Reposted in full from Japan for Sustainability, 11 November 2009
'Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, established two centers to exchange points earned through its Eco-Point System, from August 8 through September 27, 2009, at the site of the Grand Exposition for Yokohama's 150th Year. The system was adopted as a social experiment conducted in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of Yokohama Port programs, with the aim of promoting energy saving by awarding eco-points for citizens' eco-conscious behaviors.
The points were awarded for their energy-saving efforts and environmental activities at home: one point was given to citizens who brought utility bills for the period from May through September 2009 or their eco-account book on monthly energy consumption, and three points were given to primary school children who participated in the city's energy-saving programs for children. An additional point was given to those who used public transportation to visit the center.
Accumulated points could be exchanged for items offered by various companies, or donated to the Green Power Fund Yokohama Project at an exchange rate of one yen (about 1.1 U.S. cent) per point. Donators were able to draw lots for 3 points or 10 points, with the winners receiving prizes such as light emitting diode electric bulbs or hotel vouchers.
In addition, anyone earning one point or more received Environmental Passport coupons for about 70 stores, while the city visualized the citizens' energy-saving efforts by releasing data on the energy consumption and power savings of participant households on its website when the point centers were open.
A couple of years earlier, Yokohama City had conducted a pilot programme for its Eco-Point System together with the Tokyu Corporation, a major railway company located in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, aiming to pursue their own counter-measures for global warming by promoting environmental action by citizens. The pilot programme marked the first time a local government has launched such a point system in collaboration with a railway company.
The system utilized two types of prepaid travel IC cards, "PASMO" and "Suica", which many citizens possess. Users of these cards were able to collect "Yokohama Eco-Points" when they took trains to or went shopping in the city, participated in city-designated environmental seminars or brought their own chopsticks to its ward festivals, by operating touch panel equipment installed at stations and commercial facilities. Accumulated points were redeemable for municipal subway tickets, free admission to the city's museum and zoo or deposits for tree planting.'
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