Eco-Points For Consumers in Japan
Japan has introduced an Eco-Point system that gives you discounts:
6,000-9,000 points if you buy a new air conditioner, depending on cooling power
3,000-10,000 points if you buy a new refrigerator depending on capacity
7,000-36,000 points if you buy a new television depending on the size of screen
If you want to reduce CO2 emissions, and replace an old airconditioner, this could be a good time to do some research.
Details here (in Japanese only)
Application forms are available at retail stores and post offices. You can also get more points if you recycle your old stuff: for example, your old fridge may be worth 5,000 points. A brochure of goods exchangeable with Eco-Points can be found at the website (http://eco-points.jp). Copies of the brochures are also put at electric appliance retail stores and post offices. The deadline for exchanging Eco-Points for goods is set at the end of March 2012.
So, how much is one Eco-Point worth? This is where things get tricky. For example, 13,500 eco-points may be exchanged for 12,000 yen stored in your Suica electronic money card. Strange! Why not make one point worth one yen? Well, 5,000 points are exchangeable for 5,000 yen worth of department store coupons. Clearly, the government wants you to go and do more shopping, using your Eco-Points.
Kyodo/Breitbart:'Eco-points' ready for registration, exchanges of goods
In May, Asahi was unhappy with this program, reminding everyone that we, the tax payers are the ones that are paying for it:
While the program may be beneficial for consumers, the 295 billion yen necessary for this system is, in the end, a burden of 2,500 yen for each individual citizen. In addition, more government money will be necessary for administrative procedures to exchange the items for points and print huge numbers of catalogs.
6,000-9,000 points if you buy a new air conditioner, depending on cooling power
3,000-10,000 points if you buy a new refrigerator depending on capacity
7,000-36,000 points if you buy a new television depending on the size of screen
If you want to reduce CO2 emissions, and replace an old airconditioner, this could be a good time to do some research.
Details here (in Japanese only)
Application forms are available at retail stores and post offices. You can also get more points if you recycle your old stuff: for example, your old fridge may be worth 5,000 points. A brochure of goods exchangeable with Eco-Points can be found at the website (http://eco-points.jp). Copies of the brochures are also put at electric appliance retail stores and post offices. The deadline for exchanging Eco-Points for goods is set at the end of March 2012.
So, how much is one Eco-Point worth? This is where things get tricky. For example, 13,500 eco-points may be exchanged for 12,000 yen stored in your Suica electronic money card. Strange! Why not make one point worth one yen? Well, 5,000 points are exchangeable for 5,000 yen worth of department store coupons. Clearly, the government wants you to go and do more shopping, using your Eco-Points.
Kyodo/Breitbart:'Eco-points' ready for registration, exchanges of goods
In May, Asahi was unhappy with this program, reminding everyone that we, the tax payers are the ones that are paying for it:
While the program may be beneficial for consumers, the 295 billion yen necessary for this system is, in the end, a burden of 2,500 yen for each individual citizen. In addition, more government money will be necessary for administrative procedures to exchange the items for points and print huge numbers of catalogs.
Comments
It would make some sense if one had to show that the purchase would reduce energy consumption. But what if someone replaces an small old refrigerator with a much larger one that consumes more energy? Same with TVs. Or people who have gotten by without AC go out and buy one? All of that would actually increase CO2 emissions, not to mention the energy used to mine the materials and manufacture the goods. Slapping an "eco" happy face on it does not impress me.
This is just a stimulus attempt to benefit manufacturing.
The government needs to do better - a whole lot better. And soon.