Tokyo workers encouraged to wear shorts to cut energy costs and keep cool

Tokyo public servants urged to wear shorts as Iran war drives energy costs and summer heat looms | Contesto: cronaca

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• Tokyo workers encouraged to wear shorts to cut energy costs and keep cool

Contesto

Public servants working for the Tokyo metropolitan government are being encouraged to swap their suits for shorts this summer in a bid to combat sweltering heat and rising energy costs fueled by the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The initiative, announced by Tokyo officials, aims to reduce reliance on air conditioning as the summer season approaches and electricity prices continue to climb amid the conflict. The measure applies to thousands of municipal employees and is part of a broader effort to cut energy consumption across the capital. The push for more casual attire draws directly from Japan’s long-standing Cool Biz campaign, a national energy-saving program that began in 2005 under former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Cool Biz originally encouraged office workers to dress in lighter, short-sleeved clothing during summer months to allow thermostats to be set higher, thereby reducing electricity use. Tokyo’s new shorts policy extends that concept further, officials said, by permitting men and women to wear knee-length shorts as part of their official workwear. The timing of the policy is critical. Japan faces a particularly challenging summer as the war in Iran disrupts global energy markets, driving up the cost of imported fuels such as liquefied natural gas and oil. Tokyo relies heavily on thermal power generation, and the price spike has already led to higher utility bills for households and businesses. By encouraging shorts, the metropolitan government hopes to lower air-conditioning demand and ease the strain on the power grid during peak hours. Critics, however, have questioned whether the move will have a meaningful impact. Some point out that air conditioning accounts for only a fraction of total energy use in office buildings and that more significant savings would require larger structural changes, such as improved insulation or upgraded cooling systems. Others have raised concerns about workplace dress codes and professionalism, though supporters argue that comfort and practicality should take precedence during extreme heat. The initiative also reflects a broader shift in Japanese workplace culture, which has traditionally emphasized formal...

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Categoria: cronaca