Environmental Conservation in the Workplace
Each Alpine office works on energy saving and waste reduction.
Energy Use Reduction to Help Fight Global Warming
Environmentally-friendly workplaces
At our head office in Iwaki, we are working on energy conservation through the utilization of waste heat. Our environmental lab becomes hot due to the many pieces of large testing equipment, so it has to be cooled with air conditioning even in the winter. By bringing in cold outside air, we are able to alleviate the use of air conditioning in the environmental lab, and we use the heat generated by the equipment to heat the lobby. This reduces the amount of power consumption by air conditioning. We also promote the effective use of exhaust heat through the recycling of the heat generated through production processes and by the test equipment at other offices.
Heat vents installed in the lobby
Implementation of Aluminum Heat Shields
Alpine installed above-ceiling aluminum heat shields for the first time in Fukushima Prefecture in 2015, and we are continuing to install them in new places. Aluminum heat shields reflect radiant heat to the direction of origin to prevent heat transfer between the inside and outside. This effect contributed to a reduction of air conditioning system power consumption by 15% in summer.
Lights Off Campaign
Since fiscal 2014, Alpine has turned off all lights once a month from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. as part of the “APN Lights Off Campaign” for the purpose of bringing home just how much electricity we use on a daily basis by turning off the lights and thinking about prevention of global warming. In fiscal 2017, we did it 48 times, saving 5,669 kwh and contributing to a 3.10-ton reduction of CO2.
Clean energy
Renewable Energy
We have installed solar power systems at our headquarters in Iwaki, as well as at our production plants, reducing both electricity consumption and CO2 emissions. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 256 MWh of electricity using these systems.
Working TowardZero Emissions & Waste Management
Recycling of Surplus Molded Parts
The production of molded parts always results in surplus parts. We recycle these surplus parts in-house as a raw material for jigs and tools used in production, thus significantly decreasing the amount of waste.
Separation of Waste and Promotion of Zero Emissions
Alongside efforts to minimize the production of waste, we also established “eco stations” with an eye on recycling our waste products. At Alpine, each and every one of our employees is thoroughly trained in waste separation; as a result, through our continuing resource recovery goals, we have eliminated waste sent to final disposal sites, achieving and now maintaining Zero Emissions* standards.
*Alpine defines “Zero Emissions” as 99.7% or greater resource recovery.
Eco Station
Cooperation with Waste Processing Companies
We recycle waste with the cooperation of waste processing companies (recycling companies). We also check regularly how the waste we generate is recycled in order to manage and monitor waste processing.
On-site confirmation of waste processing
onsideration for Neighborhoods
Preventing Atmospheric Pollution and Noise
In order to reduce the impact of unpleasant odors from painting or the noise caused by our large press equipment, we are working to improve our cleaning equipment, as well as our anti-noise measures. Additionally, we measure data within our office precincts and observe any related laws and regulations.
Appropriate Water Management
Water used at each business site is purified by a wastewater treatment facility installed on the premises, and is reused in lavatories and for watering plants.
Additionally, the water sprinkler system installed on the test course to simulate rainy road conditions uses rainwater stored in a tank. The water that is sprayed is then re-circulated and reused, allowing us to reduce our consumption of tap water.
