About
History of the Tokyu Land Corporation Group
The initial steps taken by the TLC Group date back to the development of Den-en Chofu, Tokyo, JAPAN in 1923, a pioneering project by the Den-en Toshi Co. (established 1918). A spirit of enterprise ever seeking out new challenges and unsurpassed development capabilities have since become their backbone, expanding their business field to housing, commercial facilities, office buildings, resort, senior housing, and so on, and creating a comprehensive real estate enterprise group comprising 59 consolidated companies and a total of some 16 000 employees as of the end of March 2010.
To respond effectively to changing business environments, Tokyu Land Corporation plans to maximize client satisfaction by providing higher value-added products and services, optimizing their asset management functions including facility management expertise. They're determined to meet the increasingly diverse needs of their clients by making the most of their management resources, by refining business models, and by continuing to create new value that anticipates future generations.
Strategy
Environmental Activities at Tokyu Land Corporation
Branz Green Project: Our Way of Promoting Environmental-Conscious
As a long-time community developer, TLC is aiming to “provide residences that grow in value over time”. In order to achieve their goal, they have been trying to identify what this oughts to be for the next generation homes from an environment-conscious view. this is how they came to launch Branz Green Project, which consists of three key projects to promote “what human and housing can do for environment”, and conveys to their customers TLC's idea in an easy-to-understand way.
Project 1 calls for “Eco-Living”. From three points of view, “building durability”, “resource conservation” and “lifestyle filled with green”, which allows TLC's customers to enjoy “eco-living”, TLC has developed equipments in each property. For instance, “Branz City Konandai” project, scheduled to be completed in 2011, will feature high efficiency water heaters “Eco-Jozu”, LED lighting at common entrance, green roof over parking ramp, and many other energy conserving systems.
Project 2 calls for “Eco-Visualization”. In order to share TLC's aspiration with customers, they promote the reduction of environmental load by being certified from a third party, and visualizing their environment-oriented criteria in an understandable way. “Branz Rikugien”, completed in February 2010, is the first project to incorporate Eco Visualization and it let its residents see for themselves the CO2 reduction effect. In “Branz City Konandai Uguisunomori”, energy conservation systems and facilities successfully reduce annual CO2 emission by a total of 19 per cent (90 tons), and the savings on utility bill for each unit is approximately 33 000 yen per year. The same condominium has also been certified “A” (Excellent) by CASBEE Yokohama*, an independent building evaluation system which focuses on durability and energy conservation aspects.
Project 3 calls for “Eco-Participation”. Going beyond housings, TLC promotes broader nature conservation activities and social contribution. For instance, they carried out a tree planting campaign in Yoshino-machi, Nara Prefecture, a world heritage-listed area, with the aim of regeneration of forests. During the campaign, one cherry tree was planted per each potential customer who visited their model home. they completed the campaign successfully with a total of 850 trees planted. In March 2010, they invited 5 pairs among their customers, who were chosen from a lottery, to participate in tree planting. The campaign and the tree planting tour were both received favorably with comments such as “This is a wonderful effort with a long-term view. Corporations should be launching these kind of valuable events more often”.
* CASBEE Yokohama: CASBEE, or Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency, evaluates buildings by their environmental performances on a five-point scale (S, A, B+, B-, C). It is a set of nation-wide criteria to evaluate the extent of environmental consciousness of planned buildings. In Yokohama city, developers of buildings larger than certain size are required to prepare and submit “environment-conscious building plans” using CASBEE Yokohama.
Branz City Konandai Uguisunomori (Roof garden)
Indicating Environmental Performance of Condominiums
TLC aggressively adopts Tokyo Green Labeling System of Condominiums and CASBEE for condominiums, as a measure to advance environment consciousness in its housing business. TLC’s standard specification for new condominiums adopts next generation energy conservation standard (except in some regions), and includes high efficiency water heater (gas water heater “Eco-Jozu” or electric heat pump “Eco Cute”), which helps to promote environment-conscious housing market.
TLC continues to offer comfortable living environment to the customers, and reduces the environmental impact, while at the same time responding to specification requirement for “Eco-point system for housing”, a recent government-led promotion campaign for eco-friendly homes.
Certifications acquired for Environmental Performance for Projects completed in fiscal 2009 and to be completed in fiscal 2010
*1 Tokyo Green Labeling System of Condominiums: There are four criteria of environmental performance; 1) building insulation, 2) energy efficiency of equipments, 3)measures to enhance building life and 4) greening. Projects are rated for each criterion by 1-3 stars. The 5th criterion “solar power generation and solar heat” has been added since January 2010.
*2 CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency)
Solar Power Generation, Car-sharing, Rental bikes
“Branz geo Todoroki”, a condominium by TLC, is equipped with solar power generation system that feeds power to condominium’s elevators and common spaces. “Branz Musashikosugi”, on the other hand, features a 24-hour car-sharing system, which allows residents to drive hybrid cars as necessary without having to own one. This is an effective way to balance the environment consciousness and comfort in urban lifestyle. At “Branz Nakanominamidai”, electric bicycles are rented to residents, contributing to a healthier lifestyle, lower environment impact and increased customer satisfaction.
