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datagecko
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Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
This tread is to collect information on alternative energy sources specifically suitable for the Japanese country side home. As you find information please drop in here with comments. Thanks.
General
Links within Japan:
NEDO - http://www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html
Net-Zero Energy Home - http://www.japanfs.org/db/2201-e
Links outside Japan:
Green Building Forum in the UK - http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/?CategoryID=5
Micro-Hydro
Links within Japan:
Spiral Water Turbine http://www.japanfs.org/db/2119-e
Links outside Japan:
http://www.absak.com/catalog/default.php/cPath/33_89_92 (USA)
http://www.windturbine.ca/sunami_models.html (China)
http://www.platypuspower.com.au/ (Aust.)
http://books.google.com/books?id=wEcpHplEN2oC Interesting book you can read parts on online via GoogleBooks. Page 33 gives a good visual as to what size stream equates to what type of flow rate.
http://www.ecoinnovation.co.nz/p-433-export-pelton-turbine-including-delivery.aspx - New Zealand Site that ships to Japan
Solar
Links within Japan:
Cheap 12V OffGrid System Coming
http://www.off-grid.net/2008/08/14/1800-12v-solar-system/
Links outside Japan:
tba
Ground Sourced Heat Pump GSHP
Links within Japan:
The Heat Transfer Society of Japan - http://www.htsj.or.jp/
http://www.ecocute.ne.jp/sanyo.html
Links outside Japan:
Heat Pump Centre - http://heatpumpcentre.org/
Wind Power
Links within Japan:
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/yasukawa/148334/148712/
Links outside Japan:
Southwest Windpower - http://www.windenergy.com/index_wind.htm
New Zealand Site - http://www.ecoinnovation.co.nz
Last edited by datagecko, 6/12/2009, 9:36 pm
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1/5/2008, 3:06 pm
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Johnny LaRue
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Gecko,
Thanks for starting this thread. The info on heat pumps is great. I have an Eco-Cute model hot water unit, it works well.
http://www.ecocute.ne.jp/sanyo.html
Also, Southwest Windpower has a new wind turbine coming out called Air Breeze
http://www.windenergy.com/index_wind.htm
Their other model the Air-x goes for around 600USD and can be shipped to Japan for about 200USD, a considerable savings over bought in-Japan ones.
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/yasukawa/148334/148712/
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1/6/2008, 10:26 pm
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datagecko
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Hi JL. Can you tell me a bit more about your experience with that Eco-Cute model? (Which model number is it actually?) GSHP (ground source heat pump) technology is one area that really appeals to me, especially for somewhere in the country side and that has cold winters. It also seems to be one technology that Japan appears to be interested in exploring more.
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1/9/2008, 10:36 pm
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Johnny LaRue
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Hi gecko,
I have the Daikin model TU37C1V 2004 year model
http://ec.daikinaircon.com/ecatalog/CR02173H03/images/CR02173H03015.pdf
I didn't realize all makers call their models Eco-cute. It has the 370 liter tank vs. the 300 liter. It appears in the specs to be the same as the Sanyo
http://www.ecocute.ne.jp/SHP-TC37C-K.html
Their prices have come down from about 700000 to 400000yen, that's good news.
We have never run out of hot water non the less. We don't fill the bath in winter every night, usually every other night. Our house uses oru-denka, or all electric appliances, no bottled gas or kerosene. Our last electric bill was 15,000 yen. That should be the highest for the year, as the days get longer from now. In summer it goes down to about 7000yen. Not bad for 5 people for cooking, lighting, ventilating, hot water. Our only other utility bill is water which is about 3000 yen per month.
My only regret is that I didn't have the forsight to have the option to fire the bath with wood if necessary.
Last edited by Johnny LaRue, 1/19/2008, 9:51 pm
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1/10/2008, 12:06 am
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datagecko
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Thanks for the links JL. So these models are all air sourced heat pumps right? Most A/C here use that concept now, and some hot water systems are becoming popular too. I'd love to talk to anyone that has a ground sourced heat pump as these see like the perfect long term solution to me. Are your bills quarterly or monthly?
Yea, if I had the option I'd make sure I had a backup wood fire cable of providing heat, hot water, and maybe even cooking - when everything else is out of service you can still burn wood if you are in the country side. (I'm assuming its not too expensive/difficult to source firewood there, but maybe thats not the case??)
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1/20/2008, 9:36 pm
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Johnny LaRue
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Hi Gecko,
Sorry, yes they all seem to be air source.
