GLOBAL
Value Creation for the Earth
Carbon neutrality initiatives
Daikin Group Environmental Vision 2050
Daikin plays a major role in mitigating global warming. With 2019 as the base year, Daikin is working to achieve carbon neutrality by reducing its actual emissions to 50% or less by 2030, and to net zero by 2050, compared with the number of emissions when business grows without measures (BAU).
Role of the Rinkai Factory
The Rinkai Factory in the Sakai Plant is an environmentally advanced factory where employees conscientiously work to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to realize the Environmental Vision 2050 of the Daikin Group. From these efforts, we achieved net zero greenhouse gas emissions (carbon neutrality) in fiscal 2023. Using this Rinkai Factory as a model factory, we will horizontally develop this model to factories in Japan by 2030 to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from the production and development processes.
Actual Initiatives
A system of visualizing power was created to identify and reduce energy waste.
Positive pressure in the existing factory was achieved along with improved air supply and exhaust. Combustion equipment has been replaced in the industrial processes with heat pump systems.
Solar panels have been installed on the roof to handle some of the energy needs required for production activities.
Example of Energy Visualization
D-BIPS Air Conditioning Monitoring System
The system was established to visualize power consumption using D-BIPS, Daikin's air conditioning monitoring system.
On-site temperature and humidity distribution are checked in real time.
Power consumption is visualized by factory location.
Example of Reduction in Wasted Energy
Positive Pressure in Existing Factory and Improved Air Supply and Exhaust
At Rinkai Factory No. 2, factory spaces were positively pressurized by optimizing the volume of air supply and exhaust. This led to a reduction in excessive inflow of outdoor air and improvement in factory temperatures by more than 6°C in both summer and winter.
Additionally, improved air conditioner operation successfully reduced air conditioning energy requirements by roughly 26%. Recognized for achieving both comfort and energy efficiency without a major capital investment in a factory that is over 30 years old, Rinkai Factory No. 2 received the Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Award of the Energy Conservation Grand Prize in fiscal year 2022.
Typical factory: Outdoor air enters and causes ineffective air conditioning
Positive pressure prevents outside air from entering the factory.
Combustion Equipment Replaced in the Industrial Processes with Heat Pump Systems
On the production lines, heat source equipment uses substantial energy and produces a large amount of GHG emissions. At the Rinkai Factory, steam generated by the combustion equipment is used for heating in the cleaning process. However, using combustion equipment causes significant heat loss in the form of exhaust gas and hot wastewater. For this reason, improvements were made to reduce heat loss by both replacing the combustion equipment with heat pump systems that provide highly efficient heat and locating the equipment closer to the cleaning process, saving roughly 80% in energy usage. Utilizing our own technologies, we are working to reduce GHG emissions by improving the efficiency of combustion equipment in industrial processes.
Example of Energy Creation
Energy Generation through Solar Panels
Solar panels have been installed at the Rinkai Factory on the roof of Factory No. 1 to supply some of the energy needs required for production activities.
From fiscal 2024, we plan to install solar panels on all rooftops, including Factory No. 2 and the distribution center, in an effort to accelerate our energy creation initiatives.
Solar panels on the roof of Rinkai Factory No. 1
Biodiversity conservation initiatives
At the Sakai Plant, a biotope was established next to the grounds of the Kanaoka Factory. Here employees are personally involved in conservation activities, including gardening. Their efforts have led to wildlife visits including butterflies, dragonflies, and birds from nearby landscaped areas such as Oizumi Ryokuchi Park and Daisen Park. This biotope is used for exchange events with local elementary school students and as a place for employee education.
Kanaoka Factory Biotope
Wildlife observation events with local elementary school students
Biodiversity conservation education for employees
Wildlife seen in the biotope
Spot-bill ducks
Short-tailed blue
