ENERGY TECH
Japan invites Asia to join "Cool Biz" energy saving drive

Japanese Environment Minister Yuriko Koike (2nd R) and sales clerks in Japanese traditional summer wear, "Yukata", water beside a rooftop garden while visiting the "Cool Biz" fashion campaign at a departement store in Tokyo, 19 July 2005. The Japanese government leads the "Cool Biz" campaign to put casual wears to save the environment. Photo courtesy of Toshifumi Kitamura and AFP.
by Staff Writers
 Tokyo (AFP) May 17, 2006
Japan on Wednesday encouraged the rest of Asia to join its anti-global warming "Cool Biz" campaign, a government-led drive to dress casually to reduce the use of air-conditioners in the summer.

Yuriko Koike, the minister of the environment, said she will organize a fashion show, called "Cool Asia 2006," here on May 31 to showcase energy-saving clothes from the region.

The Japanese government will continue the program this year and has encouraged private businesses to follow suit.

Koike said the government would instruct its employees to dress lightly -- even without ties -- and set the temperature of their air-conditioned offices at 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 F) from June 1 to September 30.

"It is my mission to build an environmentally advanced country with a virtuous circle of the environment and the economy," said Koike, a former newscaster who introduced the program.

She also promoted wider use of traditional Japanese "furoshiki" wrapping -- plain square pieces of cloth that can be used to carry goods.

"I propose that furoshiki replace plastic bags," she said.

Koike said furoshiki can be made by recycling used cloth.

In 2005, the Cool Biz drive helped reduce 460,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is equal to the emissions discharged by about one million households per month.

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