DIY Tips and Technology for Double Energy Savings

KUSATSU, JAPAN — In the United States, Panasonic Corporation is known for electronics, not for its home appliances which are a familiar brand in Asia. The company is taking big steps, however, toward providing green solutions for living, including both “do-it-yourself” tips as well as Panasonic technology for the home.

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Editor’s Note: This story is part of a series looking at Panasonic and its ecological strategies and technological developments.

Story and photos by E.Q. Lam November 9, 2011

KUSATSU, JAPAN — In the United States, Panasonic Corporation is known for electronics, not for its home appliances which are a familiar brand in Asia and a growing brand in Europe. The company is taking big steps, however, toward providing green solutions for living, including both “do-it-yourself” tips as well as Panasonic technology for the home.

In an eco press tour of Panasonic’s facilities in Japan, the company highlighted its vision to become the number one green innovation company in the global electronics industry by 2018, the 100th anniversary of its founding. The goal of the company is to make the environment central to all of its activities in order to cut carbon emissions by 50 million tons in fiscal year 2013 and 120 million tons by fiscal year 2019. Panasonic’s approach to CO2 emissions reductions involves both the production of its electronics as well as development of eco products.

Panasonic gave a tour of its ECO NAVI House in Kusatsu (near Osaka), where Panasonic Home Appliance Company (Panasonic HA) is located. The ECO NAVI House showcases the home appliance products which Panasonic currently offers (mostly in Japan and China). Among 21 ECO NAVI products are smart air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines. The air conditioner will be on the U.S. consumer market in January 2012, says Kazunori Takami, president of Panasonic HA.

At the same time that Panasonic HA introduces ECO NAVI products, it gives what the company calls “do-it-yourself” tips to save energy, under the theme of “You can start now. Let’s save energy together.” Shozo Kinoshita, senior public relations coordinator for Panasonic HA, says the double dose of information encourages consumers to be more conscious of their energy use and change their habits.

“People can change their mind,” says Kinoshita. “We can start now; we can save energy globally.”

Here are some of the DIY tips that Kinoshita highlights:

• Refrigeration: The refrigerator needs a good air path from top to bottom, so do not block the air flow with larger objects on higher shelves. Place the food with the warmest temperature on the lowest shelf, so that it does not warm the rest of the food. Even better, wait till the food cools down before putting it in the fridge. Organize and arrange food for easy access; opening a refrigerator door for 10 seconds will raise the unit’s temperature by five degrees Celsius.
• Freezer: Place the freshest food on top, since that is what freezes first. Unlike in the refrigerator, crowding food is fine because frozen food below serve as blocks of ice.
• Laundry: optimize washing by combining clothes into one large load. Utilize the water from baths, or pre-wash stubborn stains by hand.
• Air conditioning: Avoid placing the outdoor unit near objects, which may block the vents and reduce efficiency. Place the AC unit in the shade, not the sun.

For related articles, see: Novel Japanese Recycling Plant Technology for Smart Homes, Smart Cities Panasonic Makes Eco Innovation Central Focus Exclusive Interview With Panasonic Vice President Green Energy Park May Be Answer to Power Supply

Travel and accommodations provided by Panasonic Corporation.

Check out more articles by E.Q. Lam.

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