Awards

In the Energy Conservation Grand Prize 2023 Product & Business Model Category, Sharp won Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, the highest award, with its "Plasmacluster Front Loading Washer & Dryer ES-X11B," and ECCJ Chairman’s Award for "Tsunagaru (Connected) Lighting Control Solution." Energy Conservation Grand Prize is sponsored by The Energy Conservation Center, Japan, and is one of the most prestigious awards in Japan.

Energy Conservation Grand Prize is a program that recognizes outstanding energy conservation efforts and advanced, high-efficiency energy-saving products in the industrial, commercial, and transportation sectors in Japan.

At the award ceremony held on January 31 at TOC Ariake (Koto-ku, Tokyo), Masahiro Okitsu, Representative Director and Executive Vice President, received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, and Hideyuki Nagamine, General Manager of Plasmacluster・Healthcare Business Unit, Smart Appliances & Solutions Business BU, received ECCJ Chairman's Award on stage.

■Features of award-winning products and solutions and background of award

･Plasmacluster Front Loading Washer & Dryer <ES-X11B>

By adopting a unique Hybrid Drying Technology that combines a heat pump and a support heater, and a Non-Exhaust Drying Method that suppresses wasted thermal energy without emitting steam outside the machine, we have achieved the industry's highest level of energy savings^*1.
"Hybrid Drying NEXT", which achieved the highest drying power in Sharp history^*2, was highly praised and received this award.

Product introduction site (Japanese):
https://jp.sharp/sentaku/products/esx11b/

･"Tsunagaru(Connected) Lighting Control Solution"

In a logistics warehouse, by using network cameras to monitor the movements of forklifts and workers, and effectively controlling the brightness of LED lighting, an 89%^*3 reduction in power consumption was achieved compared to conventional methods in the case examined in the awards.
Additionally, the remote monitoring of on-site footage was highly valued for its contribution to improving labor safety environments, leading to this award.

Solution introduction site (Japanese):
https://jp.sharp/business/led_lighting/contents/solution/smart.html

*1 In a washer & dryer with a drying capacity of 6kg. Washing to drying 6kg: Power consumption 600Wh. As of December 18, 2023, according to Sharp research. (Numbers are based on Japan Electrical Manufacturers Association voluntary standards)

*2 By realizing hybrid drying technology of a heat pump and support heater, and AI control of temperature/humidity sensors, heaters, and compressors, we aim to achieve energy-saving, speedy drying with a warm and comfortable finish. The drying power is the same as our (released in 2021).

*3 Estimated value by our company that takes into account dimming control (assuming that work is repeated in the network cameras detection area every 10 minutes, and the dimming lower limit is set to 12% and the worker leaves after 2 minutes each time). [Calculation conditions] Annual lighting hours: Calculated based on 10 hours of lighting per day and 3,000 hours of lighting per year (Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association Guide A139-2023).