Summer energy crunch
(From The Japan Times April 24 issue)

夏の電力不足に備えよ

The summer energy crunch will be here soon, so the government, companies and individuals need to start planning right now for what will surely be a long, hot and energy-crunched summer. Many ideas to save energy have been proposed and a few make good sense, but enacting them requires action now.

Sony has proposed a mandatory two-week summer vacation for its employees. The company says that will save up to 25 percent of energy costs by reducing the operation of air conditioning, elevators and other facilities for its 16,000 workers. Starting earlier and finishing earlier, and reducing overtime, may soon become necessities. That will create a healthier workplace by giving employees more time to relax, allowing companies greater flexibility and reducing energy consumption.

Companies will need to reconsider their energy consumption and no longer be allowed to excessively use electricity, even if they pay. The Coca-Cola Co. has promised to find ways to reduce the electricity consumed by its 250,000 vending machines.

Some companies have proposed running their vending machines on solar cells, which is an admirable long-term goal, but in the short run, beverage companies need to find more immediate ways to save electricity while they continue to operate their businesses.

7-Eleven announced it would install energy-efficient LED lights in its convenience stores as well as solar panels at some of its stores. LED lights bring down the amount of energy consumed though the initial expense is high. Pachinko parlors, train stations, malls and large stores that use lots of lights all need to start investing now.

Individuals have responsibilities, too, to make their homes and workplaces more energy efficient. Lists of suggestions and tips are not hard to find.

For many people and organizations, the savings they can make in energy use may seem insignificant. However, one of the lessons of the Tohoku disaster is that the country is closely interconnected. Each energy-saving step, small as it may be, adds up as quickly as donations to the Tohoku survivors have.

The unquestioned belief that energy will always be there has been shaken by the rolling electricity outages after the Fukushima nuclear accidents. The long-term recovery of Japan depends on the changes in energy consumption made now.

暑い夏の電力消費に備え、企業や個人は今から節電対策の実施に動かないと間に合わない。

ソニーは1万6000人の社員を対象に2週間の夏休みを取らせることを提案、エアコン、エレベーター、その他設備の使用を減らし25％節電を目標とする。日本コカ･コーラは自動販売機約25万台の節電策を模索している。太陽電池を利用した自販機を提案する企業もある。長期目標としては望ましいが、飲料会社はより早く実施可能な対策を探るべきだ。セブンーイレブン･ジャパンはコンビニでのLED照明や太陽光発電パネル導入計画を発表。初期投資は高いが、パチンコ店や駅、デパートやスーパーでもそのような投資が必要だ。

東日本大地震の教訓の一つに、国内の密接なつながりがある。小さな節電努力も、義援金と同じように、積もれば大きな力を発揮する。原発事故後の計画停電で電力神話は崩れた。長期的復興は、電力消費の改革にかかっている。