KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) announced that the company's Fukushima Tanagura Plant (Fukushima Pref.) has received Japan's 2012 Minister of the Environment Award for the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming (countermeasures category) in recognition of its comprehensive environmental protection activities. This is the third consecutive year that Kyocera has been a recipient, following the 2011 award for the company's central Japan manufacturing plants in the countermeasures category, and the 2010 award for Kyocera's high-output solar module in the technology development / product category.
This latest award adds to the many others Kyocera has received worldwide. Most recently, Kyocera Mexicana S.A. de C.V., a manufacturing plant in Tijuana, Mexico was awarded its third consecutive Industria Limpia (Clean Industry) Certification from the Mexican government. Kyocera Communications Inc., a San Diego-based provider of wireless phones, earned a "2012 Environmental Excellence Award" from the Industrial Environmental Association (IEA) in the category of Climate Change for reducing its environmental impact by fundamentally altering its freight-shipping practices. Kyocera also boasts the distinction of San Diego's "most awarded" company for its various environmental programs, earning 19 awards from the city for recycling and other business practices.
For this year's Minister award, Kyocera's Fukushima Tanagura manufacturing plant was nominated by the local township and was recognized for its comprehensive and community-based efforts. Kyocera has continually carried out environmental efforts over the years, but in response to an increased need for energy conservation following the disasters of March 2011, Kyocera further enhanced its activities at the plant, including the expansion of solar energy, implementation of demand control ventilations, and adoption of hybrid cars.
"This award is the result of our positive communication with the community and the efforts of employees to help combat climate change," said the plant manager, Toshiaki Nakanishi. "We would like to express our deep appreciation to all those involved."
Specific Programs
1. Energy conservation
Kyocera has installed 1,830
solar panels on the building's roof, realizing a power generation
capacity of 230kW. This is the equivalent power used by 57 households
and supplies approximately 6% of the annual electricity used at the
plant. In addition, Kyocera adopted demand control ventilations, thus
reducing electricity used for air conditioning by 10-30%.
2. Reduction of CO2 emissions
A
53m x 4.5m curtain of foliage was grown on the west side of the
administration building to provide shade from direct sunlight and heat
radiation during the hot summer. These Green
Curtains mitigate the surface temperature of the outer wall by
roughly 12 degrees Celsius, helping to lower the building's internal
temperature and thus reducing energy required for air conditioning.
3. Water conservation
Kyocera implemented special
types of faucets to save water. In addition, discharged water from
compressor drains is reused for landscape irrigation.
4. Reduction in gasoline use
By replacing four of the
six company cars with hybrid vehicles, Kyocera reduced gasoline
consumption and CO2 emissions.
5. Community education
Kyocera employees offer "Eco-Lessons"
to local elementary schools by using solar energy as an educational
subject. Since 2007, employees from the plant have provided Eco-Lessons
to 2,404 students at 56 local schools.
6. Forest conservation
50 Kyocera employees
volunteered to thin trees and cut grass in a forest located near the
company's site. Kyocera plans to foster biodiversity in this forest
after further land preparation.
About the Award
The Minister of the Environment Award for
the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming was established in
1998 by Japan's Ministry of the Environment. The award is given every
year in December to coincide with Global Warming Prevention Month, and
is presented to individuals and groups that have shown remarkable
achievements in the prevention of global warming.
Learn more about Kyocera's Environmental Protection Activities: http://global.kyocera.com/ecology/eco/index.html
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of solar power generating systems, telecommunications equipment, printers, copiers, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2012, the company's net sales totaled 1.19 trillion yen (approx. USD14.5 billion). The company is ranked #426 on Forbes magazine's 2012 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.