The government’s annual Cool Biz energy-saving campaign for late spring and summer has kicked off across Japan.
Cool Biz, which will last until Sept 30, encourages workers to dress down, ditching their suits and ties for open-necked, short-sleeved shirts in their offices. It also suggests office air conditioners be set at 28 degrees Celsius.
At the environment ministry offices in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki, some employees wore T-shirts and Okinawa's kariyushi summer shirts.
Cool Biz was started in 2005 by then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions and electricity use. It started on June 1 each year until 2011 when it was brought forward by a month in a bid to conserve electricity after worries that there would be a power shortage following the March 11 disaster.
This year's campaign is part of deco-katsu, a national effort to reduce CO2 emissions to prevent global warming.
© Japan Today
31 Comments
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Negative Nancy
Its only a good thing that there is some accommodation for the hot summer heat, but why is it necessary to dictate a start and end date? Surely just following common sense is enough?
Capuchin
From a previous JT article.
Perhaps a "Warm Biz" campaign would be more effective. Promote double glazing and proper insulation in housing. Maybe suggest that in late April when the temperature is over 20 degrees you don't need the heating turned on in shops and trains.
maxjapank
Last year, my private high decided to let students wear uniforms based on their own body temperatures. There is still an appropriate way to wear the uniform, but if they want to wear the summer outfit in winter time, it's their choice. After this, some of us teachers also began to whisper about Cool Biz and how if that dress attire is acceptable, then why isn't it acceptable year round. Some of us teachers have warmer body temperatures. Well, I'm pleased to announce that from this year, the school decided to allow teachers to wear outfits according to their preferences. There is still an appropriate way, like if you wear a long sleeved shirt, you must wear a tie. But if I choose to wear a polo shirt all year long now, it's okay. Japan can change. It's nice.
Toshihiro
I agree with the cool biz gig, but the air conditioners set at 28 Celsius is just absurd. In the very least, it should be set at 25 Celsius. If the government really wants to save up on electricity, they should order businesses to close early (implement a compressed 4-day workweek) or close on time, in addition to requiring those neon lights and LED walls to switch off earlier. I live in Southeast Asia and the heat wave right now here is punishing. If there was one high-powered appliance that needs to remain working despite the energy situation, it's air conditioning.
tora
The Japanese government simply loves meaningless "campaigns" and companies and people always follow them without question.
Before some academic applies for and receives a massive government grant to carry out a scientific study on how much the world's temperature has been reduced by this campaign since it was introduced in 2005, I can save them the trouble. The answer: it hasn't.
The only thing this campaign has achieved is a reduction in the potential sale of neckties in Japan.
And limiting air-conditioners to a temperature of 28oC in the middle of summer here is just madness.
puregaijin
Cool biz is nice, but setting 28 is somewhat counterproductive. People invariably end up setting little table fans on their desks and end result is drawing extra current from the grid.
ThonTaddeo
Where I work, it's 28 in the summer but also 25-26 in the winter. No such thing as "Warm Biz"; it's overheated all year 'round. Ridiculously one-sided.
Corey
Think of it: 28C ( 82-83F). Working at a desk. No opening of windows possible for ventilation.
And don’t think Cool Biz means “casual”, like American TGIF ( loose jersey, shorts maybe). No, it means a crisp short sleeve shirt with a dress-up look. And don’t forget to wear an undershirt, you know, in case you sweat - which inevitably you will.
canigetawhatwhat
Bring back Premium Friday!
SDCA
https://laminaheat.com/en/impact-of-heat-and-cold-on-employee-performance/#:~:text=It%20is%20generally%20recommended%20to,environment%20conducive%20to%20optimal%20productivity.
browny1
Plenty of scientific data around to state that 28c is not the optimal air-con setting, especially when you add notoriously high humidity levels to the equation.
Research shows differing results but around 25c seems to be a good balance between comfort and energy consumption.
The govt arrived at the 28c figure because it was concerned / panicky about electricity supply in the aftermath of Fukushima and the shutting down of nuclear power stations nationwide.
It's not based on science.
kohakuebisu
I think the reality is companies have to be told this, especially traditional companies.
Redemption
The good old days of sitting face to face with your buds 11 hours a day.
purple_depressed_bacon
Setting the A/C to 28 degrees C in Japan's humid, hot summer is just useless. They might as well just turn the A/C off and open all the windows. At least there'll be fresh air circulating inside.
didou
It is no tie for most offices all year round even in the gouvernement offices. Ties are put for meetings when necessary. Workers wearing ties all day have been a minority for many years
Rakuraku
didou
Yes there is no more dress code in many companies. For example in large banks employees can dress as they want when there are in the office. It is only when they visit customers that they have to wear a suit.
Newgirlintown
It also suggests office air conditioners be set at 28 degrees Celsius.
One problem is that this sometimes happens even when the outside temperature is below 28.
David Brent
News at 11! "Adults need to be told what to wear by their government!".
GillislowTier
If you have to make a campaign and try to talk about the positive points of your employees being comfortable in their work clothes… and having to mail out notices to citizens to not worry if they see a government employee not wearing a suit jacket in 40 degree weather… there’s something real off going on
didou
Just a guideline from the government that most companies implement all year. In most companies, workers having a tie decide personally. Some like that.
starpunk
Welcome to the 20th, uh 21st century.
WoodyLee
What the government needs to do is STOP the selling of these so called ECO boilers that keep hot water ready and on demand by heating it when no one needs it.
This is the largest waste of energy I have ever seen so far, and yet they sell it under the title ECO BOILER, How could it be ECO when it's using electricity to keep water hot when NO ONE IS HOME OR USING IT?
Explain This please?
factchecker
All this yet still plenty of suits and ties around in July's almost 40 degree heat.
リッチ
Mr Kipling
Negative Nancy...
The big problem with "common sense" is that it is not common at all. Especially in the Japanese workspace.
kurisupisu
As with every other year here,in midsummer, I’ll still see the profusely sweating salaryman wearing the suit and tie (running?) expressing form over function…
wallace
I was cold when I took the morning garbage out.
Seigi
Amazing way to welcomed Cool Biz with a winter cold weather yesterday...lol
WoodyLee
Agree, 28c is where I set my air conditioners and it keep my places cool home and work, NO PROBLEMS.
robert maes
Absolutely pathetic that there needs to be a government campaign replacing common sense.