Energy Savings Kaizen: Switch on to UseBy Jon Miller | Post Date: September 13, 2010 4:37 PM | Comments: 6
Energy cost is high, so they also pay attention to the wise use of energy resources in Japan. Staying many nights in many hotels in many countries, this refrigerator on-off switch with energy conscious instruction label was a first. The focus of many energy treasure hunts is to "turn it off" when the appliance or machine is not being used. The focus is to stop wasteful energy use. The condition of hotel refrigerators is that they are not used much of the time, but always drawing energy to keep the space cool. In this hotel the default condition for refrigerators is "off" until a guest needs to use it. This energy kaizen is simple and obvious but effective. Jon. Poster: Joseph | Post Date: September 14, 2010 8:20 AM Joseph, Even though you moved the discussion in a different direction your point is a good one. The hypocrisy seems clear, however we can't assume that the same people who are promoting the green method above are killing the whales. In fact, maybe the only thing they have in common is that they are Japanese. Just like Rush Limbaugh and I are Americans it doesn't mean I agree with him. In fact, I disagree with most everything that man says and stands for. Yet, if someone judged me based on what he says and does, just because I am an American, I would think that their judgment was unfair. I certainly agree with you, though, that what SOME Japanese fishing boats are doing to whales and other species is horrific. Very tragic. Poster: Mark Welch | Post Date: September 14, 2010 11:54 AM Hi Ron. Interesting question. I wonder if the same argument could be made for leaving the lights, heat / air conditioning, hot water, background music, television on all of the time? Joseph - the Japanese are more socially conscious in some areas than people in some other countries, and less so in other areas. Everyone needs to take the best from everyone. Hard to do when we can't agree on what is good. Poster: Jon Miller | Post Date: September 14, 2010 2:34 PM Mark. If the government that represents your people takes an action then you can not wash your hands of what they are doing. There are no innocents when the government has made a decision. The Japanese government is supporting the eradication of Whales. So the Japanese people will have to shoulder the collective blame when they are all gone. On the subject of Mr Limbaugh. If your government supports his right to free speech then you must all take a portion of that decision when it goes wrong. He chose to insult a peoples religion. As a man of God he must understand the reaction that this brings from people who have A TRUE RELIGION. People have given their lives to and for most of the worlds religions. I am not Muslim but all people's beliefs should be respected. Jon. Poster: Joseph | Post Date: September 19, 2010 1:03 PM Hi Joseph I'm with you on the whaling issue. Jon Poster: Jon Miller | Post Date: September 19, 2010 8:28 PM |



It would be interesting to do a study on how much energy is used to "cool it down" once the switch is flipped. Now, if there are rarely guests who use it then, yes, this seems to be a great idea. But if it is being constantly turned on and off I wonder how energy efficient this really is since the fridge no doubt has to work very hard to get it cooled down from the "warm state." Interesting idea though!