Ayu Washizu

Social capital is a concept that indicates the strength of the relationship among people inside and outside a community. It is a factor that facilitates policy for community formation and regeneration and is also an indicator of the outcome of a policy for improving a community. This study examined the hypothesis that the regional efforts to create smart cities using advanced ICT technologies enhance the social capital of the city and identified the factors that enhance social capital. Urban pol

This study aims to clarify the Japanese characteristics of the spread of smart agriculture utilizing digital technology, which is expected to spread worldwide, and to provide policy implications for further dissemination of the technology. We conducted a questionnaire survey on actual conditions related to smart agriculture on Japanese farms. We have also proposed creation of a Smart Agricultural Kaizen Level (SAKL) technology map by applying the evaluation method used in management technology t

We construct an input–output table to analyze a next-generation energy system. Based on this table, we estimate the effect of using renewable energy on Japan’s economic structure as well as the feed-in tariff’s contribution to the cost structure. The results clearly show that, induced by demand, existing power generation options and the production of existing passenger vehicles would be reduced and replaced by electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs), and the renewable energy sect

This study evaluates the acceptability of home energy management systems (HEMS) in New York and Tokyo using a questionnaire survey. We investigated three basic functions of HEMS: money saving, automatic control, and environmental impact, and then quantified people’s propensity to accept each of these three functions by measuring their willingness to pay. Using the willingness to pay results, we estimated the demand probability under a given usage price for each of the three functions of home ene

The results revealed that existing convenience foods do not have the same impact on home cooks with attributes. This problem can be solved with smart food systems that utilize information and communication technology, which allow home cooks to explore information on convenience foods that match their preferences and enable food providers to offer food that matches the specific tastes of home cooks. The regression results suggest this possibility.

In Japan's Long-term Energy Supply and Demand Outlook, promotion of energy-efficient homes (EEHs) is essential. For most people, however, energy efficiency is not a primary motivating factor when selecting a home. People cannot be satisfied with their own homes just as the home is energy efficient. For EEH promotion policies, it is important to identify factors that affect people's choice of homes and factors that affect their satisfaction with living in their homes. In addition to searching for

The Japanese government decided to promote “smart society” in the 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effects of information and communication technology (ICT) in smart society by input-output analysis using the food industry and agriculture as examples. We define food production and agricultural activities utilizing ICT as a smart food-agri system, and try to analyze the effect of such a system on the economy as a whole. As a result, we confirm

The objective of this study is to analyze a government proposal, from a panoramic perspective, concerning the economic and environmental effects associated with the construction and operation of hydrogen utilization systems by the year 2030. We focused on a marine transport system for hydrogen produced offshore, hydrogen gas turbine power generation, fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and hydrogen stations, as well as residential fuel cell systems (RFCs). In this study, using an Input-Output Table for Ne

In this study, we undertake some hypothetical experiments and predict the environmental effects of some changes in consumer behavior, using the Japanese Input-Output Table and the Family Income and Expenditure Survey for 2000. We estimate the demand function in a linear expenditure system (LES) and attempt to determine how changes in consumer behavior affect the environmental load induced by household consumption, using the 'willingness to pay' concept. Furthermore, we define an index to show th

Advances in the introduction of fluctuating renewable energies, such as photovoltaics (PV), have caused power-system destabilization. However, stability can be improved if consumers change the way they use power, moving to time slots when the PV output in an area is high. In large cities in developed countries, where the types of distributed energy resources are varied, demand side management (DSM) in which consumers share power supplies and adjust the demand has received considerable attention.

Residential demand-side management (DSM) of electricity has been gaining attention as a way to reduce energy consumption at home and as a way of maximizing the utilization of fluctuating solar power generation. To promote the smooth introduction of DSM into homes, power usage trends according to the time of the day should be examined for individuals in relation to their lifestyles. The analyses of power usage trends can identify the types of home appliances that should be utilized differently in

Distributed energy resources (DER) are highly interconnected with public and private entities in one economy, thus often modeled in the long-term decarbonization transition pathways. However, at the initial stage of the DER integration scaling-up, barriers such as consumer behavior and market dynamics can impede progress, which has not yet been thoroughly considered and accurately represented even in models. Therefore, we proposed an approach to integrated DER aggregator services in the macroeco

Japan has been implementing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (NDC goal) and food-related wastes (Food Recycling Act). However, these policies were mainly targeting commercial stakeholders instead of households. In this paper, we proposed a smart food transition framework with multiple dimensions, conducted a large sample size survey (5500 households in Japan) with consumer attitudes towards smart food services and smart eating habits, and investigated what may affect food-related hous