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Y. Hirano
National Institute for Environmental Studies

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Chapter
Published: 15 December 2020 in E-Democracy for Smart Cities
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This chapter introduces the evaluation cases of the urban heat island (UHI) countermeasures that we conducted in Tokyo. As Tokyo is hot and humid compared to many European and North American cities, measures to mitigate the severe thermal environment have been considered. We evaluated UHI countermeasures on the urban/city block scale and have thus far reported the results in mainly domestic journals. The countermeasures include general-purpose methods that can be used in other areas. We therefore present our evaluation as a case study. First, we propose a method for quantifying energy consumption by taking into consideration the spatial and temporal distributions of both air temperature and human activities. Next, we propose an estimation method for fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and an urban climate simulation method using FVC data. We then quantified the UHI mitigation and energy reduction effects of urban greening. Since the results are only valid for Tokyo, it is important to carry out similar evaluations in cities where urbanization is progressing rapidly, using the methods proposed in this study.

ACS Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tsuyoshi Fujita. An Estimation of Air-Conditioning Energy-Saving Effects Through Urban Thermal Mitigation. E-Democracy for Smart Cities 2020, 61 -106.

AMA Style

Yujiro Hirano, Tsuyoshi Fujita. An Estimation of Air-Conditioning Energy-Saving Effects Through Urban Thermal Mitigation. E-Democracy for Smart Cities. 2020; ():61-106.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tsuyoshi Fujita. 2020. "An Estimation of Air-Conditioning Energy-Saving Effects Through Urban Thermal Mitigation." E-Democracy for Smart Cities , no. : 61-106.

Journal article
Published: 08 June 2020 in Sustainability
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We conducted a detailed estimation of direct and indirect CO2 emissions related to multi-person households in 49 Japanese cities. Direct energy consumption was decomposed into energy use in order to consider the relationship with regional conditions. The results showed that CO2 emissions from direct energy consumption were almost as large as indirect CO2 emissions induced by consuming products and services, suggesting that lifestyle improvements are important for both energy savings and reducing CO2 emissions relating to product and service consumption. In addition, CO2 emissions from direct energy consumption varied widely between cities, making them susceptible to regional conditions. We also calculated CO2 emissions from direct energy consumption and examined the regional conditions for individual forms of energy use. CO2 emissions were higher in cold regions and lower in larger cities. In Japan, large cities are often located in relatively warm areas, so we conducted an analysis to distinguish the effects of climatic conditions from those of urbanization. This analysis allowed us to clarify the effects of regional conditions on factors such as heating/cooling and the ratio of detached houses to apartments.

ACS Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tomohiko Ihara; Masayuki Hara; Keita Honjo. Estimation of Direct and Indirect Household CO2 Emissions in 49 Japanese Cities with Consideration of Regional Conditions. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4678 .

AMA Style

Yujiro Hirano, Tomohiko Ihara, Masayuki Hara, Keita Honjo. Estimation of Direct and Indirect Household CO2 Emissions in 49 Japanese Cities with Consideration of Regional Conditions. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (11):4678.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tomohiko Ihara; Masayuki Hara; Keita Honjo. 2020. "Estimation of Direct and Indirect Household CO2 Emissions in 49 Japanese Cities with Consideration of Regional Conditions." Sustainability 12, no. 11: 4678.

Journal article
Published: 06 April 2019 in Sustainability
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This study focused on the effects of green roofs in office building districts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of green roofs in the reduction of the urban heat island (UHI) effect and CO2 emissions. These effects consider decreased energy consumption for space cooling, and the amount of water needed for evapotranspiration on the green roofs. A coupled urban canopy/building energy model (CM-BEM) was utilized to simulate the effectiveness of green roofs. The amount of water needed for evapotranspiration was calculated by using latent heat flux, which was derived from the results of roof surface heat balance calculations. The effect of green roofs on CO2 emissions was determined based on their effectiveness to reduce the energy demand for space cooling, calculated by air-conditioning load simulation. We calculated the CO2 emissions from powering the pumps and the use of tap water, when the necessary amount of water was supplied by watering. Finally, the relationships between amount of water, UHI mitigation, and CO2 emissions were determined.

ACS Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tomohiko Ihara; Kei Gomi; Tsuyoshi Fujita. Simulation-Based Evaluation of the Effect of Green Roofs in Office Building Districts on Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect and Reducing CO2 Emissions. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2055 .

AMA Style

Yujiro Hirano, Tomohiko Ihara, Kei Gomi, Tsuyoshi Fujita. Simulation-Based Evaluation of the Effect of Green Roofs in Office Building Districts on Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect and Reducing CO2 Emissions. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (7):2055.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tomohiko Ihara; Kei Gomi; Tsuyoshi Fujita. 2019. "Simulation-Based Evaluation of the Effect of Green Roofs in Office Building Districts on Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect and Reducing CO2 Emissions." Sustainability 11, no. 7: 2055.

