1.7 Cool Biz

The "Super Cool Biz" campaign started on June 1, 2011. It is more important than usual because the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant was crippled by the earthquake and tsunami that hit the Tohoku region on March 11. The supply of electricity has decreased. Offices must set room temperatures at a warm 28 degrees Celsius in order to save energy. Employees are advised not to wear suits, but to wear polo shirts, aloha shirts and sneakers. They can also wear jeans and sandals depending upon the situation. There are also several ways to avoid the heat; using gel sheets, consuming foods that cool the body, limiting overtime hours in the office, and taking 2 weeks of summer vacation.

I have heard about Cool Biz since 2005. I also know that the employees in Shirahama have worn aloha shirts every year for a long time. The activity started even before Cool Biz. I think that everyone in Japan should wear summer shirts like they do in Shirahama when working. It will be a good way to forget the heat during working hours. However, it is a bit difficult because many people feel that it is still hot even if they when waring these kinds of clothes. We must know that the supply of electricity has decreased in Japan except for the Hokkaido and Okinawa areas. There is not enough energy to cool offices, schools, and houses. Therefore, we must consider what ways we can save energy.