From Room-by-Room to Whole-Home Air Conditioning

General Kenkyusho Co., Ltd. (hereinafter 'General Kenkyusho'), the research and development entity of the General Group, has constructed two demonstration homes on the premises of its Kawasaki headquarters to evaluate air conditioning and energy technologies for high-performance housing under real-world conditions. The facility consists of two identical-layout homes (※1) featuring high insulation performance, energy-saving equipment, and solar power generation, enabling comparative and evaluative testing of air conditioning and hot water technologies under identical conditions.

In recent years, as efforts to improve residential insulation, promote GX-ZEH (※2), and enforce compliance with energy efficiency standards advance, demand is growing for HVAC and energy solutions that enhance the overall energy efficiency of homes (※3). General Kenkyusho will utilize this facility—including employee stay-in evaluations—to assess methods for efficiently heating and cooling entire homes within environments that replicate actual living conditions.

Two demonstration homes constructed on the General Kawasaki headquarters site

[Three Demonstration Themes for High-Performance Housing]

Evaluating New HVAC Technologies with the Entire Home as an Experimental Field

By varying HVAC methods and operating conditions, the company will visualize and analyze temperature distribution, airflow, and electricity consumption to evaluate how air conditioner operation affects the entire home. Using its room air conditioner 'Nokuria,' General Kenkyusho aims to develop new systems by treating air conditioners not as standalone appliances but as integrated components of the home.

Whole-Home Energy Savings Using Renewable Energy

The facility will evaluate systems that combine renewable energy sources such as solar power and geothermal energy with battery storage to power HVAC and hot water systems, thereby reducing overall household energy consumption. By considering power generation levels and the operating status of HVAC and hot water systems, the company will work toward optimizing energy management.

Creating New Value Through Co-Creation with External Partners and Integration with Paloma's Technologies

The homes will serve as a co-creation platform where insights and ideas from homebuilders, universities, and research institutions can be tested in real living environments. Additionally, hybrid water heaters, gas stoves, and underfloor heating panels from Paloma Co., Ltd. (hereinafter 'Paloma'), a group company, will be installed. By integrating external knowledge and group expertise with General's HVAC technologies, the company will pursue innovative concepts and new value, such as combining heat pumps with gas systems.

General Kenkyusho will advance R&D in HVAC and energy technologies tailored to high-performance housing using this facility. Building on General's long-standing HVAC expertise, the company will expand its focus to entire homes, striving to create future living environments that harmonize healthy, comfortable living with energy efficiency.

※1 The demonstration homes are two wooden, two-story, 4LDK houses with a total floor area of approximately 114 m², built to insulation performance rating Level 6.

※2 GX-ZEH is a new residential concept defined by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), featuring higher energy efficiency than conventional ZEH and expanded self-consumption of renewable energy.

※3 The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced the mandatory compliance with energy efficiency standards for homes and buildings, as well as future plans to strengthen these standards.

MLIT: 'Raising Energy Efficiency Standards and Decarbonization' https://www.mlit.go.jp/shoene-jutaku/index.html