With Reuters reporting electrical shortfalls of up to 2,530 megawatts in places this coming winter, heat won’t be as plentiful as it was last year–and if the Japanese don’t kick their hot habits, the country will face rolling blackouts.
So what’s the fix? The “Warm Biz” campaign, boosted by a “cartoon ninja,” AFP reports, exhorting people to wear scarves, sleep with towels around their necks, and warm themselves from the steam of a kettle in order to keep the thermostat down. Is this a good idea in general? Sure–avoiding expensive heating is ecologically wise even when your country isn’t stomping through the wake of a nuclear disaster. But the impetus here isn’t conservation. Japan’s never been shy about showering itself with electricity like Scrooge McDuck and gold coins. Thermal austerity measures like these show just how desperate the situation is–if they government can’t come up with a permanent fix (likely very expensive imported fossil fuels), these lifestyle campaigns will become a permanent fixture of Japanese society. [AFP and Reuters]
Photo: Koichi Kamoshida/Getty
Scott
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 11:04 AMA large majority of Japanese house holds use kerosene heaters though – electricity for heating has only taken hold in the last couple of years where reverse cycle aircon units have become more popular. They already dress up like eskimoes now, even before it’s properly winter. When I was there for a few years, even in weather I felt was fine for tshirt and jeans, people were wearing 2-3 layers.
Steve
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 2:13 PMThey don’t have enough electricity because it’s being used to power a giant sniper rifle wielded by a giant robot to shoot a giant alien.