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Summary Nuclear plant shutdowns lead to Japanese workers rolling up sleeves early as part of Cool Biz
Japanese workers rolled up their sleeves and took off their ties on Tuesday (May 1), a month early this year, as the country faces possible power shortages as it looks to enter a nuclear power free summer. Starting from May 1st, workers at Japanese government offices are allowed to take off their ties, roll up their sleeves as part of Cool Biz to try to stay cool as the air conditioners are turned down to save power and office temperatures go up.Wearing a necktie and the like in the European fashion is rather tough in Japan as it gets quite muggy here during the summer. So this is something that was thought of as a a way to take off ties and coats and make do in a muggy country like Japan, explained the Environment Ministrys global warming prevention departments Toshihiko Tsukada.As part of the push, lights are also dimmed in many government offices with more planning to reduce power usage further once the summer heat becomes full blast.This years Cool Biz is starting a month early as the country faces a power crunch with the countrys nuclear reactors nearly all off-line.The crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, where a huge earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 triggered radiation leaks, has hammered public faith in nuclear power and prevented the restart of reactors shut down for regular maintenance checks, with all but one of 50 reactors now off-line.Nuclear power provided almost 30 percent of Japans electricity before the crisis, but now all but one of Japans 50 reactors are off-line, mainly for maintenance. The last reactor will shut down on May 5.Since last years March 11th disaster the power shortages have become even more pronounced as a result. So we extended the actual time period for the Cool Biz campaign as one way to help further conserve electricity, Tsukada explained.While the first day of Cool Biz only saw moderate temperatures in Tokyo, those who took part still said the light attire helped them work.It makes it easier to work and it also feels better as well, said environment employee Kei Hironaka.Starting from the first of June, Super Cool Biz will also go into effect and allow workers to wear everything from Aloha shirts to sandals.