Car-sharing for condominium (image)
Green Planning Guidelines
Greening of the living environment is another approach that TLC actively promotes. They set up “Green Planning Guidelines” for condominiums and detached homes respectively (except for some areas), follow the guidelines to plan landscaping that integrates well into the environment and building plans, provide plentiful greens and create beautiful town scenery.
Improved TLC’s Forest Receive CO2 Absorption Certificate
In March 2010, approximately 96 hectares of TLC’s corporate owned forest was approved by Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, as the area of Forest Management Plan. They are starting on the approved plan by conducting weeding and improvement cutting for the first 5 years from fiscal 2010 to 2014. They also acquired Forest CO2 Absorption Certificate for their forest management plan in accordance with “beautiful forests in Chiba; implementation outline of CO2 absorption certificate system, by promoting forest improvement work”.
Their plan became the first to acquire the certificate in Chiba Prefecture for the forest improvement plan. The forest area subject to the 5 years of initial improvement work is 7.55 hectares, and the certified amount of CO2 to be absorbed is 93.4 tons. They hope to fulfill their social responsibility through planned conservation of this forest, which leads to reduction of environmental load.
At the ceremony to issue CO2 Absorption Certificate(from right: Mr. Sakuma, Mayor of Ichihara City, Mr. Morita, Governor of Chiba Prefecture, President & CEO Kanazashi, Director & Senior Managing Executive Officer Ogura)
Energy Data Collection System
TLC employs an energy data collection system provided by an application service provider*, in order to promote current assessment of CO2 emission reduction visualization of energy consumption at office properties, commercial facilities and resort facilities (approximately 200 locations excluding housings). The present data analysis effectively helps us to advance CO2 reduction activities and to meet regulations such as Energy Conservation Law and the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Security Ordinance. The energy data collection system also allows tenants to check actual energy consumption at their offices, which in turn will motivate them to take specific steps to reduce CO2 emission.
*Application Service Provider: It provides business application to clients via Internet.
Environment Consciousness Menu for Planning New Projects
To implement their “Environmental Philosophy” and “Environmental Guideline” in office buildings and commercial facilities, TLC developed what they call “Environment Consciousness Menu” to be incorporated into project planning process. As a result of consulting with the menu, “Shibuya Place”, an office building, for example, is equipped with Low-E double pane windows, auto-dimming lighting system, green wall among other environment-conscious functions and systems.
Environmental Measures at Commercial Facilities
TLC’s commercial complex called “Totsuka Tokyu Plaza” (opened April 2010), incorporates various environment-conscious features including:
- Approximately 380 m2 of green wall and roof,
- LED lighting (i.e. for advertising display) and motion sensor lighting (that is for emergency stairs),
- Use of industrial water, which has low environmental impact, for flushing toilets, and
- Cold-water thermal storage air-conditioning system.
Consequently, the project acquired rank A in CASBEE Yokohama, a building environment performance evaluation system. Another shopping complex called “Abeno Market Park Q’s Mall” (scheduled to be completed in spring of 2011), is also an environment conscious project with green walls, LED lightings, and motion sensor lightings, and the like.
TLC’s environmental efforts go beyond new projects. Its Building Maintenance Department has also worked steadily toward energy conservation by improving already installed equipments and their operations. Significant energy conservation is achieved by carrying out detailed investigations to make necessary improvements and adjustments as well as implementing system renewals or revisions in large facilities.
TLC Group’s Activities
Eco-activities at Major Facilities
The TLC Group makes constant efforts to conserve the environment, meeting the requirements of Revised Energy Conservation Law and other regulations, and implementing Environmental Voluntary Action Plan adopted by industrial organizations which the TLC Group participates in. Specific measures include: awareness-raising for the Group employees by posters and “Let’s Grow Our Own Eco-Fruit” slogan, adjusting air-conditioner temperature/ operation time in the office, promoting Cool Biz (energy saving campaign in the office), reducing paper use, and saving water. Furthermore, the TLC Group promotes CO2 emission reduction, energy saving systems, new energy sources and greening at their major facilities to advance environment-conscious business practices.
CO2 Emissions from TLC’s Major Facilities
Participating in Light-Down Campaign
The TLC Group companies* took part in “CO2 Reduction / Light-Down Campaign 2010”, launched by the Ministry of the Environment. On June 21st (the summer solstice) and July 7th (the Star Festival), participating companies turned off exterior lightings and advertising lights at their commercial and resort facilities as well as office lights. Until 2009, the Tokyu Group companies had participated in the campaign individually, but for 2010, they participated as a group to emphasize group-wide anti-global warming approach and turned off lights at 144 locations across 31 group companies.
* Group companies that participated in the campaign include: TLC, Tokyu Community, Tokyu Hands, Tokyu Land Capital Management, Tokyu E-life Design, Tokyu Resort, and Tokyu Resort Service
Activities at Tokyu Hands
At Tokyu Hands stores in Shinjuku, Sapporo, and Yokohama, a MCPETα (light reflector) is installed on one tube out of each 3-tube fluorescent lighting fixture, conserving energy while maintaining illumination intensity.