Book chapter
Published: 13 June 2018 in Sustainable Air Conditioning Systems
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ACS Style

Yujiro Hirano; Shogo Nakamura; Kei Gomi; Takuya Togawa; Tsuyoshi Fujita; Makoto Ooba. Introduction of Low-Carbon Community Energy Systems by Combining Information Networks and Cogeneration-Type District Heating and Cooling Systems. Sustainable Air Conditioning Systems 2018, 1 .

AMA Style

Yujiro Hirano, Shogo Nakamura, Kei Gomi, Takuya Togawa, Tsuyoshi Fujita, Makoto Ooba. Introduction of Low-Carbon Community Energy Systems by Combining Information Networks and Cogeneration-Type District Heating and Cooling Systems. Sustainable Air Conditioning Systems. 2018; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yujiro Hirano; Shogo Nakamura; Kei Gomi; Takuya Togawa; Tsuyoshi Fujita; Makoto Ooba. 2018. "Introduction of Low-Carbon Community Energy Systems by Combining Information Networks and Cogeneration-Type District Heating and Cooling Systems." Sustainable Air Conditioning Systems , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2016 in Sustainable Cities and Society
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There has been a wide range of low-carbon solutions proposed to mitigate climate change. However, such measures must be compatible with the local environment and living standards of residents to be brought to fruition. Measures that adversely affect residential environments will be difficult to implement, so the impacts of measures on the local environment must be taken into consideration during implementation. This study assessed the effects on urban heat islands of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, as one environmental impact associated with climate change. A simulated assessment was conducted, using an urban canopy model coupled with a building energy model (CM-BEM), to evaluate the effects of five specific measures: solar shading of windows using curtains and blinds, improvement of the thermal insulation of building walls and roof surfaces, implementation of energy-saving measures related to indoor appliances, installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and adjustment of preset cooling temperatures. The study focused on these effects as they occur within typical urban districts of office buildings, fire-resistant housing, and wooden housing. Results indicated that many of the energy-saving measures have slight temperature lowering effects, but solar panel installation and improved heat insulation, both associated with changes in surface heat balances, tend to raise daytime temperatures to some extent. However, effects on daytime temperatures were in the range of 0.1–0.2 °C and, as such, none of the CO2 reduction measures considered was deemed a significant factor in raising urban temperatures.

ACS Style

Yujiro Hirano; Yukiko Yoshida. Assessing the effects of CO2 reduction strategies on heat islands in urban areas. Sustainable Cities and Society 2016, 26, 383 -392.

AMA Style

Yujiro Hirano, Yukiko Yoshida. Assessing the effects of CO2 reduction strategies on heat islands in urban areas. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2016; 26 ():383-392.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yujiro Hirano; Yukiko Yoshida. 2016. "Assessing the effects of CO2 reduction strategies on heat islands in urban areas." Sustainable Cities and Society 26, no. : 383-392.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2016 in Building and Environment
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To achieve a low-carbon society, it is crucial to make the transition away from wasteful lifestyles that are shaped by mass production/mass consumption towards low-carbon lifestyles. Research in the field of urban environmental studies examining human behavioral factors affecting energy consumption, has mostly focused on CO2 emissions relating to direct energy consumption, such as the use of air conditioners and water heaters. As CO2 emissions from the industrial sector are greater than those from the residential and transportation sectors in Japan, it would be prudent for consumers to work on reducing CO2 emissions relating to products and services. In an effort to provide some basic research to achieve the aforementioned objectives, this study looked at statistical data from sources such as the Japanese Family Income and Expenditure Survey and the Japanese National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure to estimate direct and indirect CO2 emissions relating to daily expenditures and consumption. As a case study, we selected a sample denizen to calculate the CO2 emissions relating to daily living. Based on the obtained results, we examined the lifestyle and consumption patterns and their relation to CO2 emissions. The results suggest that while it is still important for consumers to reduce their direct energy consumption in an effort to create a low-carbon society, there is still potential for indirect CO2 emission reductions in areas of production and consumption.

ACS Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tomohiko Ihara; Yukiko Yoshida. Estimating residential CO2 emissions based on daily activities and consideration of methods to reduce emissions. Building and Environment 2016, 103, 1 -8.

AMA Style

Yujiro Hirano, Tomohiko Ihara, Yukiko Yoshida. Estimating residential CO2 emissions based on daily activities and consideration of methods to reduce emissions. Building and Environment. 2016; 103 ():1-8.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yujiro Hirano; Tomohiko Ihara; Yukiko Yoshida. 2016. "Estimating residential CO2 emissions based on daily activities and consideration of methods to reduce emissions." Building and Environment 103, no. : 1-8.

