Activities in FY 2012 toward Accomplishment of the Environmental Management Action Plan 2017/2030

In June 2010, the NEC Group developed the NEC Group Environmental Management Action Plan 2017/2030 setting 2017/2030 as target fiscal years for the medium and long term. The Group is now undertaking activities to accomplish specified targets set in the three areas of "low carbon," "resource recycling and conservation," and "ecosystem and biodiversity preservation." The results that have become tangible in two years after developing the plan are introduced.

[Low Carbon]

Low carbon: contribution to CO₂ emission reduction through IT solutions

A target is set to contribute to a reduction of 15 million tons in CO₂ emissions in FY 2018 for all of society through provisioning of IT solutions. The NEC Group's contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions in FY 2012 increased by 190,000 tons to 2.31 million tons, compared with 2.12 million tons for FY 2011. The principal factors in this increase in contribution can be attributed to an increase in sales of solutions to navigate all of society to becoming "entirely eco-friendly" since FY 2011 thanks to high electricity-saving awareness in the market, to a steady increase in Eco Symbol solutions that achieve large reduction contributions, and to beefing up of environmental and energy businesses.

(Results of FY 2012: The contribution to CO₂ emission reduction is 2.31 million tons; the cumulative total since FY 2011 is 4.43 million tons.)

[Examples of Achievements in FY 2012]

Support of power-saving measures of offices through visualization and automatic control

Affected by a shortage of electric power, power-saving activities of offices have become one of the major issues facing the companies. NEC is supplying the "enepal (R) PC Pack," which visualizes power consumption of the personal computers of each person and autonomously controls power consumption of personal computers by understanding the action patterns of users, in support of the power-saving measures of its customers. The "enepal (R) PC Pack" has been installed in about 100,000 personal computers by the end of FY 2012, contributing to a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 1,600 tons per year. Solutions to support power- and energy-saving efforts of offices will continuously be provided in the future also hand in hand with the "enepal (R) Office" that has reinforced functions for power-saving measures such as "energy-saving automatic control."

Accelerating deployment of smart energy business

Holding the energy business in high regard as one of its priority fields, NEC will further strengthen its smart energy business and will undertake activities that will contribute to creating a new energy society. Fully utilizing the strengths of NEC in "ICT" encompassing the computer, cloud computing, and other technologies as well as "energy component technology" encompassing energy storage systems, quick charger for electric vehicles (EVs), and other components, NEC is providing smart energy solutions combining energy storage systems, EMS (energy management system), and an EV charging infrastructure. Smart energy solutions support efficient energy utilization in communities and contribute to saving electricity in all of society and to reducing CO₂ emissions.

Development of a new charging infrastructure suitable for the spread of EVs (electric vehicles)

In a demonstration project of the "Battery and Charger Integration System for Next-Generation Service Stations" undertaken as part of the Yokohama Smart City Project, NEC developed the "Battery & Charger Integration System (BCIS)" in cooperation with JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation and the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The system consists of multiple quick chargers and a large-capacity storage battery of 50 kWh in output. In FY 2012, a reduction in simultaneous charging time to EVs and peak-cut effects of charging power were verified. In demonstration tests that start in FY 2013, a contribution by the BCIS in regulating the power demand and supply of a community is planned to be verified in tandem with a community energy management system (CEMS).

Joint development of an intelligent distribution board with Seven-Eleven for "visualization of power" in stores

Seven-Eleven Japan and NEC have been conducting joint demonstration tests and other schemes to improve store operations through visualization of power consumption of stores for convenience stores that are required to satisfy both service quality to the customers and energy saving. In FY 2012, an intelligent distribution board was jointly developed based on the experience and know-how gained in past activities. Equipped with a smart controller that measures electric energy with accuracy of less than 3% in maximum error, the best in the industry, the intelligent distribution board measures and visualizes electric energy of air conditioners, outdoor refrigeration units, cooking appliances, and other equipment in real time. The distribution board also installs data communication interfaces with a server and other equipment that are installed in a store, enabling development of an energy-saving program based on collected electric energy data. The system has been installed in some of the Seven-Eleven stores from the spring of 2012.

Low carbon: improvement of product energy efficiency

Setting the goal of reducing CO₂ emissions in the product usage phase by 80% in FY 2018 on average for all products compared with products of FY 2006, NEC is promoting energy saving of its products. In FY 2012, sixteen new products were approved as Eco Symbol Star products that meet the severe conditions such as energy saving of more than 50% compared with previous models. As performance in FY 2012, the product energy efficiency has improved by 66% compared with FY 2006 (target for FY 2012 was 62%). In FY 2013, the development of Eco Symbol Star products will continuously be promoted and Eco Symbol standards will be reviewed to reinforce the environmental performance of all products including energy-saving performance.

