Japan_Power consumption falls

Japan_Power consumption falls

Japan is braced for a summer of electricity shortages after the earthquake and tsunami in March.
 
The country relied on nuclear power for 30% of its supply.
 
But the Fukushima plant was disabled by the disaster, and another nuclear plant at Hamaoka has been shut down because of safety fears.
 
Tokyo‘s electronics shops are busy these days with customers looking for energy efficient gadgets.
 
The earthquake has left Japan with an electricity shortage, so people have been urged to use it sparingly.
 
At Bic Camera, a huge multi-storey building in the Yurakucho district, demand began to pick up the week after the earthquake and tsunami.
 
Popular lights
 
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“Start Quote
 
I don‘t think any of us imagined we would lose the power supply because of a natural disaster like we did”
End Quote Junichi Nonaka Kirin brewery
The latest lines of eco-fridges are selling well.
 
Also popular is a new range of air conditioners, which can sense when people are in the room, and whether they are being active or sitting still, and adjust the cooling output accordingly.
 
The machines even send a message to the remote control to remind people to shut the doors and windows if they detect a draught of warm air.
 
"The interest level has risen quite a bit," says salesman Kai Fujiwara.
 
"If you are talking about [energy efficient] LED lights alone, it‘s twice as much as before the quake. LED lights are expensive, 20 or 40 times more than ordinary light bulbs, but people are buying 10 at a time."
Power consumption falls
The Japanese have a large appetite for power.
 
Tepco, which serves Tokyo and the surrounding area, used to boast it sold more electricity than was consumed in all of Italy.
Demand for energy efficient gadgets is picking up
But sales have fallen sharply along with this new enthusiasm for frugality.
 
Tepco produced, or bought from other utilities, 15.3% less electricity in April compared with the same month last year.
 
Tohoku Electric, which serves the badly hit north east, saw its capacity fall by 19.3%.