The Shiodome Building, where SOFTBANK and the companies of the SOFTBANK Group are located, is implementing a range of energy saving measures such as controlled lighting levels and optimized air conditioning hours in accordance with the Act on the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Saving Act) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Preservation Ordinance. Energy saving efforts has been further enhanced since the Great East Japan Earthquake, targeting to reduce power consumption at offices by 30% or more year on year particularly during the period between July 1, 2011 and September 22, 2011.

The three telecommunications companies of the SOFTBANK Group are working out efficient energy saving measures utilizing a system for centralized management of energy consumption to track energy use data comprehensively. They acquired certification for the ISO14001 international standards and are proactively making efforts to reduce power consumption at their communications facilities including network centers and data centers. Data centers, in particular, are successfully reducing power consumption through thermo-fluid analysis and localized air conditioning.

Yahoo Japan Corporation promotes initiatives to reduce energy use at its offices and strives to improve energy efficiency at its data centers. In addition, Yahoo Japan purchases carbon emission credits^*1 equivalent to its total power consumption during the previous fiscal year, to offset CO2 emissions and effectively become carbon-neutral.

Please refer to the links below for more details.

• Fighting Against Global Warming (SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp.) (Japanese only)
• Fighting Against Global Warming (SOFTBANK BB Corp.) (Japanese only)
• Fighting Against Global Warming (SOFTBANK TELECOM Corp.) (Japanese only)
• Environmental efforts of Yahoo! JAPAN (Yahoo Japan Corporation) (Japanese only)

Asian Frontier, a next-generation data center complex in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka, is an environmentally sustainable data center. It is the first large commercial data center in Japan to adopt air conditioning using outside air. Its unique GreenMall® construction method enables energy to be saved by optimizing server operation and controlling air conditioning. IDC Frontier was awarded with the Minister's Award at the 36th Environment Prize, the FY2008 Minister's Award for Global Warming Prevention, and the Encouragement Prize at the 6th Kitakyushu Environmental Awards.

It was also awarded with the Special award at the Green Grid Data Center Awards 2010 co-hosted by The Green Grid, a group working to improve energy efficiency in data centers and business computing as a whole, and DatacenterDynamics Ltd. IDC Frontier won the award for the fourth time, as its efforts for the greater energy efficiency at data center and the continuous improvement in performance indicators was commended by the Award Selection Committee, comprising Green IT Promotion Council and Japan Data Center Council.

A verification test^*2 of the energy conservation of air conditioning using outside air conducted with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, confirmed a reduction of up to 40% compared with conventional air conditioning methods. This is equivalent to an annual reduction of over 40 million yen worth of electricity for air conditioning if the system is used for a data center with 1,000 server racks. Studies also confirmed that heat emissions from the data center could be used for heating in greenhouse plantations in winter.

Please refer to the links below for more details.

• Environmental Efforts (IDC Frontier Inc.) (Japanese only)
• IDC Frontier awarded with the Minister's Award at the 36th Environment Awards (IDC Frontier Inc.) (Japanese only)
• IDC Frontier's Asian Frontier data center confirms benefits of air conditioning with outside air (IDC Frontier Inc.) (Japanese only)
• IDC Frontier awarded with the Special Award at Green Grid Data Center Awards 2010 (IDC Frontier Inc.) (Japanese only)

SOFTBANK MOBILE's network center in Toda City, Saitama Prefecture is equipped with solar panels capable of generating about 10,000kWh a year. Also, a radio base station in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture (nicknamed the “eco base station”) equipped with 50 solar panels is able to generate enough solar energy to operate the base station during fine weather. Moreover, following the launch of a 3G mobile handset SoftBank 936SH in August 2009, SOFTBANK MOBILE released SoftBank 842SH, a 3G mobile handset with a solar panel which allows 2-minute call or some 3-hour standby with a 10 minute battery charge in July 2010.

Renewable energy is also used at the Fukuoka SOFTBANK HAWKS spring camp in Miyazaki Prefecture. At the spring camp in 2011, green electricity generated by biomass^*3 covered a part of the electricity demand of the HAWKS Village (restaurant and shop space).

Please refer to the link below for more details.

• Environmental efforts (Fukuoka SOFTBANK HAWKS Corp.) (Japanese only)

The SOFTBANK Group engages in various activities, including supporting the Challenge 25 Campaign, a national project promoted by the Ministry of the Environment that aims to achieve a 25% reduction on greenhouse gas emission levels of 1990, by the year 2020. The Group also participates in Black Illumination, a movement organized by the Ministry, which calls for the lights of all illuminated buildings nationwide to be turned off on the night of the summer solstice. Some of the Group's offices and outdoor advertising pillars installed on streets are turned off during this time.

The SOFTBANK Group runs an educational program to raise employees' awareness about the environment. In fiscal 2010, the program was organized for employees of the Group and their families with such themes as learning about global warming measures required for the SOFTBANK Group and promoting small environmentally-friendly actions by each individual. In addition, the three telecommunications companies of the Group send the employees information on environmental efforts through the intranet and provide e-learning programs available from iPhone and iPad to educate employees about the basics of industrial waste disposal and environmental preservation.

Please refer to the links below for more details.

• The SOFTBANK Group Eco Month 2010 (Japanese only)
• Fighting Against Global Warming (SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp.) (Japanese only)
• Fighting Against Global Warming (SOFTBANK BB Corp.) (Japanese only)
• Fighting Against Global Warming (SOFTBANK TELECOM Corp.) (Japanese only)
• Challenge 25 Campaign (Challenge25committee) (Japanese only)