As part of its traditional environmental protection and sustainability activities, Kyocera plants Green Curtains every spring at its sites in Japan and select Kyocera Group companies in other parts of the world. Through the hot summer, curtains of foliage are grown on trellises in front of office windows and walls at company sites. This not only provides shade but also shields the buildings from heat radiation ― decreasing inside room temperatures by approximately 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which contributes to a reduction of energy consumption from air conditioner usage. Furthermore, Green Curtains not only reduce the creation of, but also absorb CO2 emissions: one square meter of foliage absorbs approximately 3.5 kg of CO2 per year.
In 2012, Green Curtains grown by Kyocera stretched a length of 830 m and an area of 3,417 m2 – equivalent to the area of 13 tennis courts ― helping to meet regional energy saving targets in Japan stemming from nuclear power plant stoppage in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. On its Website about Green Curtain activities, Kyocera offers a comprehensive outline and explanation about this environmental initiative and encourages individuals and businesses to adopt the practice by publishing photos and illustrations which provide information on the necessary materials, and easily comprehensible instructions for making Green Curtains flourish at the workplace or at home.
