#sustainable living #carbon footprint #Architect Developer

Innovative Approaches by Architect Developer, Inc. (ADI) for Building Lifecycle Sustainability

Architect Developer, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo's Ginza district, is taking significant steps towards environmental sustainability through its innovative strategies in building design and construction. Under the leadership of CEO Hiroki Kimoto, ADI aims to contribute to a greener future with its latest residential project, LiVLi—a model structure comprising 18 one-room units in a three-story steel frame design. This initiative includes three groundbreaking measures: the utilization of wooden panels for external wall substrates, the introduction of 100% recyclable gypsum board, and self-generation of electricity for common areas.

Overview of Key Initiatives

The effectiveness of the implemented strategies has been analyzed based on their ability to mitigate CO2 emissions, with promising results as follows:
1. Wood Panel Utilization for External Walls: This initiative alone has resulted in a reduction of approximately 0.7 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e).
2. Introduction of 100% Recyclable Gypsum Board: The adoption of this material has contributed to a significant 8.6 tCO2e reduction.
3. Self-Generation of Electricity for Common Areas: This approach has been by far the most impactful, leading to a reduction of around 216.6 tCO2e.

Overall, these measures significantly contribute to lowering carbon emissions, particularly the self-generated electricity for common areas, which has evidenced a large scale of reduction. The initial smaller reductions, stemming from wooden panels and recycled gypsum boards, are expected to accumulate benefits over time through gradual enhancements in standard specifications.

Visualization of Reduction Effects

In an effort to make the CO2 reductions more comprehensible, ADI has converted these metrics into a relatable format—equating the quantities reduced to the number of cedar trees required to absorb equivalent CO2 emissions:

• - Wooden Panel Usage: Equivalent to about 55 trees
• - Recyclable Gypsum Board: About 617 trees
• - Self-Generated Electricity: Approximately 15,472 trees

This method of visualization not only aids in understanding the ecological impact of these initiatives but aligns with the recommendations from Japan's Ministry of the Environment regarding effective consumer communication on carbon footprint.

Methodology and Objectivity Assurance

To ensure the accuracy of the carbon footprint calculations, ADI adhered to the guidelines established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment, utilizing the