#Carbon Neutrality #Japan #Sapporo #Ecoulu #Crosstie Holdings

Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Crosstie Holdings and Ecoulu's Partnership

In a noteworthy development for sustainable construction, Crosstie Holdings, based in Hokkaido, has adopted the AI-driven energy management service Ecoulu GX from the innovative climate AI startup, Ecoulu. The collaboration aims to establish a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.

Crosstie Holdings has set its goals under the banner of innovation, envisioning a society flourishing through eco-friendly practices. The introduction of Ecoulu's service allows for the visualization and analysis of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, revealing a significant emission amount of 447.77 tons of CO2. This initiative responds to the dual pressures of rising energy costs and the de-carbonization demands from major partners in the supply chain.

Why Cutting Energy Costs is Urgent Now

Energy prices for electricity, gas, and fuels have remained high due to geopolitical risks and currency depreciation. This persistent rise has created pressing challenges for medium and small enterprises in sectors like construction, manufacturing, and logistics, resulting in a direct impact on profitability. Moreover, the introduction of Japan's carbon credit trading system (GX-ETS) starting April 2026 and the requirement for large corporations to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions by March 2027 dictate that even smaller suppliers must become adept at managing these emissions.

Companies now face the simultaneous demands of cost reduction and compliance with decarbonization measures. Responding to this trend, Ecoulu has developed a comprehensive service where AI supports the entire process of acquiring, visualizing, analyzing, controlling, and reducing energy usage, offering medium and small businesses a straightforward way to address these challenges.

Background of Ecoulu's Introduction: The Urgency of Disclosure Obligations

The construction industry is quickly adapting to the requirement for large companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. Major clients of Crosstie Holdings plan to mandate emission disclosures across their supply chains by 2027. This impending requirement makes the need for proactive measures in reducing emissions an urgent issue for the company.

However, the construction sector in Hokkaido faces unique challenges due to its climatic conditions. With high heating demands in winter and extensive travel distances contributing to fuel consumption, understanding the full scope of emissions has been difficult. Additionally, there’s a lack of specialized personnel or centralized systems to manage this data, as well as the pressing issue of elevated energy costs. Recognizing these factors, Crosstie Holdings adopted Ecoulu’s energy-saving service.

Achievements Through Ecoulu GX

1. Precise Visualization of Energy Usage and Emissions:
Ecoulu provided a holistic collection and organization of previously scattered energy data, calculating energy usage and scope 1-2 emissions for all facilities of Core Company Ecotech by fiscal year 2024. It was found that approximately 80% of emissions derived from Scope 1 emissions related to fuel use, which is typical in the construction industry in cold regions.

2. Quantifying Previously Unseen Winter Emissions:
Monthly data analysis revealed that energy usage at the Sapporo headquarters during the winter (December to March) tripled compared to summer usage. This quantitative evidence facilitated identifying priority measures such as upgrading insulation and electrifying heating systems.

3. Clear Path to Carbon Neutrality by 2040:
Based on the analysis results, a roadmap was developed to achieve Scope 2 emissions reduction by 2030 and complete carbon neutrality by 2040. Strategies include enhancing energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy, electrifying equipment, and gradually moving towards electric vehicles.

Crosstie Holdings plans to extend this model of sustainability across its entire group.

Future Plans: Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality by 2040

Crosstie Holdings and Ecoulu will promote energy usage reduction and decarbonization in three phases:

1. Expanding the Successful Model Across the Group (~2027):
The optimized model from Ecotech will be rolled out across the Crosstie Holdings group, utilizing AI to refine energy patterns in real-time, targeted towards improving operations without requiring significant investment.

2. Achieving Zero Scope 2 by 2030:
Targeting zero emissions from electrical sources through both hardware and software initiatives, including installing solar panels and switching to renewable energy plans.

3. Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2040:
To tackle the more challenging Scope 1 reductions, investment will focus on technological innovations. The plan includes electrifying equipment and systematically transitioning vehicles towards EVs (electric vehicles), drastically reducing emissions from fossil fuels. Additionally, high-quality carbon credits will be utilized to offset any remaining emissions to achieve net-zero status.

Ecoulu aims to broaden its services to medium and small enterprises facing the dual challenges of rising energy prices and decarbonization, ultimately striving to develop mechanisms that enable profit improvement alongside sustainable management. By providing visualization, analysis, control, and reduction of energy usage, it seeks to facilitate a blend of operational efficiency and carbon-conscious governance across various industries and regions.

Coverage by Hokkaido Newspaper

The initiative has garnered attention, being featured twice in the Hokkaido Newspaper in March 2026 as a pioneering model in the construction industry facing the forthcoming disclosure obligations.

Remarks from Company Leaders

Hidetsugu Hayashi, CEO of Crosstie Holdings:
"Visualizing GHG emissions is crucial for us. With major clients enforcing disclosure requirements by 2027, this initiative solidifies our commitment to preparation and compliance. By collaborating with Ecoulu, we tap into substantial expertise that can strengthen our competitiveness while addressing our regional environmental responsibilities."

Yasuhiko Emori, CEO of Ecoulu:
"The construction industry in Hokkaido offers significant potential for improvement in carbon emissions. Collaborating with Crosstie has enabled us to establish a robust decarbonization roadmap. Our coverage in Hokkaido Newspaper amplifies awareness of GX initiatives among SMEs, and we remain dedicated to creating accessible frameworks that sustain competitiveness while encouraging green transitions."

About Ecoulu GX Service

Ecoulu GX is an AI-powered service designed specifically for medium and small enterprises, modernizing conventional energy-saving approaches. It allows for the visualization, analysis, and control of energy usage to curtail costs, thereby balancing profit enhancement with sustainable operations, even for companies lacking specialized human resources.