Emissions credit management system and emission credit management method

Abstract

This emissions allowance management system (10) comprises: a storage unit (63) for storing emissions allowance management information indicating a relationship between identification information about a plurality of light sources (21) used for lighting and the remaining amount of a greenhouse gases emission quota allotted to each of the plurality of light sources (21); an acquisition unit (64) for acquiring power usage information, which indicates the amount of power used by a subject light source (21) and which includes specification information for specifying the identification information of the subject light source (21); and a management unit (65) for reducing the remaining amount associated with the identification information of the subject light source (21) in the emissions allowance management information, on the basis of the acquired power usage information.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an emission credit management system and an emission credit management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an information system that supports the continuation of daily energy saving actions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2014 / 030373 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are a cause of global warming, and so businesses are required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

[0005] The present invention provides an emission credit management system and an emission credit management method that are capable of managing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of a lighting light source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An emission rights management system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a memory unit that stores emission rights management information indicating a relationship between identification information of a plurality of light source bodies for lighting and the residual value of a greenhouse gas emission allowance allocated to each of the plurality of light source bodies, an acquisition unit that acquires power usage information indicating the power usage of a target light source body, the power usage information including identification information for identifying the identification information of the target light source body, and a management unit that reduces the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body in the emission rights management information based on the acquired power usage information.

[0007] An emission rights management method according to one aspect of the present invention is an emission rights management method executed by a computer that can access a storage device in which emission rights management information indicating the relationship between identification information of a plurality of light source bodies for lighting and the residual values ​​of greenhouse gas emission allowances assigned to each of the plurality of light source bodies is stored, and includes an acquisition step of acquiring power usage information indicating the power usage of a target light source body, the power usage information including specific information for identifying the identification information of the target light source body, and a management step of reducing the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body in the emission rights management information based on the acquired power usage information.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the emission credit management method. Effect of the Invention

[0009] An emission credit management system and an emission credit management method according to an aspect of the present invention are capable of managing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of a light source for lighting. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an emission rights management system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the emission credit management information. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of a first operation example of the emission rights management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first registration information. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second registration information. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of a second operation example of the emission rights management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement information. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a third operation example of the emission rights management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of emission credit management information including group identification information. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of a fourth operation example of the emission credit management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for accepting an operation to transfer emission allowances. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component arrangement and connection forms, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0012] In addition, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily a precise illustration. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are used for substantially the same configurations, and duplicated explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0013] (Embodiment) [Knowledge that formed the basis of the invention] Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are the cause of global warming. As an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a system has been proposed in which carbon dioxide emission allowances are allocated to businesses. Under such a system, businesses are required to conduct their business activities so that the amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from their business activities does not exceed the allowances.

[0014] Businesses need to curb not only their own greenhouse gas emissions, but also their supply chain emissions, which are the total of all greenhouse gas emissions related to their business activities.

[0015] Here, supply chain emissions consist of three categories: Scope 1 to Scope 3. Scope 1 corresponds to direct greenhouse gas emissions by a business entity itself, and more specifically, corresponds to emissions resulting from fuel combustion and industrial processes. Scope 2 corresponds to direct greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of electricity, heat, steam, etc. supplied by other businesses.

[0016] Scope 3 corresponds to indirect greenhouse gas emissions other than Scope 1 and Scope 2. Scope 3 is further divided into categories 1 to 15, of which there is room for consideration on methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of sold products, which corresponds to category 11. In the following embodiment, an emission rights management system capable of managing carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of sold products (light source bodies) will be described.

[0017] [composition] First, the configuration of an emission rights management system according to an embodiment will be described below. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an emission rights management system according to an embodiment.

[0018] The emission rights management system 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a system that manages carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of light source bodies 21 installed in each of a plurality of facilities 100. Here, the light source body 21 is a light source body for illumination that has an attachment structure such as a base and is detachably attached to the main body of the lighting fixture 20, and specifically, is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb, a straight tube LED lamp, or the like.

[0019] The facility 100 is, for example, a residence (a detached house or an apartment building), but may also be an office building, a factory, a commercial facility, an accommodation facility, a public facility, etc. Each of the multiple facilities 100 is provided with multiple lighting fixtures 20, a lighting controller 30, a distribution board 40, and a power measurement device 50. The emission rights management system 10 includes the multiple lighting fixtures 20, the lighting controller 30, the distribution board 40, and the power measurement device 50.

[0020] In addition, a server device 60 and an information terminal 70 are located outside the facility 100. The emission rights management system 10 includes the server device 60 and the information terminal 70. Note that the information terminal 70 may be located inside the facility 100. Each device included in the emission rights management system 10 will be described in detail below.

[0021] Illumination fixture 20 is provided within facility 100 and illuminates the inside (indoors) of facility 100 by emitting light (e.g., white light). Illumination fixture 20 may also be provided outdoors around facility 100 and illuminates the outdoors by emitting light (e.g., white light). More specifically, illumination fixture 20 includes a fixture body (not shown) and a light source body 21.

[0022] The light source body 21 is a light source device for illumination that can be detachably attached to the fixture body. As described above, the light source body 21 is specifically an LED bulb, a straight tube LED lamp, etc. It is not essential that the light source body 21 is realized by an LED element, and it may be realized by other light emitting elements such as an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence).

[0023] In the example of FIG. 1, one light source body 21 is attached to one lighting fixture 20, but there are also cases where a plurality of light source bodies 21 are attached to one lighting fixture 20.

[0024] The lighting controller 30 is installed in the facility 100 and controls the lighting fixtures 20 installed in the same facility 100. Specifically, the lighting controller 30 controls the turning on and off of the lighting fixtures 20, and may further control dimming and color adjustment. The lighting controller 30 may be a dedicated controller for the lighting fixtures 20, or an EMS (Energy Management System) controller, etc. The lighting controller 30 may be a controller fixed to a wall or a ceiling, or may be a portable controller. The lighting controller 30 includes a first communication unit 31, a second communication unit 32, an information processing unit 33, a storage unit 34, and a UI unit 35.

[0025] The first communication unit 31 is a communication circuit for the lighting controller 30 to communicate with the server device 60 and the like via the wide area communication network 80. The first communication unit 31 is, for example, a wireless communication circuit for performing wireless communication, but may also be a wired communication circuit for performing wired communication. There is no particular limitation on the communication standard of the communication performed by the first communication unit 31.

[0026] The second communication unit 32 is a communication circuit that enables the lighting controller 30 to communicate with the lighting fixtures 20 and the like via a local communication network. The second communication unit 32 is, for example, a wireless communication circuit that performs wireless communication, but may also be a wired communication circuit that performs wired communication. There is no particular limitation on the communication standard of the communication performed by the second communication unit 32.

[0027] Information processing unit 33 performs information processing related to the control of lighting device 20. Information processing unit 33 is realized, for example, by a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor. Information processing unit 33 includes, as a functional component, second control unit 36 ​​that transmits a control signal to lighting device 20 via second communication unit 32 based on a user operation accepted by UI unit 35. The function of second control unit 36 ​​is realized, for example, by the microcomputer or processor constituting information processing unit 33 executing a computer program stored in memory unit 34.

[0028] The storage unit 34 is a storage device that stores computer programs and the like executed by the information processing unit 33. The storage unit 34 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0029] The UI unit 35 accepts user operations and presents information to the user. The UI unit 35 is realized by a touch panel or hardware keys (push buttons) that accept user operations, and a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel.

[0030] Distribution board 40 distributes AC power supplied from system power supply 90 to a plurality of branch circuits. Devices such as lighting fixtures 20 are connected to each of the plurality of branch circuits.

[0031] The power measurement device 50 measures the amount of power consumption (in other words, the amount of power consumption) at a predetermined measurement point MP. The power measurement device 50 measures the amount of power consumption in a branch circuit (electric wire) by using, for example, a current sensor (CT: Current Transformer) attached to an electric wire corresponding to the branch circuit to which multiple lighting fixtures 20 are connected. The power measurement device 50 also transmits the measurement value of the amount of power consumption to the server device 60 via the wide area communication network 80.

[0032] A power consumption measuring function similar to that of power metering device 50 may be provided in distribution board 40 or lighting controller 30. When a power consumption measuring function (measurement unit) is provided in distribution board 40 or lighting controller 30, power metering device 50 may be omitted. Also, as described below, when lighting fixture 20 has a function to measure the power consumption of lighting fixture 20 itself (light source body 21), power metering device 50 may be omitted.

[0033] The server device 60 is a cloud server that processes information relating to management of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source body 21. The server device 60 is used, for example, by a business entity that manufactures and sells the light source body 21. The server device 60 specifically includes a communication unit 61, an information processing unit 62, and a storage unit 63.

[0034] The communication unit 61 is a communication circuit for the server device 60 to communicate with the lighting controller 30, the information terminal 70, and the like through the wide area communication network 80. The communication unit 61 is, for example, a wired communication unit that performs wired communication, but may also be a wireless communication circuit that performs wireless communication. There is no particular limitation on the communication standard of the communication performed by the communication unit 61.

[0035] The information processing unit 62 processes information on the management of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source body 21. The information processing unit 62 is specifically realized by a microcomputer or a processor. The information processing unit 62 has an acquisition unit 64, a management unit 65, and a first control unit 66 as functional components. The functions of the acquisition unit 64, the management unit 65, and the first control unit 66 are realized, for example, by the microcomputer or processor constituting the information processing unit 62 executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 63. The functions of the acquisition unit 64, the management unit 65, and the first control unit 66 will be described in detail later.

[0036] The storage unit 63 is a storage device that stores various information necessary for the information processing, the computer programs, etc. The storage unit 63 is realized by, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), but may be realized by a semiconductor memory.

[0037] As described above, the emission rights management system 10 can manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source body 21, and emission rights management information is stored in advance in the storage unit 63. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the emission rights management information.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 2, in the emission rights management information, the identification information of the light source body 21, the initial carbon dioxide emission allowance allocated to the light source body 21, and the residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance allocated to the light source body 21 are associated with each other. In the example of Fig. 2, the residual value of the emission allowance is expressed in terms of carbon dioxide emission amount [t] (Fig. 2(a)), and also expressed in terms of power consumption [Wh] (Fig. 2(b)). The carbon dioxide emission amount can be converted into power consumption using a predetermined formula.

[0039] Before the light source body 21 is sold, the residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance of the light source body 21 in the emission credit management information is equal to the initial emission allowance. In the emission credit management system 10, when a user purchases a light source body 21 and uses the purchased light source body 21 (causing the light source body 21 to emit light), the residual value of the emission allowance decreases, and when the residual value of the emission allowance reaches 0, the light source body 21 can no longer be used. Note that the user purchases the light source body 21 with a price set to include the cost equivalent to the carbon dioxide emission allowance.

[0040] In the following embodiment, unless otherwise specified, an example will be described in which the residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance converted into the amount of power usage shown in column (b) of Fig. 2 is used to manage the amount of carbon dioxide emission from the light source body 21, but the residual value of the emission allowance equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emission shown in column (a) of Fig. 2 may also be used to manage the amount of carbon dioxide emission from the light source body 21. The emission credit management information may include at least one of column (a) of Fig. 2 and column (b) of Fig. 2.

[0041] The information terminal 70 is an information terminal used by a user to register information in the server device 60. The information terminal 70 is, for example, a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The information terminal 70 may be a stationary information terminal such as a personal computer. The information terminal 70 includes a UI unit 71.

[0042] The UI unit 71 accepts user operations and presents information to the user. The UI unit 71 is realized by a touch panel or hardware keys (push buttons) that accept user operations, and a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel. When the information terminal 70 is a personal computer, the UI unit 71 includes a mouse and a keyboard.

[0043] [Example 1] As described above, the emission rights management system 10 can manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source body 21. Hereinafter, a first operational example of the emission rights management system 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of the first operational example of the emission rights management system 10.

[0044] First, when a user purchases a light source body 21, the user associates identification information of the light source body 21 with identification information of a power metering device 50 that measures the power usage (power consumption) of the light source body 21 and registers the association in the server device 60. As a result, first registration information is stored in the storage unit 63 (S10). Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the first registration information.

[0045] The registration of the identification information in step S10 is performed, for example, by a user manually operating the UI unit 71 of the information terminal 70 to input the identification information of the light source body 21 and the identification information of the power measuring device 50 into the information terminal 70. The identification information of the light source body 21 is displayed in text on the main body of the light source body 21, on a wrapping package, in an instruction manual, or the like. The same applies to the identification information of the power measuring device 50.

[0046] The identification information of the light source body 21 and the identification information of the power measuring device 50 may each be displayed as a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). In a case where the information terminal 70 has a camera, if a two-dimensional code indicating the identification information of the light source body 21 is displayed on the main body, packaging, or instruction manual of the light source body 21, the user can easily input the identification information of the light source body 21 into the information terminal 70 by photographing the two-dimensional code using the information terminal 70. Similarly, if a two-dimensional code indicating the identification information of the power measuring device 50 is displayed on the main body, packaging, or instruction manual of the power measuring device 50, the user can easily input the identification information of the light source body 21 into the information terminal 70 by photographing the two-dimensional code using the information terminal 70. Power Measuring Device 50 The identification information can be easily input into the information terminal 70.

[0047] The user also registers in the lighting controller 30 the identification information of the light source body 21 and the identification information of the lighting fixture 20 (fixture body) to which the light source body 21 is attached, in association with each other. As a result, second registration information is stored in the memory unit 34 (S11). Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the second registration information. The identification information of the lighting fixture 20 is indicated in text on the main body of the lighting fixture 20, on the packaging, in an instruction manual, or the like.

[0048] The identification information is registered, for example, by a user manually operating the UI unit 35 of the lighting controller 30 to input the identification information of the light source body 21 and the identification information of the lighting fixture 20 into the lighting controller 30.

[0049] Next, the power measuring device 50 measures the amount of power consumption at a predetermined measurement point MP (shown in FIG. 1) and transmits power consumption information indicating the measured amount of power consumption to the server device 60 (S12). The power consumption information includes identification information of the power measuring device 50. The identification information of the power measuring device 50 is an example of specification information, and is used to specify the identification information of the target light source body 21 in the next step S13.

[0050] The communication unit 61 of the server device 60 receives the power usage information, and the acquisition unit 64 acquires the power usage information received by the communication unit 61 (S13). The management unit 65 calculates the power usage per light source body 21 based on the acquired power usage information and the first registration information (S14). First, the management unit 65 extracts the identification information of the power measurement device 50 from the power usage information acquired in step S13, and specifies the total number of identification information of the light source body 21 (hereinafter also referred to as the target light source body 21) associated with the extracted identification information of the power measurement device 50 in the first registration information.

[0051] The management unit 65 divides the amount of power usage indicated by the power usage information by the total number of pieces of identification information of the target light source bodies 21 to obtain the amount of power usage per one of the target light source bodies 21. calculation For example, if the power consumption amount acquired in step S13 indicates that the total power consumption amount of the five light source bodies 21 with IDs 00001 to 00005 is P, the management unit 65 can calculate that the power consumption amount of each of the five light source bodies 21 with IDs 00001 to 00005 is P / 5.

[0052] Next, the management unit 65 subtracts the calculated power consumption from the residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance in the emission credit management information (S15). For example, the management unit 65 subtracts P / 5 from the residual value (power consumption) of the emission allowance for each of the five light source bodies 21 with IDs 00001 to 00005 in the emission credit management information.

[0053] The processes in steps S12 to S15 are repeated at a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval is, for example, one hour, but is not limited to this.

[0054] After the processes of steps S12 to S15 are repeated several times, the management unit 65 detects the light source body 21 whose residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance has reached 0 based on the emission credit management information (S16). The first control unit 66 transmits a stop use command to the lighting controller 30 using the communication unit 61 to control the detected light source body 21 whose residual value is 0 to an unusable state (S17). The stop use command includes identification information of the detected light source body 21.

[0055] The first communication unit 31 of the lighting controller 30 receives the command to stop use. The second control unit 36 ​​determines whether or not the second registration information includes identification information of the light source body 21 to be stopped based on the received command to stop use. When the second control unit 36 ​​determines that the second registration information includes identification information of the light source body 21 to be stopped, it turns off the lighting fixture 20 to which the light source body 21 is attached (hereinafter, also referred to as the target lighting fixture 20) (S18). Specifically, the second control unit 36 ​​transmits a control signal to the target lighting fixture 20 using the second communication unit 32 to turn off the target lighting fixture 20.

[0056] Further, second control unit 36 ​​disables the instruction to turn on the target lighting device 20 (S19). Specifically, second control unit 36 ​​does not transmit a control signal for turning on the target lighting device 20 to the target lighting device 20, even if the user performs an operation on UI unit 35 to instruct the target lighting device 20 to be turned on.

[0057] In this way, according to the emissions credit management system 10, the light source 21 can be used until the residual value of the emission allowance becomes 0, but once the residual value of the emission allowance becomes 0, the light source 21 cannot be used even though there is no problem as hardware (no breakdown). In other words, according to the emissions credit management system 10, the light source 21 can be turned on until the residual value of the emission allowance becomes 0, but once the residual value of the emission allowance becomes 0, the light source 21 cannot be turned on. According to the emissions credit management system 10, businesses that manufacture and sell the light source 21 can manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source 21.

[0058] [Example 2] In the first operational example, the power consumption of the light source body 21 is measured by the power measuring device 50, but it may be measured by the lighting fixture 20. Hereinafter, a second operational example of the emission credit management system 10 will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of the second operational example of the emission credit management system 10.

[0059] First, when a user purchases a light source body 21, the user registers in the lighting controller 30 the identification information of the light source body 21 and the identification information of the lighting fixture 20 (fixture body) to which the light source body 21 is attached in association with each other. As a result, second registration information (see FIG. 5) is stored in the memory unit 34 (S20). The process of step S20 is similar to step S11 in the operation example 1, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0060] Next, the lighting fixture 20 measures its own power consumption and transmits power consumption information indicating the measured power consumption to the lighting controller 30 (S21). For example, DALI (registered trademark), an international standard for lighting control, specifies a method for measuring the power consumption of the lighting fixture 20 (see DiiA Specification, DALI Part 252 - Energy Reporting), and the lighting fixture 20 can measure its power consumption in accordance with such a standard. The power consumption information includes identification information of the lighting fixture 20.

[0061] The second communication unit 32 of the lighting controller 30 receives the power usage information. The information processing unit 33 replaces the identification information of the lighting fixture 20 included in the power usage information with the identification information of the light source body 21 based on the second registration information (S22), and transmits the power usage information to the server device 60 using the first communication unit 31 (S23). The power usage information transmitted to the server device 60 in step S23 can be said to be information that includes the identification information of the light source body 21 as specific information and indicates the power usage of the light source body 21. Note that when multiple light source bodies 21 are attached to one lighting fixture 20, the power usage information transmitted to the server device 60 in step S23 includes the identification information of the multiple light source bodies 21.

[0062] The communication unit 61 of the server device 60 receives the power usage information, and the acquisition unit 64 acquires the power usage information received by the communication unit 61 (S24). 。 The management unit 65 subtracts the power usage indicated by the power usage information acquired in step S23 from the residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance associated with the identification information included in the power usage information acquired in step S24 in the emission credit management information (S25). For example, when the power usage indicated by the power usage information is P and the power usage information includes the identification information of ID00001, the management unit 65 subtracts P / 5 from the residual value (power usage) of the emission allowance of the light source 21 with ID00001 in the emission credit management information.

[0063] If the power usage information acquired in step S24 includes identification information for multiple light source bodies 21 (i.e., if multiple light source bodies 21 are attached to one lighting fixture 20), a process of calculating the power usage per body is performed in step S25. For example, if the power usage information indicates that the power usage is P and the power usage information includes two pieces of identification information, ID00001 and ID00002, the management unit 65 subtracts P / 2 from the residual value (power usage) of the emission allowance for each of the two light source bodies 21, ID00001 and ID00002, in the emission credit management information.

[0064] The processes in steps S21 to S25 are repeated at a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval is, for example, one hour, but is not limited to this.

[0065] After the processes of steps S21 to S25 are repeated several times, the management unit 65 detects the light source body 21 whose residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance has reached 0 based on the emission credit management information (S26). The processes of the following steps S26 to S29 are similar to steps S16 to S19 in the first operation example, and therefore detailed explanations are omitted.

[0066] In this way, according to the emission credit management system 10, the light source 21 can be used (can be turned on) until the residual value of the emission allowance becomes 0, but once the residual value of the emission allowance becomes 0, it cannot be used (cannot be turned on) even though there is no problem (no breakdown) as hardware. In this way, the emission credit management system 10 can manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source 21.

[0067] [Modification of Operation Example 2] In the second operational example, the process of replacing the identification information (the process of step S22) is performed by the lighting controller 30, but it may be performed by the server device 60. For example, if the second registration information is stored in advance in the memory unit 63 of the server device 60, the management unit 65 of the server device 60 can perform the process of replacing the identification information instead of the lighting controller 30. In this case, the identification information of the lighting device 20 included in the power usage information transmitted by the lighting device 20 functions as identification information for identifying the light source body 21.

[0068] In this case, the power usage information transmitted by the lighting fixture 20 does not need to go through the lighting controller 30, so the lighting fixture 20 may connect to the wide area communication network 80 without going through the lighting controller 30 and transmit the power usage information to the server device 60.

[0069] Furthermore, if lighting fixture 20 can directly obtain the identification information of light source body 21 attached to lighting fixture 20, lighting fixture 20 can transmit power usage information including the identification information of light source body 21. For example, if light source body 21 is provided with an RFID tag on which the identification information of light source body 21 is recorded and lighting fixture 20 has an RFID tag reader, lighting fixture 20 can obtain the identification information of light source body 21 from the RFID tag when light source body 21 is attached.

[0070] In this case, the process of replacing the identification information is not required in either the lighting controller 30 or the server device 60, and the pre-registration of the second registration information is also not required.

[0071] [Example 3: Compensating for the brightness of the space] Incidentally, in an office, the required illuminance may be determined for a space in the facility 100, such as requiring an illuminance of 500 lux or more at hand and an illuminance of 300 lux or more at feet. As in the operation examples 1 and 2, when the use of a light source 21 that has run out of the residual value of the emission allowance is stopped, the illuminance in the space that was illuminated by the light source 21 may become insufficient.

[0072] Therefore, the emission rights management system 10 may perform an operation to compensate for the brightness of the space when the use of the light source body 21 is stopped. In order to perform the operation to compensate for the brightness of the space, in addition to the second registration information, the storage unit 34 of the lighting controller 30 stores arrangement information indicating the arrangement of the multiple lighting fixtures 20. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement information.

[0073] 7, in the arrangement information, the identification information of the lighting fixture 20, the space in which the lighting fixture 20 is arranged, and the two-dimensional coordinates of the lighting fixture 20 are associated with each other. Here, the space means, for example, a closed space, and if the facility 100 is a house, each of the rooms such as the living room, bedroom, and bathroom corresponds to the space. The arrangement information is stored in the storage unit 34 of the lighting controller 30 by manual operation of the UI unit 35, for example, when the multiple lighting fixtures 20 (the fixture bodies) and the lighting controller 30 are installed. The identification information of the lighting fixture 20 in the arrangement information can be replaced with the identification information of the light source body 21 based on the second registration information, so the arrangement information can also be said to be information indicating the arrangement of the multiple light source bodies 21.

[0074] An operation (operation example 3) of compensating for the brightness of a space using such arrangement information will be described below. FIG 8 is a flowchart of the operation example 3 of the emission credit management system 10.

[0075] As described in Operation Example 1 or Operation Example 2, first communication unit 31 of lighting controller 30 receives a stop use command from server device 60 (S30), and second control unit 36 ​​turns off target lighting device 20 based on the received stop use command (S31). In addition, second control unit 36 ​​disables the switch-on command to target lighting device 20 (S32).

[0076] Next, the second control unit 36 ​​selects n (n is a natural number) lighting fixtures 20 that are arranged in the same space as the target lighting fixture 20 and that have the closest coordinates (distance) to the target lighting fixture 20 based on the arrangement information stored in the storage unit 34 (S33). n is determined in advance empirically or experimentally by a designer of the emission rights management system 10 or the like. In the selection of lighting fixtures 20 in step S33, lighting fixtures 20 that cannot be turned on based on a stop use command are excluded. In addition, in the selection of lighting fixtures 20 in step S33, the requirement that the lighting fixtures 20 belong to the same space is not essential, and more simply, n lighting fixtures 20 may be selected in order of closest coordinates to the target lighting fixture 20.

[0077] Next, the second control unit 36 ​​increases the brightness of the selected n lighting devices 20 while they are turned on compared to the brightness before the target lighting device 20 becomes unavailable (S34). In other words, when the target light source body 21 attached to the target lighting device 20 is controlled to become unavailable based on the arrangement information indicating the arrangement of the plurality of light source bodies 21, the second control unit 36 ​​increases the brightness of the other light source bodies 21 located around the target light source body 21. Specifically, the second control unit 36 ​​can increase the brightness of the selected n lighting devices 20 by transmitting a control signal to the selected n lighting devices 20 using the second communication unit 32. The extent to which the brightness is to be increased is determined in advance empirically or experimentally by the designer of the emission credit management system 10 or the like.

[0078] As described above, the emission rights management system 10 can perform an operation to compensate for the lack of brightness in a space when the use of the light source body 21 is stopped.

[0079] [Group light objects] The emission credit management information may include group identification information indicating a group to which each of the multiple light source bodies 21 belongs. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of emission credit management information including group identification information. The group identification information is added to the emission credit management information, for example, by a user's manual operation on the UI unit 71 of the information terminal 70. For example, the user adds group identification information so that light source bodies 21 located in the same space belong to the same group.

[0080] In this manner, when the emission rights management information includes group identification information, the first control unit 66 controls the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group to a state in which they cannot be used, based on the sum of the residual values ​​of the emission allowances of the light source bodies belonging to the same group.

[0081] For example, according to the emission credit management information of FIG. 9, the light source body 21 of ID00001 and the light source body 21 of ID00002 belong to the same group. When the residual value of the emission allowance of the light source body 21 of ID00001 runs out, if the residual value of the light source body 21 of ID00002 remains, the first control unit 66 does not perform control to make the light source body 21 of ID00001 unusable. In other words, the user can use the two light source bodies 21 until the sum P1+P2 of the residual values ​​of the emission allowances of the two light source bodies 21 reaches 0. As described above, if group identification information is given so that the light source bodies 21 located in the same space belong to the same group, it is less likely that only some of the light source bodies 21 located in the same space will become unusable.

[0082] Incidentally, when the sum P1+P2 of the remaining values ​​of the emission allowances of the two light source bodies 21 approaches 0, the remaining value of the emission allowances may result in a situation where only one light source body 21 can be used but not two. For example, when the management unit 65 (or the first control unit 66) determines whether the light source body 21 should be stopped in the minimum unit of one hour, the result of the determination may result in a situation where only one light source body 21 can be used but not two in the next hour.

[0083] 8, a priority order may be set for the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group. The priority order is assigned to the emission credit management information by, for example, a manual operation of the UI unit 71 of the information terminal 70 by the user.

[0084] When the sum of the residual values ​​of the emission allowances of the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group approaches 0, the first control unit 66 controls the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group to an unusable state in an order based on the priority order. Specifically, the first control unit 66 controls the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group to an unusable state in order from the light source body 21 with the lowest priority order.

[0085] In this manner, the emission credit management system 10 can also manage the residual value of the emission allowances on a group basis.

[0086] [Example 4: Emission allowance transfer operation] When a user replaces an old light source body 21 that he or she has already purchased with a new light source body 21, there is room for consideration as to how to handle the residual value of the emission allowance of the old light source body 21. The emission credit management system 10 may, for example, perform an operation of transferring the residual value of the emission allowance of the existing light source body 21 to the new light source body 21. Such an operation of transferring the residual value of the emission allowance (operation example 4) will be described below. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of operation example 4 of the emission credit management system 10.

[0087] When the user causes the information terminal 70 to execute a browser or a predetermined application program, a display screen such as that shown in Fig. 11 is displayed on the UI unit 71 (S40). Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for accepting an operation to transfer emission allowances.

[0088] When the display screen of Fig. 11 is displayed, the user performs a transfer operation to instruct the transfer of the residual value of the emission allowance. The UI unit 71 of the information terminal 70 accepts such a transfer operation (S41). The transfer operation includes an input operation of identification information of the old light source body 21 (an example of a first light source body) and an input operation of identification information of the new light source body 21 (an example of a second light source body).

[0089] When the UI unit 71 of the information terminal 70 accepts the transfer operation, the information terminal 70 transmits a transfer request to the server device 60 (S42). The transfer request includes identification information of the old light source body 21 and identification information of the new light source body 21.

[0090] The communication unit 61 of the server device 60 receives the transfer request. The acquisition unit 64 acquires the transfer request (S43). The management unit 65 transfers the residual value of the emission allowance based on the acquired transfer request (S44). For example, if the residual value of the new light source body 21 is P1 and the residual value of the old light source body 21 is P2, the management unit 65 transfers the residual value of the emission allowance based on the acquired transfer request (S44). old The residual value associated with the identification information of the light source body 21 is P2 to 0, and the residual value associated with the identification information of the new light source body 21 in the emission credit management information is P1 To P2 In this way, the residual value of the emission allowance of the old light source body 21 is transferred to the new light source body 21.

[0091] In this way, the emission rights management system 10 old From light source 21 new The residual value of the emission allowance can be transferred to the light source 21.

[0092] The user may receive compensation from the business operator by returning the residual value of the emission allowance of the old light source body 21 that is no longer in use to the business operator that manufactures and sells the light source body 21. In other words, the user may sell the residual value of the emission allowance to the business operator. The user may receive money equivalent to the residual value of the emission allowance from the business operator, or when purchasing a new light source body 21, the price of the new light source body 21 may be discounted by an amount equivalent to the residual value of the emission allowance of the old light source body 21. The return of the residual value of the emission allowance of the old light source body 21 is realized, for example, by causing the information terminal 70 to execute a browser or a predetermined application program, as in the above-mentioned transfer operation, but may also be realized by returning (recycling) the actual old light source body 21 to the business operator.

[0093] Businesses that manufacture and sell light source 21 conduct their business activities within the scope of the emission allowances allocated to them, and therefore can expand their business activities by purchasing emission allowances from users.

[0094] [Variation 1] The emission permit management information described in the above embodiment may be visualized on a display device (not shown) connected to the server device 60. The information processing unit 62 can visualize the emission permit management information by outputting image information for displaying the emission permit management information to the display device.

[0095] Furthermore, the information processing unit 62 can calculate how much carbon dioxide has been emitted by the (large number of) light source bodies 21 after they have been sold by tallying up the initial emission allowances and the residual values ​​of the emission allowances based on the emission credit management information. When visualizing the emission credit management information, the information processing unit 62 can visualize how much carbon dioxide has been emitted by the (large number of) light source bodies 21 after they have been sold by outputting image information including this calculation result to the display device.

[0096] The information processing unit 62 can also generate the above calculation results as a report (electronic file). Such a report is useful when a company that manufactures and sells the light source body 21 reports the status of carbon dioxide emissions to the government or the like.

[0097] [Variation 2] In the above embodiment, the residual value of the emission allowance expressed in terms of the amount of electricity used in the emission credit management information in Fig. 2 (column (b) in Fig. 2) was set in advance. In other words, the amount of carbon dioxide emission equivalent to the emission allowance was converted into the amount of electricity used in advance.

[0098] Here, when converting the amount of carbon dioxide emissions into the amount of electricity used, a specific formula is used, but this formula differs depending on the region to which the facility 100 belongs. This is because the electric power company that supplies electricity differs from region to region, and the breakdown of the power generation method (thermal power generation or nuclear power generation) adopted by each electric power company differs, so the relationship between the amount of electricity used and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions differs from region to region.

[0099] Therefore, the management unit 65 of the server device 60 may convert the carbon dioxide emission amount into the power consumption amount taking into consideration the region to which the facility 100 belongs. For example, in the operation example 1, when the first registration information is stored in the storage unit 63, regional information indicating the region to which the facility 100 belongs is transmitted from the information terminal 70 to the server device 60 based on a user's operation. Alternatively, when the power measuring device 50 is installed in the facility 100, the regional information is set in the power measuring device 50, and when the power measuring device 50 transmits the power consumption information for the first time, the regional information is transmitted to the server device 60 in addition to the power consumption information.

[0100] The acquisition unit 64 acquires regional information together with the power consumption information, and the management unit 65 selects a calculation formula according to the acquired regional information, and converts the carbon dioxide emission amount into power consumption using the selected calculation formula.

[0101] In this case, the residual value of the emission allowance expressed in terms of the amount of electricity used (column (b) in FIG. 2) is not included in the emission credit management information from the beginning, but is added to the emission credit management information when the first registration information is stored in the memory unit 63 or when the server device 60 receives the amount of electricity used for the first time. This enables the emission credit management system 10 to more accurately manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by taking into account the region to which the facility 100 belongs.

[0102] Furthermore, in operation example 2, regional information is set in the lighting controller 30 when the lighting controller 30 is installed in the facility 100 or when the second registration information is stored in the memory unit 34, and the first communication unit 31 of the lighting controller 30 transmits the regional information in addition to the power usage information to the server device 60 when transmitting power usage information for the first time. The acquisition unit 64 acquires the regional information together with the power usage information, and the management unit 65 selects a calculation formula according to the acquired regional information and converts the carbon dioxide emission amount into power usage using the selected calculation formula.

[0103] In this case, the residual value of the emission allowance expressed in terms of the amount of electricity used (column (b) in FIG. 2) is added to the emission credit management information when the server device 60 receives the electricity usage information for the first time. This enables the emission credit management system 10 to more accurately manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by taking into account the region to which the facility 100 belongs.

[0104] [Variation 3] In the above embodiment, the management unit 65 managed the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by subtracting the amount of electricity consumption indicated by the electricity usage information acquired by the acquisition unit 64 from the remaining value of the emission allowance expressed in terms of the amount of electricity usage (column (b) in FIG. 2). However, the management unit 65 may convert the amount of electricity usage indicated by the electricity usage information into the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and subtract it from the remaining value of the emission allowance expressed in terms of the amount of emissions (column (a) in FIG. 2).

[0105] Here, when converting the amount of power consumption into the amount of carbon dioxide emission, a predetermined calculation formula is used, but this calculation formula differs depending on the region to which the facility 100 belongs, for the reason explained in Modification 2. Therefore, when converting the amount of power consumption into the amount of carbon dioxide emission, similarly to Modification 2, the acquisition unit 64 may acquire regional information indicating the region to which the facility 100 belongs together with the power consumption information, and the management unit 65 may select a calculation formula according to the acquired regional information.

[0106] [Effects, etc.] As described above, the emission rights management system 10 includes a storage unit 63 that stores emission rights management information indicating the relationship between the identification information of multiple light source bodies 21 for lighting and the residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance allocated to each of the multiple light source bodies 21, an acquisition unit 64 that acquires power usage information indicating the power usage of a target light source body 21 and including identification information for identifying the identification information of the target light source body 21, and a management unit 65 that reduces the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body 21 in the emission rights management information based on the acquired power usage information. Carbon dioxide is an example of a greenhouse gas.

[0107] Such an emission rights management system 10 can manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source body 21 for lighting.

[0108] The acquisition unit 64 further acquires a transfer request for transferring the residual value of the emission allowance between the first light source body and the second light source body included in the plurality of light source bodies 21. The management unit 65, based on the acquired transfer request, No. The residual value associated with the identification information of the one light source body is added to the residual value associated with the identification information of the second light source body in the emission credit management information.

[0109] Such an emission rights management system 10 can transfer the residual value of an emission allowance.

[0110] In addition, for example, the emission rights management system 10 further includes a first control unit 66 that controls the target light source body 21 to an unusable state when the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body 21 in the emission rights management information is exhausted.

[0111] Such an emission rights management system 10 can suppress an increase in carbon dioxide emissions by controlling the light source body 21 that has run out of residual value of the emission allowance to be in an unusable state.

[0112] For example, the emission rights management system 10 further includes a second control unit 36 ​​that increases the brightness of other light source bodies 21 located around a target light source body 21 when the target light source body 21 is controlled to an unusable state based on arrangement information indicating the arrangement of the multiple light source bodies 21.

[0113] Such an emission rights management system 10 can compensate for the reduced illuminance caused by the target light source body 21 being controlled to an unusable state by making the other light source bodies 21 emit light brightly.

[0114] Furthermore, for example, the emission credit management information includes group identification information indicating a group to which each of the multiple light source bodies 21 belongs. The first control unit 66 controls the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group to an unusable state, based on the total residual value of the emission credits of the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group.

