用电高峰将至 日本全国节约用电

With its power stations still crippled by the recent earthquake and a looming power shortage this summer, Japan is stepping up efforts to save energy. Already many escalators at train stations in Tokyo are at a standstill and some elevators are shut down. Many buildings are also keeping their lights off and their hallways dark. Japanese households have been asked by the government to make sacrifices as well.

"Our objects for the months between July and September will be to cut electricity usage 15% year on year, regardless of whether it is a large lot user, a small lot user, or household user. "

Electronic billboards dotting the city constantly remind Tokyo residents how much capacity is left on the grid. Some people are optimistic that the objective can be met, and Tokyo would avoid a major blackout.

Although Time Square is bright at night, most of its back streets in New York are dark. Compared to that,Tokyo is too much brighter, so I think it will be possible to save up to 15% or even 20%.

Others remain worried, saying that they don't know where to begin to save power.

"When someone tells you that you can save energy by doing this or that, you would probably manage and want to save 15% of electricity, but if left your own devices and forced to figure by yourself, you just wouldn't know where to start."

For Takahiro Tsukakoshi, the efforts are tragic vindication of his 12 year effort to reduce his power consumption. Tsukakoshi says the power crisis is a chance for many who had never thought of saving energy before to give it a try. He uses simple, low-tech method, like fans instead of air-conditioning, insulation and wrapping his lamp shade with aluminum foil, so a low wattage light bulb can provide twice as much illumination.

Japan has recovered from the hardships of wars, save energy during the oil crisis and was capable of doing such things in the past, so these incidents are all opportunities and people are thinking how we are going to survive this summer without energy and if we do survive this summer, the energy saving trend will probably stay longer in Japan.

Tsukakoshi constantly monitors his home's electricity usage and says all these power saving tricks help reduce his power bill by 30%.

Toshi Maeda, Reuters, Tokyo.