Lawson works to reduce electricity consumption at the stores to reduce their environmental impact. Setting "Toward a 20% reduction in electricity consumption per-store compared to the fiscal 2010" as its medium-term energy saving target for fiscal 2020, Lawson is proactively introducing energy-saving refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment as well as LED lighting in its store facilities.
On top of that, we have set the goal (KPI) of "reducing the per-store CO2 emissions by 30% by fiscal 2030" for the purpose of contributing to SDGs, and aggressively conduct various initiatives to achieve the goal by combining energy saving and energy creation.
per-Store Electricity Consumption (Index) and CO2 Emissions*1
Notes :
Lawson opens environment-friendly model stores throughout Japan into which different types of eco-friendly facilities are introduced. Effective types of cutting-edge equipment are installed in other stores after their effects in terms of renewable energy use and performance are verified.
A model store, the refrigerators and freezers of which are all CFC-free, was launched on Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus in September 2019. CFC-free refrigerants have a lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to their CFC counterparts, and are expected to contribute to energy saving. It is the first Lawson store fully equipped with CFC-free refrigeration systems.
All the refrigerators and freezers in the store, including refrigerated display cases, commercial refrigerators used to store products, and ice makers are all CFC-free (CO2/HC refrigerants-based), which contributes to energy saving and the improvement of global warming caused by CFCs.
Changing the company car for the Supervisor (SV) to an EV makes it possible to create a two-way power flow between the EV and the store by only connecting the EV to the store's EV charger with no need for in-store operation. That is useful to control the store's electricity consumption.
The LAWSON Kodaira Tenjin-cho 2-chome Store, an eco-friendly model store, acquired a five-star rating, the highest in the Building Energy-efficiency Labeling System (BELS), which evaluates the energy-saving performance of buildings on a five-level scale. The store also achieved “net Zero Energy Building” (ZEB), the highest of the three levels (ZEB, Nearly ZEB, and ZEB Ready) in the energy rating system for buildings. If a building has achieved net zero primary energy consumption (energy used for air-conditioning, ventilation, lighting, hot water, etc.) through the use of renewable energy, installation of highly energyefficient equipment etc., the building is given a ZEB rating.
The IoT-based energy saving support system introduced to Lawson stores sends notifications to the in-store tablet so that the “Ten Energy-saving Rules” are implemented on a daily basis, and a stable power supply is secured through “energy saving” (or “energy creation”), while controlling the store equipment optimized for IoT connectivity, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and lighting fixtures, without manual operation. This is the first initiative by a convenience store chain that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry approved for receiving a “Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Test Project Subsidy.”
Since August 2008, Lawson has been opening eco-friendly model stores that use natural energy such as natural light, wind and geothermal energy. Facilities that are found to offer excellent energy-saving effects are then introduced to existing stores for further energy conservation and reduction of CO2. The findings obtained through these efforts have yielded such fruits as solar-power systems, LED lighting and freezer and refrigeration systems using natural (CO2) coolants.
In fiscal 2010, Lawson began installing CFC-free (CO2 coolant) freezing and refrigeration systems that have high energy-saving effects. The total number of stores with the systems reached about 3,700 as of February 29, 2020. The impact of CO2 coolant on Earth’s atmosphere is very small, just 1/4,000 that of CFC coolants, greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CO2 coolant is also highly energy efficient, reducing the electricity consumption in all stores by 12%.
Lawson is installing solar power generation systems as part of efforts to promote the use of renewable energy sources.
Lawson’s systems have a generating capacity of 12 kW, comprising 10 kW (two 5 kW devices) for power sales and 2 kW for in-store use. With these systems, one store generates about 11,000 kWh per year, meaning that 2,000 stores generate an annual total of 22 million kWh, enough to supply about 6,100 households in Japan, which use an average of 3,600 kWh annually.
▲ Solar panels installed on the roof
of the Iida Dashina Store
Lawson is involved in a photovoltaic power generation business called the South Shinshu Ohisama Power Station Installation Project under the auspices of a citizens’ fund, the Global Warming Prevention Ohisama Fund. Power generated by solar panels installed on the rooftops of two LAWSON stores in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, by the citizens’ fund with a subsidy from the Ministry of the Environment is purchased by the stores for their internal consumption. The panels on the Iida Dashina Store generate approximately 5,000 kWh of power, while the Iida Zakoji Store’s panels generate approximately 9,500 kWh. Power generation by this business is approved/authorized by the Green Energy Certification Center, and the “Environmental Value” of the generated power is represented as Renewable Energy Certificates*.
* Renewable Energy Certificate: The environmental value of power generated using sunlight, wind power, and other natural energy sources is recognized in the form of tradable certificates.