The buzzword of this summer is without doubt "setsuden" or "power saving". Even though here in Hokkaido we are far from the disaster area, people keep reminding me that I should do "setsuden": "Why are the lights on? Switch them off!" or "What - you are using air conditioning? Don't you know about setsuden? Mottainai!"
Due to the shutdown of the nuclear power plant in Fukushima and one other plant, there has been an energy shortage over the past few months, and with the start of summer the crisis has only deepened. Millions of companies and private households usually rely on air conditioning during the hot and humid summer in Tokyo. Not this summer though.
According to friends of mine who live in Tokyo, air conditioning can only be used on days when Tokyo Electric is able to cover at least 80% of its original output. Citizens are obliged to check TEPCO's website every day and then act accordingly. An overuse could lead to a complete blackout.
Last time I talked to a Tokyo friend on Skype, sweat was dripping from her face and neck, and I was afraid she might have a heat stroke because of setsuden. On top of that she has to work two days a week from home, rather than going to the office, and she said that she as well as most of her coworkers were really upset about it. Another friend told me that in her office building employees were not allowed to use the elevator between the 3rd floor and 2nd basement floor.
So, while Hokkaidoites are concerned about energy saving and try to help and contribute as much as possible, the ones that are really affected are the people in and around Tokyo. And every time I'm about to complain about the lack of air conditioning here in Sapporo, I remind myself that the summer in Tokyo must be dreadful, especially indoors.
私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
IF YOU ASK FOR LITTLE YOU DESERVE NOTHING
The buzzword of this summer is without doubt "setsuden" or "power saving". Even though here in Hokkaido we are far from the disaster area, people keep reminding me that I should do "setsuden": "Why are the lights on? Switch them off!" or "What - you are using air conditioning? Don't you know about setsuden? Mottainai!"
Due to the shutdown of the nuclear power plant in Fukushima and one other plant, there has been an energy shortage over the past few months, and with the start of summer the crisis has only deepened. Millions of companies and private households usually rely on air conditioning during the hot and humid summer in Tokyo. Not this summer though.
According to friends of mine who live in Tokyo, air conditioning can only be used on days when Tokyo Electric is able to cover at least 80% of its original output. Citizens are obliged to check TEPCO's website every day and then act accordingly. An overuse could lead to a complete blackout.
Last time I talked to a Tokyo friend on Skype, sweat was dripping from her face and neck, and I was afraid she might have a heat stroke because of setsuden. On top of that she has to work two days a week from home, rather than going to the office, and she said that she as well as most of her coworkers were really upset about it. Another friend told me that in her office building employees were not allowed to use the elevator between the 3rd floor and 2nd basement floor.
So, while Hokkaidoites are concerned about energy saving and try to help and contribute as much as possible, the ones that are really affected are the people in and around Tokyo. And every time I'm about to complain about the lack of air conditioning here in Sapporo, I remind myself that the summer in Tokyo must be dreadful, especially indoors.
私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。
IF YOU ASK FOR LITTLE YOU DESERVE NOTHING
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