Updated: Mar 8, 2018
Traditional Japanese houses are constructed with deep eaves, wooden corridors and verandas, and paper sliding screens. These and other ingenious designs improved ventilation in the house, providing comfort in Japan's hot and humid climate and protecting against the long spells of rain, dampness, and summertime heat.
But Japanese houses are also often poorly insulated against the cold. Many people complain of the chill running through their homes in winter.
According to surveys conducted by LIXIL in 2015, people considering buying a home and those living in newly-built houses shared similar concerns. The top three worries consisted of high utility bills, concerns about condensation, mold, and mites, and houses being cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
The main cause for all of these concerns is poor insulation. As a result, even when houses are heated, temperature differences occur within and between rooms, and heat escapes quickly. Dew also condenses on windows because of the difference in temperature outside.
But LIXIL's survey also revealed that, despite the level of dissatisfaction over insulation, frustrations remained even after rebuilding or renovating homes. During the homebuilding process, many homeowners tend to still prioritize conveniences such as their baths, toilets, and kitchens, or cleanliness rather than insulation.
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