LED-Powered "Energy-Saving Eco Relay" | Panasonic

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Conserve electricity, then send LED bulbs to disaster-stricken areas!

The "Energy-Saving Eco Relay" Connecting Through LEDs

Great East Japan EarthquakeSince the Great East Japan Earthquake, the phrase "energy conservation" has appeared with increasing frequency. Beyond mere observation, energy-saving measures to avoid power shortages have been implemented in our daily lives, from companies and schools to public facilities. These measures always involved a degree of self-denial. A little restraint on turning on the air conditioning immediately, a little restraint on using the heater... However, the energy-saving initiative undertaken by Panasonic this winter carries a slightly different nuance. It was an "eco relay" of energy conservation, transforming employees' small sacrifices into charity.

Text by JUNKO TANAKA (OPENERS)

572 LED Bulbs for Elementary and Middle Schools in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

This winter, like the previous summer, concerns about electricity shortages loomed. Panasonic initiated voluntary energy conservation not only at its domestic factories and offices but also in the homes of its approximately 11,000 employees. This initiative, named the "Winter Energy Saving Action Plan," resulted in an average monthly energy saving of 35.87 kWh per household (a 5.38% decrease compared to the previous year) over approximately three months, from December of last year to the end of March this year.

The core of this energy-saving initiative is a charity program that delivers LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs, equivalent to 1% of the electricity saved, to disaster-stricken areas. It's an energy-saving eco relay, aiming to convert the efforts of employees into useful items for those affected.

Panasonic promptly delivered 572 small-bulb type LED bulbs and 100 solar lanterns with LED light sources, a set including solar panels and storage batteries, to the Ofunato City Board of Education in Iwate Prefecture on March 28th. These LED bulbs and lanterns are scheduled to be utilized in elementary and middle schools within Ofunato City.

It is said that over 1,000 schools suffered significant damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake. While most schools resumed classes by mid-April, about a month after the earthquake, more than 150 schools are still in a state of insufficient capacity, with some schools having been washed away or their buildings rendered unusable, forcing them to rent classrooms in other schools.

Previously, Panasonic has continued activities that resonate with the hearts of children in disaster-stricken areas, such as the "Sports Day Support Caravan 2011," which brought "sports days" to children unable to attend school due to damaged facilities. The energy-saving eco relay is part of these efforts. In addition to this initiative, it is planned to continue in the summer and winter of this year. LED bulbs have a lifespan of approximately 20 years. We cannot help but hope that they will continue to brightly illuminate the schools, which played a crucial role in connecting the community as evacuation sites after the earthquake, and the smiles of the children who attend them.

Inquiries
Panasonic, Environmental Planning Group, Environmental Division
Eco Relay Promotion Team
Tel. 06-6909-5577