Fujita Corp., a mid-sized general construction firm in Tokyo, announced on October 3, 2010 that they have established a road pavement technology that captures and decomposes volatile organic compounds (VOC) in emission gases from cars. They have developed the new technology jointly with Taiheiyo Cement Corp. and Fujita Road Construction Co., making use of a joint research achievement with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

Fujita and these firms previously developed a road pavement technology that cleans nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the emission gases from cars in 1999. NOx are oxidized under sunlight (ultraviolet rays) by the photocatalyst coating on the sophisticated pavement and are converted to neutral calcium nitrate, which is captured by the pavement surface. Nitrate and calcium ions are washed away as harmless compounds by rainwater.

The new road pavement technology, named “Photoroad Technology Clean Ox (Oxidant),” is more advanced than conventional road pavement technology, featuring the new VOC cleaning function in addition to the NOx cleaning capacity, which has been improved by 50%. VOC are captured and decomposed by an adsorbent present in the coating agent sprayed on the pavement surface. This new technology for cleaning VOC on roadsides is the first such technology developed in Japan. According to estimates based on laboratory experiments, about 20% of VOC emitted by cars can be cleaned, and the NOx emitted by 12,000 cars can be treated in a single traffic lane each day.

Fujita is aiming to propose that central and local governments, large-scale factories and distribution centers use the new pavement technology for roads in urban areas and exterior roads in private facilities.

By Japan for Sustainability

In December 2009, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced the establishment of an eco-point system for housing to encourage the construction and renovation of eco-friendly houses by offering reward points.

The system was stipulated in “the Emergency Economic Countermeasures for Future growth and Security” approved by the Japanese cabinet on December 8, 2008. Eco-points will be issued for the remodeling or construction of eco-houses. The point system targets construction or remodeling projects that begin before December 31, 2010.

By Japan for Sustainability

Huis Ten Bosch, a large resort theme park located in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, started operations of a pilot “plant factory” on its premises on November 14, 2009. The unit, funded as one of the 2009 Advanced Plant Factory Promotional Projects sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, will be the first one in the Kyushu region open to the public. It will be powered primarily by Huis Ten Bosch’s onsite photovoltaic (PV) generation system.

e2 design is an ongoing series that explores the sustainability movement in the built environment. This episode, “The Green Machine,” shows Mayor Richard Daley explaining his mission to make Chicago “the greenest city in America” through green design and construction, an integrated solar-powered public transportation system with a bike station, and over two million square feet of green roofs.

The Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) launched its green building product listing website today, which provides a database of green building products for building professionals, and is open to manufacturers and suppliers of green building products to apply for listing.

SGBC is also developing the Green Building Product Certification system and linking it with the BCA Green Mark Scheme. Its Technical Coordination Committee will work with the relevant local agencies to adopt a methodical approach and establish the information system for the industry. The first phase of the certification system is to start with the Green Building Product Listing.

Check out the list of green building products here.