Saving Power for a Low Energy Summer

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A message to the citizens of Mie Prefecture:

Saving Power for a Low Energy Summer

Following on from the the Great Tohoku Earthquake on March 11^th 2011 and the resulting damage of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, serious power shortages are expected to occur this summer.

On April 26^th 2013, the government announced measures to help regulate power supply and demand this summer. The measures set out clear energy caps for weekdays between the hours of 9:00 and 20:00, to be observed from the 1^st of July to 30^th of September 2013 (excluding the 13^th to 15^th of August).

In Mie, the prefectural government is continuing its ISO14001 initiative by moving the official start of Cool Biz forward as well as putting other energy-saving ideas into practice. This summer we are aiming for a 5% reduction in electricity usage compared to the hot summer of 2010 by saving power used by air conditioning and lighting. For example, we have switched to LED lighting in the prefectural government office buildings.

We would like to request that people and businesses living and operating in Mie also adjust their work and lifestyles as they did last summer to help reduce our prefecture’s energy consumption. Specifically, you can help by:

–       Setting air conditioning units to 28 degrees (setting the temperature two degrees higher results in a 10% reduction in power usage)

–       Turning off unnecessary lights (5% reduction)

–       Setting your refridgerator to the medium setting, keeping a smaller amount of food stored inside and by preventing the door being left open for long periods of time. (2% reduction)

–       Unplugging electrical items when not in use to reducing ‘standing’ power use (2% reduction)

 

We ask for your cooperation in adjusting your lifestyle and business practices within acceptable bounds to help Mie Prefecture reduce its power usage and save energy.

Mie Prefecture also asks you to take care of your health this summer, and to particularly look out for symptoms of heat stroke – especially in the cases of the young children and elderly people around you.

 

Eikei Suzuki

Governor of Mie Prefecture

30^th May 2013