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine project for determining feasibility, and utilizing a “snow mountain” as the base source of their summer cooling demands. See snow mountain picture and diagram below.
We met with mayors of Miyako City and Ichinoseki City over the past week. The diplomatic meetings focused on the purpose of our GSE exchange, learning about local efforts for sustainability, and gathering information on local culture in each area.
We also visited Nippon Paper Industries, which has a large biomass energy facility onsite. Quite impressive. They also have a new machine that increases productivity, efficiency, and environmental protection called the N6. The machine produces 1,500 meters of paper per minute–a breakneck speed.
The GSE team visited a refuse facility in Ishinomaki that produces electricity by incineration. The kWH output is quite impressive as well as the cleanliness and reduction of emissions.
We continue to be impressed by the advances in renewable and sustainable industries here in northern Japan. Rotary!
