# Section 2 Initiatives at Home

As many of today’s environmental problems are attributable to our daily living and business activities, it is of great importance that efforts be made to reduce environmental load at home where we carry out our daily activities. Residential energy consumption is increasing yearly along with the growing number of households and diffusion of home electrical appliances. $ CO_{2} $ emissions from energy consumption by the residential sector account for approximately 14% of all Japanese $ CO_{2} $ emissions from energy consumption. The amount has increased by approximately 30% from the base year (FY1990) of the Kyoto Protocol, marking a substantial growth rate compared with other sectors.

To cultivate “people” who can help build a sustainable society, the home plays an integral role. Home is the place where small efforts can gradually produce big effects. It is where a slight shift in one’s point of view can reduce environmental load while achieving “high quality of life” or “enjoyable life.” Furthermore, as home discipline such as “turning off lights,” “not brushing teeth with water running,” and “using things with care” help to instill the idea of mottainai, it can be said that the home is the starting point of nurturing “people” needed for the sustainable future.

CO₂ Emissions by Sector

1. The inner circle shows the percentage (figures in lower parentheses) of direct emissions of each sector, and the outer circle shows the percentage (upper figures) after allotment of emissions resulting from power generation by electric utility companies and emissions resulting from heat generation by heat service utilities to final demand sectors, according to their electric consumption and heat consumption.

Source: Ministry of the Environment

2. Due to statistical error and rounding, the sum of percentages of emissions may not necessarily add up to 100%.

3. “Other” includes fugitive emissions from fuels and electricity and heat allotment errors.

## Examples of Simple Efforts at Home

## Shopping and Wastes

• Bring your own shopping bag

• Select eco products

• Make use of lease and rental services

• Make use of recycle shops

• Decline any unnecessary wrapping

• Sort wastes

## Transportation and Vehicles

• Walk or use bicycles for short distances

• Use trains for travel

• Avoid jackrabbit starts and quick acceleration

• Eliminate unnecessary loads on cars

• Avoid unnecessary idling

• Avoid revving

• Make use of car sharing

## Food, Clothing and Housing

• First, adjust temperature by changing clothing

• No neckties and jackets in the summer

• Eat vegetables and food in season

• Reduce kitchen waste

• Learn eco cooking

• Use sunshades in the summer

Source: Ministry of the Environment

## Water

• Turn off the water when brushing teeth

• Reduce shower time by a minute a day

• Use leftover bath water for other purposes

• Do full loads of laundry

• Use appropriate measures of detergents

• Use a bucket rather than running water when washing a car

## Energy

• Turn off main power when not in use

• Unplug appliances to reduce standby power

• Set air conditioners to 28 ℃

• Plan programs before watching TV

• Don’t use “keep warm” feature of electric rice cookers/warmers and electric pots

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs

• Select energy-saving home electrical appliances

## Others

• Use things with care

• Plant trees in the garden

• Make a biotope in the garden

• Enjoy nature on holidays

• Study about environmental problems

• Teach children about the environment