Lighting switched off or de-lamped , escalators in shopping malls and public transport stopped, air con switched off during the heat of the day.
These are some of the things that are now happening in Tokyo as a direct result of reduced power generating capacity following the earthquake and Tsunami of 11 March and the subsequent failure of generating capacity including the Fukishima Nuclear complex. Major corporates are also taking unprecedented actions to reduce energy requirements from the grid, 7-Eleven stores are being fitted with solar panels and MacDonalds are persuading headquarters staff to take holidays in August to reduce peak air conditioning requirements.
Japan has had a policy of minimising power infrastructure and has managed power demand closely through the use of tariffs that increase as your consumption increases unlike those in most other countries where the more electricity you use the cheaper it becomes. This strategy has resulted in the highest use of fluorescent lighting in the home of any developed country, evidence of the greater concern people have for the efficiency of electrical products. The current power shortage is creating a ready market for low energy solutions including LED lighting and for standby power systems to allow business, and life, to continue in the face of sudden power cuts or brown outs.
What has happened in Japan as the result of a catastrophe is analogous to what will happen in Europe over the next decade or so as older “polluting” generating capacity is withdrawn from use at a faster rate than renewable generating capacity can be brought on stream. If, as seems likely, legislators will let this happen then it is inevitable that there will be a profusion of self help solutions. If you look at what happens in countries that don’t have reliable mains power this generally means lots of small diesel generators powering individual businesses or homes that will not help reduce pollution or the use of fossil fuels.
We can do what we can to save energy however if the generating infrastructure does not receive heavy and rapid investment to update and renew its capacity we will all be left in the dark.
Kevan Shaw 24 June 2011
29 Jun 2011 at 04:48 pm | #
“air con switched off during the heat of the day. “
-Not same with Solar powered ac which stores heat to produce cool air.
07 Jul 2011 at 11:37 am | #
Nuclear Fusion will come to our rescue….....!
Joking aside I can’t see a greener, less energy-intensive future without a phase-shift in public attitude towards energy consumption.
Maybe a short-fall in generating capacity during the transition between technologies might be a good thing and force people to deal with what they have; maybe in the future all electrical goods won’t have a standby mode and automatically turn off when not in use; maybe homes and business will be fitted with electrical meters that also display usage information; maybe offices will turn off all computers, monitors and printers (as well as the lights) before leaving via a master kill switch…....
12 Aug 2011 at 09:29 am | #
This strategy has resulted in the highest use of fluorescent lighting in the home of any developed country, evidence of the greater concern people have for the efficiency of electrical products.
03 Sep 2011 at 10:41 pm | #
Well pretty positive approach!! Whatever they are trying to do it’s good for future. If we are not begun saving energy from now, we’ve to live in the dark in future. Thanks
06 Sep 2011 at 04:10 am | #
Japan is indeed showing true awareness when it comes to conserving energy in spite the recent earthquake. I guess developing countries should also consider what Japan is doing at the moment.
08 Sep 2011 at 09:54 am | #
“...escalators in shopping malls and public transport stopped…” An escalator can never truly be broken, it can only be stairs
14 Sep 2011 at 08:07 am | #
Ha, Fukishima Nuclear complex was the big source. I guess nuclear fusion must appreciate for the rescue energy. Thanks for the positive thinking giveaway!
21 Sep 2011 at 12:13 pm | #
I think it starts with creating awareness and policing ourselves. Most of us can cut down considerably on energy consumption by turning the a/c up a few degrees when we are out, turning lights off in unused rooms, etc.
25 Sep 2011 at 09:53 am | #
sometimes bad things need to happen to good things be done…
30 Sep 2011 at 11:28 pm | #
Sometimes, from great tragedy… Brings great progress for the better
03 Oct 2011 at 02:24 am | #
kind od depressing, isn’t it? the thing is that the ordinary people will use the energy from whatever the source: solar, nuclear, fuel.. it is the government role to develop energy program suitable for the country, the people will follow
17 Oct 2011 at 12:38 pm | #
I always wondered if the extreme population growth in both Japan and China would outpace their ability to provide electricity, water, etc. Thanks for the interesting article.
18 Oct 2011 at 11:08 am | #
It always seems like people are slow to adapt to new technology. While I would love for this world to be proactive and create more solar and wind power, I think it won’t happen until the lights go out and they are forced to install solar panels in order to get electricity. Hopefully I’m wrong on my assumption and we start to rely less on fossil fuels for electricity and energy.
21 Oct 2011 at 08:38 am | #
Indeed, it’s really depressing, but i bet people in the rest of the world won’t change their habits till it will be too late.
27 Oct 2011 at 01:41 pm | #
After using our appliances we should always pull it off because it still consumes a certain percentage of electricity.
28 Nov 2011 at 04:59 am | #
great article enjoy reading it
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