中・四国のエコ大作戦 （日刊工業新聞社編、2001年出版） 企業・行政・団体の取り組み　1. 節電虫ヒットさせた省エネのべンチャー企業、㈲ケイ・イー・シー

ケイ・イー・シーの釜本二社長はファクスの消費電力を節約するヒット商品 「節電虫」 の開発者だ。 ファクスは普通、1日中電源を人れっぱなしにするが、 実際に作動するのは通信をやりとりする時だけ。それ以外はいわゆる「待機電力」を浪費している

◎ファクスの待機電力を100%カット

節電虫は電話回線とファクスの間に接続する。回線から節電虫に送・受信の呼び出し信号が流れると、微妙に変化する電流をセンサーが惑知する。すると自動にファクスの電源スイッチを人れ、5 分後には電源を切り、待機電力を100%カットする電気料金に換算すると、ファクス1台で年間3000円節約できる。固定電話機をはじめとする通信機、コピー機 フリンターにも使える。節電は積もり積もれば発電所が出す二酸化炭素も減らすため、環境対策に取り組む自治体や大企業を中心に売れている。

1996年の発売から、すでに2500台以上を出荷した。釜本社長は大手孅維メーカーを脱サラ、1977年にケイ・イー・シーを個人創業した。

技術者だったサラリーマン時代の豊富な経験を活かし、技術分野の翻訳・通訳業と英.語塾を始めた。翻訳には顧客とのやり取りに、ファクスか欠かせない。待機電力を止める装置かあれは経費を節約できるとアイデアが浮かび数年かけて独力で開発した。実際に節電効果は高かったためヒジネスにもなると判断、外販に乗り出した。

K.E.C., the venture company of energy saving that made Setsuden-mushi a hit.

Mr. Tsuguru Kamamoto, president of K.E.C., is the developer of a hit product called "Setsuden-mushi (a power saving device)" that saves power consumption of fax machines. Fax machines are usually left on all day, but they only actually work when they are communicating (transmitting and receiving documents). Other than that, the fax machine wastes so-called "standby power”.

◎  Cutting 100% of standby power for fax machines

The power saving bug is connected between the telephone line and the fax machine. When a call signal is sent or received from the line to Setsuden-mushi, the power saver, a sensor detects the subtle changes in electric current. The sensor then automatically switches on the fax machine and turns it off five minutes after the fax communications finish, cutting standby power consumption by 100%.

In terms of electricity bills, a single fax machine can save 3,000 yen ($30) a year. The system can also be used for landline telephones and other communication devices, as well as copy machines and printers. Since saving electricity also reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by power plants, the product is selling well, especially among local governments and large corporations that are taking environmental measures.

Since its launch in 1996, more than 2,500 units have already been shipped. President Kamamoto left his job at a major textile company to start his own company, K.E.C., in 1977.

He started a translation and interpretation business in the technical field and an English tutoring school, making use of his rich experience as a salaried engineer. He also started an English language school. For translation, fax machines are indispensable to communicate with customers. He came up with an idea to save money by having a device that would shut off the standby power, and he developed it on his own over the next few years. In fact, the system was so effective in saving electricity that he decided it would be a good idea for his business and started selling it externally.

毎週火曜日に日英併記で連載中です。

Serially posted in both Japanese and English every Tuesday.

写真データ、写真資料は以下のサイトを参照下さい。

For photo data and materials, please refer to the following websites.

https://www.facebook.com/kamamototsuguru