Comments on: Japanese Government: speed up your showers and baths! http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/ Japan News Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:10:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: James http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178891 James Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:40:56 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178891 Stand-alone dehumidifiers could also work, and use less energy than air conditioning. Many people in America do waste a lot of energy by running their air conditioning all the time in summer, but houses with good insulation tend to remain cool inside and cut down on AC power usage. Stand-alone dehumidifiers could also work, and use less energy than air conditioning.

Many people in America do waste a lot of energy by running their air conditioning all the time in summer, but houses with good insulation tend to remain cool inside and cut down on AC power usage.

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]]> By: Name http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178877 Name Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:10:58 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178877 oh really? I was told in the US things are so the best ... heheh ... but seriously... one can fights humidity with air condition but it's also energy wasteful, unhealthy /allergies etc/ and annoying /like big stores during summer in Japan/ ... oh really? I was told in the US things are so the best … heheh … but seriously… one can fights humidity with air condition but it’s also energy wasteful, unhealthy /allergies etc/ and annoying /like big stores during summer in Japan/ …

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]]> By: Level3 http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178725 Level3 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:08:05 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178725 It may seem high but it's true. Hot water is a huge chunk of the energy bill because of the relatively large amount of energy needed to heat water, add in the Japanese need to fill an entire bathtub with extra-hot water, but also the (seems crazy to me) practice of showering and washing BEFORE going into the tub. It's extremely wasteful if the pre-wash is done with a showerhead running all the time (just using the wash basin and a tap like the old people do at the sento is not so bad) And the waste is even worse if it's only ONE person using the bath. If they really want to cut down the energy, it would be very simple, abandon the silly tradition of washing yourself perfectly clean before you even get in the tub, at least in private homes. Anotehr simple way, many homes in Japan could easily provide ALL that hot water for free on sunny days with mini-solar hot water heaters on balconies that would at least work great in the summer. It may seem high but it’s true. Hot water is a huge chunk of the energy bill because of the relatively large amount of energy needed to heat water, add in the Japanese need to fill an entire bathtub with extra-hot water, but also the (seems crazy to me) practice of showering and washing BEFORE going into the tub. It’s extremely wasteful if the pre-wash is done with a showerhead running all the time (just using the wash basin and a tap like the old people do at the sento is not so bad) And the waste is even worse if it’s only ONE person using the bath.

If they really want to cut down the energy, it would be very simple, abandon the silly tradition of washing yourself perfectly clean before you even get in the tub, at least in private homes.

Anotehr simple way, many homes in Japan could easily provide ALL that hot water for free on sunny days with mini-solar hot water heaters on balconies that would at least work great in the summer.

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]]> By: helical http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178719 helical Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:20:34 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178719 Bathrooms and kitchens use 39%? Though I could be wrong, I thought the instant gas heaters were quite efficient at using energy for heating water. Better than the water heater constantly draining energy to keep the huge tank of water hot, I thought. But if there's room for improvement, no reason to complain I guess. I personally am not affected by this, since I don't use the tub (too much of a hassle), and I'm pushing my shower time to the limits since I'd rather sleep in every morning that use it for bathing... Bathrooms and kitchens use 39%?
Though I could be wrong, I thought the instant gas heaters were quite efficient at using energy for heating water. Better than the water heater constantly draining energy to keep the huge tank of water hot, I thought.
But if there’s room for improvement, no reason to complain I guess.

I personally am not affected by this, since I don’t use the tub (too much of a hassle), and I’m pushing my shower time to the limits since I’d rather sleep in every morning that use it for bathing…

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]]> By: PlowKing http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178697 PlowKing Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:11:18 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178697 There are places with high humidity in the US and the insulation still works fine. There are places with high humidity in the US and the insulation still works fine.

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]]> By: Name http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178430 Name Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:58:00 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178430 i don't think high insulation works in japan ... it's way too humid .... inside of an apartment will get fungused quickly. i don’t think high insulation works in japan … it’s way too humid …. inside of an apartment will get fungused quickly.

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]]> By: one http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178406 one Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:05:29 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178406 HAHA insulation in a japanese home! This report did not include all those little kerosene heaters that most japanese run 24/7 from november until april or the fact that many homes still use kerosene to heat their bath water. If they properly insulated and sealed their houses they would no longer need all those cute little heaters, electric rugs, electric blankets, or an air conditioner in every room. The huge conglomerate companies would have a shit fit over the huge loss of business and they would probably get destroyed by western companies who offer better products (central air, heat pumps, etc..). Not to mention that thousands of people would possibly gas them selves to death with those little heaters. HAHA insulation in a japanese home!

This report did not include all those little kerosene heaters that most japanese run 24/7 from november until april or the fact that many homes still use kerosene to heat their bath water.

If they properly insulated and sealed their houses they would no longer need all those cute little heaters, electric rugs, electric blankets, or an air conditioner in every room. The huge conglomerate companies would have a shit fit over the huge loss of business and they would probably get destroyed by western companies who offer better products (central air, heat pumps, etc..). Not to mention that thousands of people would possibly gas them selves to death with those little heaters.

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]]> By: david http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/06/04/japanese-government-speed-up-your-showers-and-baths/comment-page-1/#comment-178393 david Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:09:22 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4774#comment-178393 so, does this mean I can get some kind of grant to install Low-E UPVC windows and high quality insulation in our new house which we are about to start to build in the next few months or so. I doubt it...... so, does this mean I can get some kind of grant to install Low-E UPVC windows and high quality insulation in our new house which we are about to start to build in the next few months or so. I doubt it……

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