It’s that time of year again–bonus time, when electrical appliance stores push air conditioners to people who probably already have them. According to government statistics, 90% of Japanese households already have air conditioners installed in their homes, so why do people keep buying new ones? One reason right now is that the government, in order to stimulate consumption, is offering “eco points”–credits that can be used to purchase other things later–for digital TVs, energy-saving refrigerators, and energy-saving air conditioners. The ostensible idea is to promote energy conservation, but it’s difficult to believe that is what is going to happen if everyone buys a new appliance and thus throws their old one away. This seems especially problematic when it comes to aircons, which are heavy and difficult to install and remove. After the jump, an article I wrote for the Asahi Shimbun about air conditioners that still applies. Read More