Let's begin an Earth-friendly Life !
Let's reduce CO2 by frequently switching off any electricity !
Reducing energy in every day life is a key for CO2 decrease. Important is a frequently switching off the light. " Leaving the light on" is causing most of the energy loss at home. Let's switch off whenever you leave the room. You can also reduce the electricity by one fifth by changing the ordinary bulb to the fluorescent one.Have you known "Standby mode electricity" ?
Standby mode electricity is a wasting energy consumed when the electric devices are not used. Television or radio with timer, microwave used only on cooking are consuming constantly the electricity as long as they are connected to the socket. This wasted energy amounts 10% of whole electricity consumption at home. It is not forgettable ! Let's take the plug out ! I know this is a little bit hassle, but you can start doing that with the device which you don't use often. Also using a power switch extension cord will be a good solution. Reference: Team Minus 6% "Site to stop the global warming issue by thinking the light"
Small tips to prevent coldness
“Warm clothing” is the basis for the Warm Biz. As it directly covers your body, it may play more significant role in controlling body temperature than heaters do. Especially, coats/jackets play essential role in conserving your body temperature. A research result showed the 2.2 ℃ increase in a wind-chill index as a person wore a cardigan.
Warming up your feet increases comfort level
As we have a proverb “Cool the head, warm the feet” in Japan, in order to stay more comfortable, it is important to keep warmth around your feet. It is preferred to wear extra layers of clothes for both upper and lower half of the body. However, some people seem to feel embarrassed to wear long underpants or a girdle underneath. For those people, it is recommended to use “lap blanket” to cover around the thighs. By warming up the thighs where many blood vessels aggregate, the wind-chill index is said to increase by 2.5 ℃. Toes are the easiest part to get cold, as they are located farthest from the heart and are the hardest part for blood to reach. You can increase the wind-chill index by 0.6 ℃ by wearing socks, and 0.6 ℃ more by adding slippers.Reference: (Fund) Save-Energy Center: idea of wearing and a difference of sensory temperature
Stop idling and cut the CO2 emission
Within the nation, Hokkaido has a relatively high rate of vehicle usage. This points out the importance of “idling-stop” while a vehicle is stationary. Once you turn on the engine, even a stationary vehicle continues to consume fuel and emit CO2, thus contributes to the global warming.
“Eco-driving” especially important in winter
Small efforts build the basis for energy conservation. If you reduce idling by 10 minutes a day, you can conserve about 50 liters of fuel per year. It is a good practice to shut off the engine when your vehicle is going to be stopped for more than a minute. For example, you are recommended to turn off your vehicle in the following situations: when persons/ loads are getting in and out of a car, when you make a quick purchase at a convenience store, when
you stop by a gas station, and so on. Many people have a habit to idle their vehicles on cold winter days to keep the engines warm, so that they can make a smooth start. However, with advanced technologies used in modern vehicles, such practice is considered insignificant.
Reducing CO2 emission by using Eco bags (Reusable shopping bags)
Plastic shopping bags are very handy as they are fairly strong, light, and can be used as waste bags, but they pose problems for global warming. Plastic bags are made of plastic materials such as polyethylene, and they emit enormous amounts of CO2 on their production and incineration.
Do not forget to bring your own bag !
On average, a person uses 230 plastic bags per year. Carrying a reusable bag conserves the equivalent amount of petroleum which was otherwise used for those plastic bags, and the conservation results in about 58 kg reduction of annual CO2 emission per household. These days, some supermarkets have a “No bag, please” card which can be used as a sign to refuse plastic bags at cashier. Let us take good advantages of these items!
The reusable bag is convenient and eco-friendly, but it is easy to forget carrying it. It may be a good idea to prepare an extra reusable bag in your handbag or in your car.
Let’s practice “Uchi Eco” through winter meal!
During cold winter, hot-pot may be an excellent choice for a family dinner. Having a variety of ingredients, it provides good nutrient balance and is effective in warming your body. We should also note the fact that it is easy to cook! Now, I would like to introduce you an earth-friendly way to enjoy hot-pot.
6 guidelines to eat hot-pot
1. Warm your body with hot-pot, and decrease the heating temperature.
When your body warms up as you eat hot-pot, minimize the use of heating devices, or decrease the heating temperature, instead of dressing lightly.
2. Cook the hot-pot efficiently Remember to place the lid on the pot while cooking. By placing the lid, the heat conducts well to ingredients and it saves time for cooking.
3. Invite everyone to eat together As everyone in a house gathers in one room, you can switch off the lights and the heaters of empty rooms, reducing energy loss.
4. Control the flame while cooking
When cooking with gas, check the condition of flame to make sure it does not protrude from the bottom of the pot. The part protruding from the bottom of the pot results in the waste of energy.
5. Choose wisely the cooking utensils
Choose a pot with a wide bottom. The wide bottom offers more surface area to the flame, which increases heating efficiency and saves time for cooking.
6. Bring your own bag or Furoshiki
When shopping for food ingredients, refuse the use of plastic bags by bringing your own bag or furoshiki (Japanese traditional cloth used for wrapping or carrying). Also, when buying vegetables or meat, choose the products with fewer wrappings.
