Development of energy conservation technology in Japan, 1920–1970 : specific examination of energy intensive industries and energy conservation policy

• Kobori, Satoru

Abstract

This paper presents analysis of Japanese energy conservation technology development during the 1920s–1960s, particularly addressing energy-intensive industries, especially the iron and steel industry, and energy conservation policies extending to end-users. After the end of the 1910s, the Japanese took an increasing interest in energy conservation. Mutual exchange of energy conservation technologies in iron and steel industries began. Osaka prefecture started to encourage energy conservation at small factories. These activities, which came to be called heat management, developed during WWII and bore fruit after the war. The iron and steel industry exchanged heat management scores of factories and compared good technological practices to facilitate technological exchange through competition among factories. The heat management policy was exercised and developed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and its predecessor to promulgate advanced energy conservation technology of the iron and steel industry to others. These technologies and policies emphasized the improvement of worker awareness and skills of heat management rather than installing new and expensive equipment. The energy efficiencies of Japanese energy-intensive industries had already reached the highest level in the world in the early 1960s. The law that became the predecessor of the Energy Conservation Act of 1979 has been enforced since 1951.

Journal

• Economic Research Center Discussion Paper

  Economic Research Center Discussion Paper (E14-9), 2014-11

  名古屋大学大学院経済学研究科附属国際経済政策研究センター

Details

• CRID: 1050282813780189440
• NII Article ID: 120005517694
• HANDLE: 2237/20961
• Web Site: https://nagoya.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/18864
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: departmental bulletin paper
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN