Determination device, computer program, and determination method

Abstract

This determination device is provided with a control unit that, on the basis of type information indicating the type of a building material used in a building or exterior structure to be determined, and usage amount information indicating the usage amount of the building material, determines information relating to the amount of GHG that can be reduced when the building or exterior structure to be determined is built by using the building material indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage amount information compared with a case in which a type of building material serving as a prescribed general reference is used.

Description

Determination device, computer program, and determination method

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-159257, filed on September 22, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Conventionally, when ordering materials required for buildings or exterior construction (hereinafter referred to as "building materials"), estimates have been prepared. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for determining the type, specifications, quantity, and cutting dimensions of window frame interior materials to be used for each window and preparing estimate data.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-004485

[0004] However, in many cases, conventional estimates only list the cost required for the building materials. The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a technology that makes it possible to provide more useful information regarding building materials.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is a determination device that includes a control unit that determines, based on type information indicating the type of building material used in a building or exterior structure to be determined and usage amount information indicating the amount of the building material used, information regarding the amount of GHG that can be reduced when the building or exterior structure to be determined is constructed using the building materials indicated by the type information in the amounts indicated by the usage amount information, compared to when the building or exterior structure is constructed using building materials of a general, predetermined standard type.

[0006] 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the system configuration of an information providing system 100. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of a terminal device 10. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of a determination device 20. FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing a specific example of processing of the information providing system 100. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of information output to an output unit 13 of the terminal device 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of information output to an output unit 13 of the terminal device 10. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device 90 applied to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example of the determination device 20.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the system configuration of an information provision system 100. The information provision system 100 includes a terminal device 10 and a determination device 20. The terminal device 10 and the determination device 20 are communicatively connected via a network 70. The network 70 may be a network using wireless communication or a network using wired communication. The network 70 may be configured, for example, using the Internet or a local area network (LAN). The network 70 may be configured by combining multiple networks. The information provision system 100 provides information on the GHG reduction that can be achieved when using a type of building material based on the type and amount of that building material compared to using a type of building material that meets a general, predetermined standard (e.g., a building material made using a type of shaped material that meets a general, predetermined standard). Examples of the general, predetermined standard include when non-recycled materials are used, when shaped materials with unknown recycling rates are used, or when specific materials are used or manufactured from scratch (from ordinary raw materials). GHG (Green House Gas) refers to greenhouse gases. Specific examples of GHGs include gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorocarbons, CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), PFCs (perfluorocarbons), and SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride).

[0008] A specific example of such a building material is a building material that uses aluminum as a shaped material. Depending on the type of building material, it is possible to achieve low GHG emissions by using aluminum (e.g., low-carbon) as a shaped material. In this case, low carbon refers to, for example, the amount of carbon dioxide generated during the production process of the material (e.g., aluminum) used in the building material being evaluated, compared to other common materials of the same type. For example, low carbon can be achieved by using building materials that use recycled aluminum. Therefore, by using building materials that use such recycled aluminum, it is possible to reduce the amount of GHG generated during the construction of the building or exterior structure to be evaluated (hereinafter referred to as the "object to be evaluated"). Furthermore, low carbon does not necessarily have to be limited to recycled materials; as long as low carbon can be achieved using different manufacturing methods or raw materials, building materials that achieve this may be used. The information provision system 100 provides information regarding such GHG reductions. Carbon dioxide may be used as a specific example of the GHG amount to be reduced. In the following description, a configuration example in which carbon dioxide is the target for reduction will be described. In addition, the following description will use values ​​for the number of carbon dioxide reductions and emissions. Specific examples of structures include houses and buildings. In this case, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction or emissions per unit of a single structure (e.g., a single house or a single building) may be used. Specific examples of building materials include windows, front doors, bathroom doors, carports, fences, etc. For example, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction or emissions per unit of a single building material (e.g., a single window or a single door) may be used. Furthermore, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction or emissions per unit of a single structure may be calculated as the sum of the reductions or emissions of the individual building materials used in the structure. In the following description, the term "shaped material" refers to rolled products, extruded products, drawn products, forged products, and formed products (whether rolled or not) whose cross-section has a uniform shape throughout its entire length. In this embodiment, the frame material used for the frame material of a front door or sash, or the frame material of a shoji screen, is referred to as the shaped material.

[0009] 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the terminal device 10. The terminal device 10 is configured using information devices such as a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, dedicated device, etc. The terminal device 10 includes a communication unit 11, an input unit 12, an output unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0010] The communication unit 11 is a communication device. The communication unit 11 may be configured as, for example, a network interface. The communication unit 11 communicates data with other devices via the network 70 in accordance with the control of the control unit 15. The communication unit 11 may be a device that performs wireless communication or a device that performs wired communication.

[0011] The input unit 12 is configured using existing input devices such as a keyboard, a pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.), buttons, a touch panel, etc. The input unit 12 is operated by a user when inputting user instructions to the terminal device 10. The input unit 12 may be an interface for connecting the input device to the terminal device 10. In this case, the input unit 12 inputs an input signal generated in the input device in response to a user input to the terminal device 10. The input unit 12 may be configured using a microphone and a voice recognition device. In this case, the input unit 12 acquires an acoustic signal generated by the user's speech, performs voice recognition on the words spoken by the user, and inputs character string information of the recognition result to the terminal device 10. The voice recognition process may be performed by the control unit 15. The input unit 12 may be configured in any way as long as it is capable of inputting user instructions to the terminal device 10.

[0012] The output unit 13 outputs information in a form that can be recognized by the user. The output unit 13 may be, for example, an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The output unit 13 may be an interface for connecting an image display device to the terminal device 10. In this case, the output unit 13 generates a video signal for displaying image data and outputs the video signal to an image display device connected to the output unit 10. The output unit 13 may be a device for outputting audio, such as a speaker. The output unit 13 may be an interface for connecting an audio output device, such as a speaker or headphones, to the terminal device 10. In this case, the output unit 13 generates an audio signal for playing audio data and outputs the audio signal to the audio output device connected to the output unit 10. The output unit 13 may be an image forming device, such as a printer, that outputs information by forming an image on a sheet. The output unit 13 may be an interface for connecting the image forming device to the terminal device 10. In this case, the output unit 13 generates data representing an image to be formed on a sheet and outputs it to the image forming device connected to the output unit 10. The output unit 13 may be configured as a touch panel integrated with the input unit 12.

[0013] The storage unit 14 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk drive or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 14 stores data used by the control unit 15. The storage unit 14 stores data required when the control unit 15 performs processing.

[0014] The control unit 15 is configured using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (main storage device). The control unit 15 functions when the processor executes a program. Note that all or part of the functions of the control unit 15 may be realized using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of computer-readable recording media include portable media such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, and a semiconductor storage device (e.g., an SSD: Solid State Drive), as well as storage devices such as a hard disk or semiconductor storage device built into a computer system. The program may be transmitted via a telecommunications line.

[0015] The control unit 15 may execute, for example, an application installed on its own device (terminal device 10). A specific example of such an application is an application provided to the terminal device 10 as a dedicated application for the information providing system 100. Another specific example of such an application is a web browser application. Such an application may be pre-installed on the terminal device 10, or may be downloaded each time a process for requesting information from the determination device 20 is executed. For example, when implemented as a web browser application, the terminal device 10 may download and execute the application from a device specified by the web server (e.g., the web server itself or another server) in response to the terminal device 10 connecting to the specific web server. The control unit 15 operates according to the program of the application being executed.

[0016] The control unit 15 controls the terminal device 10 in response to user operations and information received from the determination device 20. For example, the control unit 15 transmits information input by the user operating the input unit 12 to the determination device 20 using the communication unit 11. For example, when information transmitted from the determination device 20 is received by the communication unit 11 via the network 70, the control unit 15 outputs the received information from the output unit 13. For example, if the output unit 13 is an image display device, the control unit 15 generates screen data based on the received information and causes the output unit 13 to display the screen data. For example, if the output unit 13 is an audio output device, the control unit 15 generates audio data based on the received information and causes the output unit 13 to output the audio data (e.g., speak). For example, if the output unit 13 is an image forming device, the control unit 15 generates image data based on the received information and causes the output unit 13 to form the image data on a sheet. The output data in this manner includes images and characters representing the information transmitted from the determination device 20.

[0017] 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a specific example of the functional configuration of the determination device 20. The determination device 20 is configured using an information processing device such as a personal computer or a server device. The determination device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0018] The communication unit 21 is a communication device. The communication unit 21 may be configured as, for example, a network interface. The communication unit 21 communicates data with other devices via the network 70 in accordance with the control of the control unit 23. The communication unit 21 may be a device that performs wireless communication or a device that performs wired communication.

[0019] The storage unit 22 is configured using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk drive or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 22 stores data used by the control unit 23. The storage unit 22 may function as a reduction information storage unit 221, for example.

[0020] The reduction information storage unit 221 stores reduction information. The reduction information is information that associates building material type information with the amount of carbon dioxide reduced by using a unit amount of the building material indicated by the type information (hereinafter referred to as the "unit reduction amount"). As described above, in this embodiment, the amount of carbon dioxide is indicated as the GHG amount. The unit amount of the building material may be indicated by the number of products used, the weight of the products used, or the volume of the products used. The reduction information storage unit 221 may further associate and store the cost that increases by using a unit amount of the building material indicated by the type information (hereinafter referred to as the "unit increase cost") with the building material type information. The reduction information storage unit 221 may further associate and store the amount of carbon dioxide generated by using a unit amount of the building material indicated by the type information (hereinafter referred to as the "unit generation amount") with the building material type information. Note that the amount of carbon dioxide generated by using a building material may indicate the amount of carbon dioxide generated in the process of manufacturing the building material.

[0021] The control unit 23 is configured using a processor such as a CPU and a memory. The control unit 23 functions as an information control unit 231 and a determination unit 232 by the processor executing a program. Note that all or part of the functions of the control unit 23 may be realized using hardware such as an ASIC, PLD, or FPGA. The above program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of computer-readable recording media include portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, and semiconductor storage devices (e.g., SSDs), as well as storage devices such as hard disks and semiconductor storage devices built into computer systems. The above program may be transmitted via a telecommunications line.

[0022] The information control unit 231 processes information input to and output from the determination device 20. For example, the information control unit 231 receives request information transmitted from the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21. The information control unit 231 passes type information and usage amount information contained in the received request information to the determination unit 232. The information control unit 231 transmits information indicating the determination result obtained by the determination unit 232 to the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21.

[0023] The determination unit 232 determines information related to the carbon dioxide reduction effect based on the type information and usage amount information passed from the information control unit 231. The determination unit 232 may further determine additional costs or the amount of carbon dioxide generated. Each piece of information determined by the determination unit 232 is sent by the information control unit 231 to the terminal device 10 that is the sender of the information request. Each piece of information will be described below.

[0024] A specific example of information about the carbon dioxide reduction effect is the amount of carbon dioxide reduction. The carbon dioxide reduction effect indicates information about the carbon dioxide that can be reduced when using building materials of the type specified by the type information input in the terminal device 10, compared to when general types of building materials are used when constructing the same building or exterior structure (object to be determined). A specific example of such information is the amount of carbon dioxide that can be reduced (volume or weight). A general type of building material is, for example, a building material that does not use recycled materials. More specifically, for example, if the input type information is a building material that uses recycled aluminum, the general type of building material may be a building material that uses non-recycled aluminum.

[0025] The additional cost indicates the additional cost (difference) required when using building materials of the type specified by the type information input on the terminal device 10 compared to when general types of building materials are used to build the same building or exterior (object to be evaluated). The amount of carbon dioxide generated indicates the amount of carbon dioxide generated in the manufacturing process of building materials when using building materials of the type specified by the type information input on the terminal device 10.

[0026] The determination unit 232 determines information related to the carbon dioxide reduction effect based on the information stored in the reduction information storage unit 221. For example, the information related to the carbon dioxide reduction effect may be determined by the following process: The determination unit 232 reads out the unit reduction amount associated with the type information transmitted from the terminal device 10 from the reduction information storage unit 221. The determination unit 232 calculates information related to the carbon dioxide reduction effect (in this case, the carbon dioxide reduction amount) based on the usage amount information transmitted from the terminal device 10 and the read unit reduction amount.

[0027] The determination unit 232 may further determine the additional cost based on the information stored in the reduction information storage unit 221. For example, the additional cost may be determined by the following process: The determination unit 232 reads out the unit increase cost associated with the type information transmitted from the terminal device 10 from the reduction information storage unit 221. The determination unit 232 calculates the additional cost based on the usage amount information transmitted from the terminal device 10 and the read unit increase cost.

[0028] The determination unit 232 may further determine the amount of carbon dioxide to be generated based on the information stored in the reduction information storage unit 221. For example, the amount of carbon dioxide to be generated may be determined by the following process: The determination unit 232 reads out the unit generation amount associated with the type information transmitted from the terminal device 10 from the reduction information storage unit 221. The determination unit 232 calculates the amount of carbon dioxide to be generated when the building material is used based on the usage amount information transmitted from the terminal device 10 and the read unit generation amount.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing a specific example of processing by the information providing system 100. First, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 acquires information input by the user by operating the input unit 12 (step S101). The information input by the user includes information about building materials. More specifically, type information indicating the type of building material and usage information indicating the amount of building material (or shaped material) used are input. A more specific example of type information may be type information about the building material product (e.g., product name, series name, model number, etc.). For example, if the product is a window, information indicating the type of window (window type information) may be used as type information. A more specific example of type information may further include information indicating the size of the building material (e.g., length and width).

[0030] More specific examples of usage information may include the number of products used, the total weight of the products or a specific material (e.g., aluminum, resin, or steel), the total volume of a specific material, or other information. When the number of products is used as usage information, the number may be defined for each type of product.

[0031] The type information and usage information may be specific values ​​input by the user, or may be selected by the user from multiple options. In this embodiment, a specific example of the type information to be input may be type information of building materials made from aluminum, which can be produced with less carbon dioxide emissions. A specific example of such aluminum is recycled aluminum. The control unit 15 transmits request information including the input type information and usage information to the determination device 20 (step S102). The request information indicates a request for information on the carbon dioxide reduction that corresponds to the type information and usage information.

[0032] The control unit 23 of the determination device 20 receives the request information transmitted from the terminal device 10 and acquires the type information and usage amount information contained in the request information (step S103). Based on the acquired type information and usage amount information, the control unit 23 of the determination device 20 determines the amount of GHG (carbon dioxide) that can be reduced by using that type of building material in the amount specified (step S104). The control unit 23 transmits information indicating the determination result to the terminal device 10 (step S105). The control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 receives the information indicating the determination result from the determination device 20 (step S106). The control unit 15 outputs the received information indicating the determination result to the user via the output unit 13 (step S107).

[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of information output to the output unit 13 of the terminal device 10. In FIG. 5, the output unit 13 is configured as an image display device, and a specific example of an image displayed on the screen is shown. FIG. 5 particularly shows an example of a display screen (hereinafter referred to as the "input screen") used during input. The input screen displays input fields for type information and usage amount information, as well as a confirm button 133. In the example of FIG. 5, a product information input field 131 for inputting "product information" as a specific example of type information, and a quantity input field 132 for inputting "number of units used" as a specific example of usage amount information are displayed. The product information may include, for example, information regarding the size of the building material (product). The user of the terminal device 10 operates the input unit 12 to input information into each input field and then operates the confirm button 133. In response to the operation of the confirm button 133, the control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 generates request information including the information currently input into each input field and transmits the request information to the determination device 20.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of information output to the output unit 13 of the terminal device 10. In FIG. 6, the output unit 13 is configured as an image display device, and a specific example of an image displayed on the screen is shown. FIG. 6 particularly shows an example of a display screen (hereinafter referred to as the "output screen") when the determination result is output by the determination device 20. The output screen displays at least information related to the carbon dioxide reduction effect. A specific example of information related to the carbon dioxide reduction effect is the amount of carbon dioxide reduction. In the example of FIG. 6, three values ​​are shown: additional cost, carbon dioxide reduction effect, and carbon dioxide emissions. All three values, additional cost, carbon dioxide reduction effect, and carbon dioxide emissions, are obtained as determination results by the determination device 20.

[0035] The information provision system 100 configured in this manner identifies the type and amount of building material used in a building or exterior (object to be determined), and thereby provides information on the carbon dioxide reduction achieved when using that building material compared to when using general building materials. Therefore, when selecting building materials to use, it becomes possible to easily obtain information on using building materials that can be realized with low GHG emissions, such as recycled materials. More specifically, it becomes possible to easily obtain information such as the amount of increased costs incurred by using building materials that can be realized with low GHG emissions, the amount of GHG that can be reduced (e.g., carbon dioxide), and the amount of GHG emitted (e.g., carbon dioxide).

[0036] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an example hardware configuration of an information processing device 90 applied to this embodiment. The information processing device 90 includes a processor 91, a main storage device 92, a communication interface 93, an auxiliary storage device 94, an input / output interface 95, and an internal bus 96. The processor 91, the main storage device 92, the communication interface 93, the auxiliary storage device 94, and the input / output interface 95 are communicably connected to each other via the internal bus 96. The information processing device 90 may be applied to, for example, the terminal device 10 and the determination device 20. In this case, for example, the communication units 11 and 21 may be configured using the communication interface 93. For example, the memory units 14 and 22 may be configured using the auxiliary storage device 94. Furthermore, the control units 15 and 23 may be configured using the processor 91 and the main storage device 92.

[0037] (Modification) In the present embodiment, the terminal device 10 and the determination device 20 are configured as separate devices, but they may also be configured as an integrated device. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of the determination device 20 configured in this manner. This determination device 20 may be configured using a device such as a personal computer or a server device, similar to the above-described determination device 20, or may be configured using an information device such as a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, or dedicated device, similar to the above-described terminal device 10.

[0038] The determination device 20 shown in FIG. 8 further includes an input unit 24 and an output unit 25. The input unit 24 and the output unit 25 of the determination device 20 shown in FIG. 8 function similarly to the input unit 12 and the output unit 13 of the terminal device 10, respectively. The control unit 23 operates in response to an operation on the input unit 24, performs a determination process using the input type information and usage amount information, and outputs information indicating the determination result using the output unit 25. Such a determination device 20 may be used, for example, by a user. Such a determination device 20 can obtain a determination result based on information input by the user operating the input unit 24 without communicating with other devices via a network. This can improve user convenience.

[0039] The determination device 20 may be implemented using a plurality of information processing devices. For example, the determination device 20 may be implemented using a device such as a cloud. For example, in the determination device 20, the storage unit 22 and the control unit 23 may be implemented in different information processing devices. For example, the storage unit 22 of the determination device 20 may be distributed and implemented in a plurality of information processing devices.

[0040] The above has described in detail an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration of the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment, and also includes designs within the scope that do not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0041] The present invention can be applied to a system that provides information about building materials.

[0042] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100... information providing system, 10... terminal device, 11... communication unit, 12... input unit, 13... output unit, 14... storage unit, 15... control unit, 20... determination device, 21... communication unit, 22... storage unit, 23... control unit, 231... information control unit, 232... determination unit

Claims

1. A determination device equipped with a control unit that determines, based on type information indicating the type of building material used in the building or exterior to be determined and usage information indicating the amount of the building material used, information regarding the amount of GHG that can be reduced when the building or exterior to be determined is constructed using the building material indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage information, compared to when the building or exterior to be determined is constructed using a building material of a general, specified standard type.

2. A determination device equipped with a control unit that determines, based on type information indicating the type of building material used in the building or exterior to be determined and usage information indicating the amount of the building material used, information regarding the amount of carbon dioxide that can be reduced when the building or exterior to be determined is constructed using the building material indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage information, compared to when the building or exterior to be determined is constructed using a building material of a general, specified standard type.

3. A determination device as described in claim 1, wherein the building material indicated by the type information is a building material that can produce less GHG during the production process compared to the general, specified standard type of building material.

4. The determination device according to claim 3, wherein the building material indicated by the type information is a building material made using recycled aluminum.

5. A determination device equipped with a control unit that determines, based on usage information indicating the amount of shaped materials used in the building materials used in the structure or exterior to be evaluated, information regarding the amount of GHG that can be reduced when the building material is constructed using only the amounts indicated by the usage information, compared to when the building material is constructed using shaped materials that meet a general, specified standard.

6. A determination device as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 5, wherein the control unit further determines the difference in cost between constructing the structure or exterior to be determined using the building materials indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage amount information and constructing the structure or exterior to be determined using a building material of a general, specified standard type.

7. The control unit of the determination device described in claim 1 or 5 further determines the difference in cost between constructing the structure or exterior to be determined using the building materials indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage amount information and constructing the structure or exterior to be determined using building materials of a general, specified standard type, and outputs information including information related to the GHG amount and the difference in cost.

8. A computer program for causing a computer to function as a determination device equipped with a control unit that determines, based on type information indicating the type of building material used in the building or exterior to be evaluated and usage information indicating the amount of the building material used, information regarding the amount of GHG that can be reduced when the building or exterior to be evaluated is constructed using the building material indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage information, compared to when the building or exterior to be evaluated is constructed using a building material of a general, specified standard type.

9. A method for assessing the amount of GHG that can be reduced when constructing the building or exterior to be assessed using the building materials indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage information, based on the type information and the usage information, compared to when the building or exterior to be assessed is constructed using building materials of a general, specified standard type.

10. A computer program for causing a computer to function as a determination device equipped with a control unit that determines, based on type information indicating the type of building material used in the building or exterior to be determined and usage information indicating the amount of the building material used, information regarding the amount of carbon dioxide that can be reduced when the building or exterior to be determined is constructed using the building material indicated by the type information in the amount indicated by the usage information, compared to when the building or exterior to be determined is constructed using a building material of a general, specified standard type.

11. A method for determining whether or not the building material is used in a structure or exterior that is the subject of evaluation, comprising the steps of: acquiring type information indicating the type of building material used in the structure or exterior that is the subject of evaluation, and usage information indicating the amount of the building material used; and determining, based on the type information and the usage information, information regarding the amount of carbon dioxide that can be reduced when the building material indicated by the type information is used in the amount indicated by the usage information to construct the structure or exterior that is the subject of evaluation, compared to when the structure or exterior is constructed using a building material of a general, specified standard type.

12. A computer program for causing a computer to function as a judgment device equipped with a control unit that judges, based on usage information indicating the amount of shaped materials used in the building materials used in the structure or exterior to be evaluated, information regarding the amount of GHG that can be reduced when the building material is constructed using only the amounts indicated by the usage information, compared to when the building material is constructed using shaped materials that meet general, specified standards.

13. A method for assessing the amount of GHG that can be reduced when building materials are used in a structure or exterior structure to be assessed in the amounts indicated by the usage information, based on the usage information, compared to when building materials are used in a structure or exterior structure to be assessed in the amounts indicated by the usage information.

Images