SFC Receives the Grand Prize in the FY2023 Chairman's Award from the Kanto Region Committee for Rationalization of Electricity Use

2024.03.15

Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) has received the Grand Prize in the FY2023 Chairman's Award from the Kanto Region Committee for Rationalization of Electricity Use.

The national government has designated February, the winter period of high energy demand, as "Energy Conservation Month," and calls for the national government, local governments, businesses, and citizens to work together to promote energy conservation. In conjunction with this "Energy Conservation Month," the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), The Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ), and the Kanto Region Committee for Rationalization of Electricity Use commend individuals and exemplary businesses that have made significant contributions to energy conservation to further promote its widespread adoption.

SFC received the award in recognition of upgrading its air conditioning system to high-efficiency air-source heat pump chillers. Since the campus opened in 1990, the air conditioning in the main academic buildings has been provided by gas-fired absorption chillers/heaters and hot-water absorption chillers/heaters that utilize waste heat from a gas engine cogeneration system (CGS). However, due to equipment failures and reduced efficiency from aging, the facility had become excessive in both cost and energy consumption. By introducing high-efficiency air-source heat pump chillers, SFC has achieved energy and cost savings. Furthermore, the adoption of a modular design makes it possible to avoid a complete shutdown of the chilled/hot water supply to the secondary side even if some heat source units fail, thereby improving economy, environmental performance, and reliability. Additionally, by setting the ratio of gas-fired absorption chillers/heaters to air-source heat pump chillers at 55:45, the campus has transitioned to a flexible and highly reliable heat source configuration that can respond to fluctuations in electricity and gas prices and accommodate demand response during times of tight electricity supply. This renovation has reduced the heat source's energy consumption by 7,171.3 GJ/year (a 13.5% reduction).

In this year's awards, 69 other individuals and businesses were commended in addition to SFC. SFC is advancing various initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality by fiscal year 2030.

• Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Joins the Renewable Energy University League—Aiming to Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2030—(November 2022)

• Regarding the Introduction of Carbon Neutral City Gas at Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC)—Toward the Carbon Neutralization of Keio University—(November 2023)

• Okashira's Diary: Carbon Neutralization of SFC | Tomohiro Ichinose, Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies (November 2022)

• Okashira's Diary: Carbon Neutrality Using an App | Tomohiro Ichinose, Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies (November 2023)

Posted by: Property Management Section, Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Office