The Kyoto Protocol requires Japan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent from the 1990 level, of which the government has set the target of a 1.8 percent reduction through day-to-day energy-saving efforts at home and office. Despite this, CO2 emissions from daily life have been increasing, making a 10 percent reduction per household necessary starting now in order to meet the commitment.

To help households achieve this reduction target, Japan's Ministry of the Environment recently offered the following "Ten tips for household to prevent global warming":

1. Set air-conditioner thermostats one degree higher in summer, and one degree lower in winter.
2. Reduce driving distances by 8 kilometers twice a week.
3. Reduce engine idling by five minutes a day.
4. Reduce standby power consumption for home electric appliances by 90 percent.
5. Reduce showering time by one minute a day by each family member.
6. Do not drain the water after a bath but reuse it for washing clothes.
7. Turn off rice cookers after rice is cooked and do not use the warming feature.
8. Eliminate 20 percent of heating and lighting by having family members share the same room more often.
9. Carry your own shopping bag and avoid buying over-packaged vegetables.
10. Reduce TV viewing time by one hour a day by more intentionally selecting which programs to watch.

If all of these tips are fully implemented at home, annual CO2 emissions will be reduced by 13 percent, giving each household a saving of 41,000 yen (about U.S.$370). The Ministry of the Environment figures that the 1.8 percent reduction target is reachable if 30 percent of households in Japan follow all of these tips.



Posted: 2002/08/24 05:56:17 AM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Global warming , Government