Journal article
Published: 31 January 2012 in Energy
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This study evaluated the impact of the urban heat island (UHI) in the Tokyo metropolitan area on energy consumption in the residential and commercial sectors. Although there are many indications that UHIs increase energy consumption by air conditioners, the possible decrease in consumption of heating energy in winter is usually ignored. To quantify the net impact of a UHI, it is crucial to consider both factors. Furthermore, it is important to consider the spatial distribution because a UHI represents the local temperature change in an urban area, and the spatial distribution of energy consumption in an urban area is complicated. We developed a new method to evaluate UHI impact by taking into consideration the spatial and temporal distributions of both energy consumption and air temperature. The results reveal that the UHI increases commercial energy consumption in the Tokyo metropolitan area but decreases residential energy consumption; however, there is a total net decrease in energy consumption. This suggests that UHI mitigation measures should particularly target the city center, where commercial buildings are concentrated, whereas in residential areas, sufficient assessments must be conducted to ensure that mitigation measures are introduced with caution.

ACS Style

Y. Hirano; T. Fujita. Evaluation of the impact of the urban heat island on residential and commercial energy consumption in Tokyo. Energy 2012, 37, 371 -383.

AMA Style

Y. Hirano, T. Fujita. Evaluation of the impact of the urban heat island on residential and commercial energy consumption in Tokyo. Energy. 2012; 37 (1):371-383.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Y. Hirano; T. Fujita. 2012. "Evaluation of the impact of the urban heat island on residential and commercial energy consumption in Tokyo." Energy 37, no. 1: 371-383.

Conference paper
Published: 12 April 2005 in 2004 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37583)
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This paper proposes a semi-automatic segmentation method for the 3D-ISM system, which enables the capture of a high-resolution full-color cross sectional image series of a biological sample. Our approach is based on region-based segmentation and an adaptive classification technique by using the Otsu method, so it can be applied to an object like biological tissue, which has different colors by location. As a result, we have achieved to develop the method to decrease the degree of manual operation required. This paper also shows experimental results of applying our method to visualize the internal structure of the equine ovary. We have confirmed the spatial arrangement inside the ovary, which had not been revealed so far.

ACS Style

S. Takemoto; T. Mishima; H. Yokota; S. Nakamura; R. Himeno; Y. Hirano; J. Kimura; S. Tsumagari; Y. Nambo. Semi-automated color segmentation from a biological cross-sectional image series - follicle segmentation from the equine ovary. 2004 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37583) 2005, 4, 3076 -3081 vol.4.

AMA Style

S. Takemoto, T. Mishima, H. Yokota, S. Nakamura, R. Himeno, Y. Hirano, J. Kimura, S. Tsumagari, Y. Nambo. Semi-automated color segmentation from a biological cross-sectional image series - follicle segmentation from the equine ovary. 2004 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37583). 2005; 4 ():3076-3081 vol.4.

Chicago/Turabian Style

S. Takemoto; T. Mishima; H. Yokota; S. Nakamura; R. Himeno; Y. Hirano; J. Kimura; S. Tsumagari; Y. Nambo. 2005. "Semi-automated color segmentation from a biological cross-sectional image series - follicle segmentation from the equine ovary." 2004 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37583) 4, no. : 3076-3081 vol.4.

Conference paper
Published: 01 January 2005 in Proceedings of the Symposium on Global Environment
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Observation of air temperatures was conducted simultaneously in urban and sub-urban areas in Tokyo for the validation of a one-dimensional urban canopy model. The observation results showed that the distribution of daytime temperature was inhomogeneous due to the presence of insolation, while temperature at nighttime was not remarkably different among the measurement points. Averaged temperature in sub-urban area tends to be higher than that of urban area during daytime. However, at nighttime, temperature in urban area was about 1 degree higher. This suggests that, during our measurement period, typical heat island phenomenon occurred. Using these observed results, we evaluated numerical model performance. The performance was largely affected by solar radiation used in the model, that is, calculated daytime temperature was under estimated as solar radiation was obtained from GPV of JMA-RSM. On the other hand, the performance was fairly improved using solar radiation obtained form sunshine percentage data provided by AMeDAS sites.

ACS Style

T. Tokairin; H. Kondo; H. Yoshikado; Y. Genchi; T. Ihara; Y. Kikegawa; Y. Hirano; K. Asahi. Measurement and Numerical Simulation of Air-Temperature in Tokyo. Proceedings of the Symposium on Global Environment 2005, 13, 129 -134.

AMA Style

T. Tokairin, H. Kondo, H. Yoshikado, Y. Genchi, T. Ihara, Y. Kikegawa, Y. Hirano, K. Asahi. Measurement and Numerical Simulation of Air-Temperature in Tokyo. Proceedings of the Symposium on Global Environment. 2005; 13 ():129-134.

Chicago/Turabian Style

T. Tokairin; H. Kondo; H. Yoshikado; Y. Genchi; T. Ihara; Y. Kikegawa; Y. Hirano; K. Asahi. 2005. "Measurement and Numerical Simulation of Air-Temperature in Tokyo." Proceedings of the Symposium on Global Environment 13, no. : 129-134.