They Conserve...

...so we don't have to.

Japanese Putting All Their Energy Into Saving Fuel

KAMIITA, Japan -- When the Japanese government issued a national battle cry against soaring global energy prices this winter, no one heeded the call to arms more than this farming town in the misty mountains of western Japan.

To save on energy, local officials shut off the heating system in the town hall, leaving themselves and 100 workers no respite from near-freezing temperatures. On a recent frosty morning, rows of desks were brimming with employees bundled in coats and wool blankets while nursing thermoses of hot tea. To cut back on gasoline use, officials say, most of the town's 13,000 citizens are strictly obeying a nationwide call to turn off car engines while idling, particularly when stopped at traffic lights.

That's getting a bit carried away, granted. But maybe we could do just a little better ourselves? How about tax incentives for driving fuel-efficient cars and penalties for gas-guzzling SUVs? What about increased funding for efficient transportation modes like rail and mass transit? Is that so hard?

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