Promotion of Home Energy Management System (HEMS), Building Energy Management System (BEMS)

Country / jurisdiction: Japan · Year: 2001 · Status: In force · Level: National · Type: Voluntary

The Japanese government promotes energy efficiency of building and housing field. Specifically for BEMS and HEMS, METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) provides subsidies for introducing energy management systems in homes and buildings which help manage the energy consumption of appliances such as lighting, air-conditioning, and hot-water supply by using information technology systems. These systems enable automatic management of several appliances simultaneously, leading to energy savings and reduced environmental impact. Currently the BEM and HEMS subsidy program is implemented by Sustainable Open Innovation Initiative (SII) under the budget of METI.

The FY 26 budget of METI’s Agency of Natural Resources and Energy amounts to approximately 4 billion yen for the promotion of large-scale HEMS infrastructure development with the recognition as the continued key energy efficiency measure in the housing sector. Stipulated under the Basic Energy Plan of 2014, the number of HEMS application of approximately 10,000 households as the numerical target by the government. For BEMS, as the continued key energy efficiency measure in building sector, mentioned as the key technology as a part of the government’s actions on facilitating an innovative technology development stipulated under the Basic Energy Plan of 2014.

Concept of BEMS and HEMS

BEMS: Building Energy Management System (BEMS) promotes and facilitates energy demand management for commercial buildings by using IT technology. The system ensures a real-time management of energy or load according to real-time information in buildings by lighting and air-conditioning optimization.

HEMS: Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) also integrate IT networks with information on energy supply and use from appliances and hot water equipment. HEMS allow for automated measure and display of energy use information, and thus stimulate energy conservation.

Official source: http://www.meti.go.jp/press/2013/09/20130913010/20130913010.html