(Results of FY 2012: Product energy efficiency improved by 66% compared with FY 2006.)

[Examples of Achievements in FY 2012]

Liquid crystal projector NP-L50WJD with an LED light source

The liquid crystal projector NP-L50WJD has an LED light source for the first time in the industry for mobile projectors with a brightness of 500 lm or higher. Power consumption is reduced by 64% compared with a FY 2011 product, featuring a long life of 20,000 hours and being "mercury free."

Public display MultiSync LCD-X551S in pursuit of energy saving and resource conservation

The public display MultiSync LCD-X551S is a 55 inch public display developed featuring high luminance that is first in the world, under the concept of low profile, light weight, narrow frame, and low power consumption. Power consumption is reduced by about 52% compared with a former product through LED backlighting and high-efficiency power supply.

Resource Recycling and Conservation

More bioplastics used in products

In bioplastics that use plants as a raw material, plant materials substitute petroleum feedstock and plants fix carbon dioxide that is considered to cause global warming. Furthermore, bioplastics excel in degradability (biodegradability) in soil after disposal, and high expectations are placed on them at present as a new material that harmonizes well with the environment.

NEC has uniquely developed bioplastics that feature a higher ratio of plant components than before and the functionality needed for electronic equipment as bioplastic materials with a low environmental impact. These bioplastics are being used more in NEC products.

As part of an effort to achieve the goal of "using bioplastics in all major products" in FY 2018, in FY 2012, bioplastics were newly used in parts and members of six products including liquid crystal projectors and POS terminals.

Bioplastics made of a non-edible plant material developed in FY 2011 were used in the manufacture of cases as parts in products to verify product moldability. The results obtained with these cases were exhibited at the Eco Products 2011.

(Results of FY 2012: Used in six new products)

Ecosystem and Biodiversity Preservation

More persons participating in biodiversity preservation activities

Global activities are actively undertaken by setting the target of increasing the participation of NEC Group employees in social contribution activities toward ecosystem and biodiversity preservation to 12,000 persons by FY 2018. In FY 2012, the "Biodiversity Contribution Activities Guidelines" developed in FY 2011 were practiced by NEC Group employees and new activities were undertaken at various sites. The number of participants in the activities increased by about 30% in FY 2012 to 8,032 persons compared with 6,211 persons in FY 2011. In parallel with social contribution activities, solutions for contribution to ecosystem and biodiversity preservation using IT are being developed.

(Results of FY 2012: A total of 8,032 persons participated in biodiversity preservation social contribution activities.)

[Examples of Achievements in FY 2012]

Measurement of changes in life before and after restoration of a paddy field in ravine (Ushiku area)

As part of its activities to preserve the ecosystem and biodiversity, NEC is undertaking the "NEC Rice Paddy Cultivation Project" to restore a paddy field in ravine in the Lake Kasumigaura watershed in cooperation with the Asaza Fund, a nonprofit organization in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, headed by Mr. Hiroshi Iijima, since FY 2005. Prior to restoring a paddy field in ravine in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, beginning FY 2012, surveys of the condition of fallow rice fields in FY 2011 and life after starting restoration work in FY 2012 making dragonflies a major indicator were carried out. The surveys found an improvement in these parameters.

1. Changes in the area of the restored rice paddy The fallow rice field densely covered with weeds was restored and the surface of the water appeared. As a result, dragonflies that like marshland rich in vegetation and dragonflies that like the surface of the water have increased.

2. Changes in other areas
A wooded area near the paddy field in ravine was developed to create an empty space and more dragonflies that like flying in the woods can be seen there.

In the past, Lake Kasumigaura was the largest habitat for the Japanese crested ibis, and paddy fields in ravine in Ushiku City are being improved so that a sufficient amount of feed can be provided for the crested ibis (75 kg/year). A survey of the amount of feed needed by the crested ibis was conducted at the site. Compared with the target of 4 g/m2 on average, the actual amount for FY 2012 was 1.5 g/m2 on average. An effort will continuously be made in the future to restore paddy field in ravine by expanding the area of rice paddies and by creating an environment for the inhabitation of the crested ibis such as creating biotopes and grasslands.

Details of Activities toward Ecosystem and Biodiversity Preservation

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