I didn't realize the difference between air and ground source.
http://vortex.wcupa.edu/ec/geothermal.shtml
This forum has a lot of GSHP owners on it.
http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum/index2.php?DATEIN=tpc_whqvqgitt_1149287153
How much would a ground source system run for a small home?
I think most places in the inaka here it's pretty easy to get firewood for free after you make some contacts. Sugi is literally everywhere. I have paid for hardwood twice, and each time it was many tons, quite cheap. Cut and carry of course.
My electric bills are monthly.
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1/20/2008, 10:46 pm
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datagecko
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Thanks JL, that green building forum is quite interesting. Some good posts on the good and bad of GSHPs. I might post some questions there around an idea I have and see what come back.
Its good to compare electricity prices, thanks. My power bill is less than half yours, though we have gas for h/w and cooking, but with that its still less than 60%. Mind you we have only moderate heating needs and minimal cooling because my wife hates the a/c  , and there is only two of us, so I think it works out about even in the end. :-) My wife tells me electricity is expensive in Japan compared to here, but maybe the gaps closing with our energy costs jumping up. There are some estimates of an 18% increase this year!!!! Yikes if thats true!
For the GSHP I'm still trying to get a handle on its actual capacity to input energy ratios. Everyone says its much more efficient, but everything comes down to specifics - location, soil types, average loads, installation expertise, etc. Same with prices, you really have to know the specifics of the installation to calculate. It seems that if you are building new and have plenty of land, and a suitable soil type, then GSHP is very economic, but retrofitting is a little more tricky. I think if you are building a small home it could be quite effective, especially when coupled with a complete package (heating/cooling/hotwater). And like everything, you pay for quality. What does attract me is the very low maintenance and long life of a good system. But lots of research required yet.
Its good to know firewood is easy to access and cheap. If I were building I'd certainly include wood burning for heating and hotwater backup, and cooking, within the design. Super low tech is sometimes the best bet in uncertain times. ;-)
Last edited by datagecko, 1/29/2008, 8:04 pm
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1/29/2008, 7:59 pm
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Johnny LaRue
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Hi gecko,
Been trying to find more pricing on GSHPs. Looks like 1000GBP per Kw, approx. It's not cheap but it will pay off. A lot of people say it's best to run it off of wind or hydro, I agree.
For electriciy costs here we pay an average of 20yen per Kilowatt hour. 2-3 times the prices in the US.
Wood is great though it takes a lot of work and time. But I enjoy it.
Thoreau: Every man looks at his wood-pile with a kind of affection. I loved to have mine before my window, and the more chips the better to remind me of my pleasing work.
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2/4/2008, 3:26 pm
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datagecko
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Hi JL,
Just checked and our rate works out to around 15.5 cents/kwh, which is very close to 15yen, so yes, its a bit cheaper here. I noticed on the last bill though prices jumped 11% per kwh, and there's sure to be more to follow.
Re: GSHP, its not cheap but still viable for new buildings I feel, if you use it for hot water as well, and if you can couple it to your own micro-hydro. From what I am reading, good installation is critical for a successful system. Are you aware of any companies offering GSHP installation in Japan?
I've got the price list for those Australian micro-hydro systems if you are interested. The A/C models for high head/low flow (Q series) start at $6000 for an 800W unit though to $9500 for 5500W. For low head/high flow (PP series) its $6900 (800W) to $10800 (4800W) and keeps going all the way up to 18000W at around $25k. So not cheap either, but seems a quality product, and if you have a suitable site you could realistically go off-grid and have 24/7/365 power. I'm still waiting on the price of that unit with the heater included.
Ah, chopping wood. Thats a nice quote, though I know from a little experience its hard work if its your only heat source. Still, there is something meditative about it too.
gecko
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2/4/2008, 10:27 pm
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Johnny LaRue
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Re: Alternative Energy for the Japanese Coutry Home
Hi gecko,
Thanks for the prices on the hydro. That is the real deal. With the heat exchange model you could do radiant floor heating as well. Actually 10K$ would not be a bad investment on new construction. At my rate it would pay off in 10 years or less. If you really lived spartan electricity wise, even sooner. I wonder if I could retrofit an AC model for use with the eco-cute, just thinking.
I dug out the old floppy drive and scoured it for pics of my old wind turbines. Managed to find a few. This one was made of PVC garbage pail for the blades, an 80 watt DC motor, aluminum spool for the pivot. On top of a 5 meter cedar pole. It made only 30watts. It could power the light in my old woodshed, and for bbq's. Got some more wooden blade pics somewhere will try and find 'em, but they were not as durable as PVC.
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2/5/2008, 10:24 am
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