Power Conservation May Lead to Higher Mortality Risk, Study Says
- Heatstroke increased in Japan as air conditioning use fell
- Governments should accelerate transition to clean power
The Japanese government has returned to conservation tactics over the last year.
Photographer: Soichiro Koriyama/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Energy conservation policies may lead to higher mortality rates and other public health consequences, a new study shows.
Researchers estimated that about 7,710 people died prematurely in Japan each year during energy savings campaigns in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, as the government sought to avert widespread power shortages. Most of the excess deaths occurred during the hot summer months as elderly residents avoided energy-intensive air conditioning.