Reduce CO2 emission by setting the heating temperature one degree below usual
Having the coldest winter in Japan, stoves and other heating devices are the necessities for the life in Hokkaido. However, both kerosene stove and electric heaters emit CO2 as long as energy is consumed. Let us have a minute to ponder about the use of these energy-consuming devices that enhance global warming.
A degree decrease has a great impact!
Although unfriendly to the environment, we can not survive the winter in Hokkaido without heaters. To begin with, let us reconsider the usual set temperature of heaters. Say that you normally set the heaters at 23 ℃ every winter, try adjusting it to 22 ℃. The result would be the 88 kg reduction of CO2 emission per household per year. A degree decrease can also save the light and heating expenses. It is worth trying, thinking the recent steep rise in gasoline and kerosene prices.
Reduce the amount of waste to reduce CO2 emission
“Diet” is always a hot topic. Many people who are concerned about health and beauty work hard on their diet. Now, how about starting a “waste diet” concerned about the Earth? In addition to reducing your weight, let’s try reducing waste. A lifestyle that generates less household wastes and uses limited resources with care is called “Reduce”.
Let’s start “Waste Diet” for the Earth!
Burning of wastes generates large amount of CO2. “Reducing” not only lessens the amount of CO2 generated, but at the same time conserves energy used for the transportation of wastes. “Reducing” has more benefits other than conservation of resources and energy. By reducing the amount of paper used and thrown, we can protect precious forest resources, as well as promoting the forest’s function as CO2 sink. In order to prevent global warming, let us employ these “Reducing” in our everyday life.
CO2 reduction through the use of Eco Rail Mark
In addition to foods, other products such as daily necessities and electric appliances can also be transported with less CO2 emission. Not many people know, but railway freight is an environmentally friendly transportation means.“Eco transportation” brings kindness to the Earth
In comparison to the transportation means using trucks, railway freight transportation uses less energy per load. The railway transportation emits only one seventh of the amount of CO2 compared to the business-use trucks, and only one fifties compared to the private-use trucks!! We can therefore say that the railway transportation is“Eco-friendly transportation”. The Eco Rail Mark shown at the left recognizes the products that use railway freight to contribute to the protection of global environment. Recently, more and more products are being marked with this Eco Rail Mark. Just like the long continuing railroad, Eco Rail Mark is also extending its network further beyond.Household appliances’ tales of time now past
Household appliances now, and in old days.Let us compare the differences in electricity consumption and electricity charges.
Television
Released in 1998
Sharp Color TV 32 CHE1
- Annual electricity consumption: 224 kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 4.928 yen
Released in 2008
Sharp color liquid crystal TV LC32D30
- Annual electricity consumption: 120kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 2,640 yen
- Cuts 47% of annual electricity consumption!
- 2, 288 yen cheaper annual electricity charges!
Refrigerator
Released in 1998
Toshiba refrigerator GR-Y48KC
- Annual electricity consumption: 850 kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 18,700 yen
Released in 2008
Toshiba refrigerator (555L) GR-X56FT
- Annual electricity consumption: 480 kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 10,560 yen
- Cuts 44% of annual electricity consumption!
- 8,140 yen cheaper annual electricity charges!
Air conditioner
Released in 1998
Mitsubishi air conditioner MSZ-FX408S
- Annual electricity consumption: 1,863kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 41,000 yen
Released in 2008
Mitsubishi air conditioner MSZ-ZW408S
- Annual electricity consumption: 1,404kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 30,900 yen
- Cuts 25% of annual electricity consumption!
- 10,100 yen cheaper annual electricity charges!
Laundry machine
Released in 2001
National fully automatic laundry machine NAF802P
National fully automatic tumble-dryer NHD502
- Annual electricity consumption: 2,063 kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 45,400 yen
Released in 2008
National tumble-dryer NA-VR2200L
- Annual electricity consumption: 436kWh
- Annual electricity charges: 9,600 yen
- Cuts 79% of annual electricity consumption!
- 35,800 yen cheaper annual electricity charges!
The less, the merrier! Reduce 1.1kg CO2 every day
CO2 emissions from Hokkaido swell with heating. As the temperature drops, saving oil and electricity would be eco- and budget-friendly. 1. Set the room temperature 1C lower (saves 521g CO2; 21yen) 2. Use floor-to-ceiling curtains (saves 270 CO2; 11 yen) 3. Switch from candescent to fluorescent light bulb (saves 53g; 3 yen) 4. Shorten your TV-time by 1 hour (saves 96g CO2; 5 yen) 5. Keep the lid closed for a heated-seat toilet (saves 63g COs; 3 yen) Total: saves 1,003kg CO2 (43 yen) - Reference: Hokkaido government “Companion to Environmental Actions for Hokkaido Citizens and Businesses” (April 2008)
- Reference material: Ministry of the Environment “White Paper on Environment and Recycling-oriented Society 2008”, Hokkaido government “Companion to Environmental Actions for Hokkaido Citizens and Businesses