[0115] Such an emission rights management system 10 can manage the residual value of the emission allowances on a group basis.

[0116] Also, for example, a priority order is set for the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group. When the sum of the residual values ​​of the emission allowances of the light source bodies belonging to the same group approaches 0, the first control unit 66 controls the light source bodies belonging to the same group to a state in which they cannot be used, in an order based on the priority order.

[0117] Such an emission rights management system 10 can control the light source bodies 21 belonging to the same group to be in an unusable state based on a predetermined priority order.

[0118] In addition, the emission rights management method executed by a computer that can access a storage device (storage unit 63) in which emission rights management information indicating the relationship between the identification information of a plurality of light source bodies 21 for lighting and the residual value of the carbon dioxide emission allowance allocated to each of the plurality of light source bodies 21 is stored includes an acquisition step of acquiring power usage information indicating the power usage of the target light source body 21, the power usage information including specific information for identifying the identification information of the target light source body 21, and a management step of reducing the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body 21 in the emission rights management information based on the acquired power usage information.

[0119] Such an emission credit management method can manage the amount of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of the light source body 21 for lighting.

[0120] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0121] For example, in the above embodiment, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of the light source body is managed, but the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of electrical equipment other than the light source body may be managed. In other words, the emission credit management system may manage the amount of emissions (emission allowances) allocated to electrical equipment other than the light source body.

[0122] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the emission rights management system is realized by a plurality of devices, but it may be realized as a single device. For example, the emission rights management system may be realized as a single device corresponding to a server device. When the emission rights management system is realized by a plurality of devices, the components of the emission rights management system may be distributed in any manner among the plurality of devices. For example, some or all of the processing described in the above embodiment as being performed by one of the lighting controller and the server device may be performed by the other of the lighting controller and the server device.

[0123] Furthermore, the method of communication between the devices in the above-described embodiments is not particularly limited. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the power measurement device transmits the measured value of the power consumption to the server device through a wide area communication network, but it may transmit the measured value to the lighting controller through a local communication network. In this case, the measured value of the power consumption is transmitted by the lighting controller to the server device through the wide area communication network. Furthermore, a relay device (e.g., a wireless router, etc.) not shown in the figure may be interposed in the communication between the devices.

[0124] In the above embodiment, the processes executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit. The order of multiple processes may be changed, or multiple processes may be executed in parallel.

[0125] In the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

[0126] Furthermore, each component may be realized by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or an integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or each may be a separate circuit. Furthermore, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit, or a dedicated circuit.

[0127] Furthermore, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or may be realized as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

[0128] For example, the present invention may be realized as a lighting controller or a server device. The present invention may be realized as an emission credit management method executed by a computer, such as an emission credit management system. The present invention may be realized as a program (i.e., a computer program product) for causing a computer to execute such an emission credit management method. Furthermore, the present invention may be realized as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0129] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art may think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] 10 Emissions Credit Management System 21 Light source 36 Second Control Section 63 Memory section 64 Acquisition Department 65 Management Department 66 First Control Section

Claims

1. a storage unit that stores therein emission credit management information indicating a relationship between identification information of a plurality of light source bodies for lighting and a residual value of an emission credit of a greenhouse gas allocated to each of the plurality of light source bodies; an acquisition unit that acquires power usage information indicating the power usage of a target light source body, the power usage information including identification information for identifying the target light source body; a management unit that reduces the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body in the emission credit management information based on the acquired power usage information. Emissions management system.

2. The acquisition unit further acquires a transfer request for transferring a residual value of an emission allowance between a first light source body and a second light source body included in the plurality of light source bodies, The management unit adds the residual value associated with the identification information of the first light source body in the emission credit management information to the residual value associated with the identification information of the second light source body in the emission credit management information based on the acquired transfer request. The emission rights management system according to claim 1 .

3. Further, a first control unit is provided that controls the target light source body to an unusable state when the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body in the emission credit management information is exhausted. The emission rights management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Further, a second control unit is provided that, when the target light source body is controlled to be in an unusable state based on arrangement information indicating the arrangement of the plurality of light source bodies, increases the brightness of other light source bodies located around the target light source body. The emission rights management system according to claim 3 .

5. the emission rights management information includes group identification information indicating a group to which each of the plurality of light source bodies belongs, The first control unit controls the light source bodies belonging to the same group to an unusable state based on a total of residual values ​​of emission allowances of the light source bodies belonging to the same group. The emission rights management system according to claim 3 .

6. A priority order is assigned to the light source bodies belonging to the same group, When the sum of the residual values ​​of the emission allowances of the light source bodies belonging to the same group approaches 0, the first control unit controls the light source bodies belonging to the same group to a state in which they cannot be used in the order based on the priority order. The emission rights management system according to claim 5 .

7. An emission rights management method executed by a computer that can access a storage device that stores emission rights management information indicating a relationship between identification information of a plurality of light source bodies for lighting and residual values ​​of greenhouse gas emission allowances assigned to each of the plurality of light source bodies, the method comprising: An acquisition step of acquiring power usage information indicating the power usage of a target light source body, the power usage information including identification information for identifying the target light source body; and a management step of reducing the residual value associated with the identification information of the target light source body in the emission credit management information based on the acquired power usage information. Emissions management methods.

8. A program for causing a computer to execute the emission credit management method according to claim 7.

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