Life in Japan

Reducing energy use in your home saves you money and reduces the pollution emitted from non-renewable sources. With the prices of power rising in Japan, you can save yourself some significant coin if you learn to reduce your usage at home! Switch off, and unplug electrical devices when not in use. Check the power settings on your appliances; TVs, for example, will often go into standby rather than turn off. Unplugging your TV is the best option, though. Turn down the temperature in the refrigerator; many people keep it too cold anyway and end up with frozen milk. (Leftovers and Food Safety by USDA) Let frozen food thaw well in advance without using the microwave. (Leftovers and Food Safety by USDA) Turn down the temp on the hot water heater. In summer in Nagoya, you do not need hot water anyway! Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket. I used one of those foam mats you sit on at festivals; it cost me 500 yen. Try to use a fan instead of an air conditioner. Don’t try to cool the whole house; shut off the room you are using and run the air conditioner only in there. (If you must…