While the use of air conditioning can provide relief from the sweltering heat, it comes at a cost. In a country where campaigners highlight the lack of progress in energy efficiency for buildings, the increased use of AC leads to higher electricity bills and a rise in carbon emissions.
“The intense heat takes a toll on children’s outdoor playtime, with teachers urging them to stay hydrated throughout the day,” shared Yuriko Takahashi, a teacher at a Tokyo elementary school. She added, “Even when outdoor physical education classes are held, the students return to sweltering classrooms, which is far from ideal.”
Japan has been experiencing record-breaking temperatures, with this July being the hottest in 126 years. The heat has proven deadly, claiming 59 lives since April, according to the disaster management agency. Last year, a similar trend was observed, with September being the hottest on record as students resumed classes after the summer break.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with temperatures soaring to nearly 40 degrees Celsius in recent days. Hospitals have been inundated with a record number of heatstroke patients, as reported by NHK. With summer arriving earlier each year, schools are facing the challenge of ensuring their students’ comfort and well-being.
Many school buildings in Japan are aging and lack sufficient insulation, leading to inefficiencies in cooling. “The issue is not just the age of the buildings but also the inadequate insulation,” said Kazue Suzuki, a climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace. “The required level of insulation in new constructions will still be insufficient, falling short of global energy efficiency standards.”
The Katsushika ward in Tokyo has taken initiative by renovating classrooms in two schools. By adding extra insulation and installing heat exchanger devices, they’ve significantly improved cooling efficiency while reducing energy consumption. Takatoshi Kimura, an official in charge of facility renovation, noted that they also doubled the windows as part of their efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Teacher Takahashi sums up the impact of the heat on students’ daily lives: “The extreme temperatures have disrupted simple pleasures, like playing in the schoolyard, and made what used to be routine parts of a student’s day more challenging.”
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