Climate Cafe

Japan’s 24-hour convenience stores, may need to limit business hours and close the stores late at night. Saitama, which borders Tokyo, may follow in the footsteps of Kyoto and urge convenience stores to close during late night hours in an effort to limit carbon dioxide emissions, Japanese media reported. Collectively it might be time for all of us to reconsider the 24 Hour Convenience lifestyle which as only become the norm in North America over the last few decades.

Perhaps each person as a consumer, can question their need to have access to goods around the clock and make a lifestyle change and wait for the next day in order to make convenience purchases. The other hand-in-hand issue might be to reconsider the idea of Sunday shopping. If we only have 6 days to shop instead of 7 each week wouldn’t we logically spend the same amount of money, but compress that spending into 6 days, leading to greater efficiency in retail store operations?

Northern Edge Algonquin , a nature retreat in Ontario, Canada has hours of operation which are limited to 5 days (Monday - Friday). This limits registration for vacation retreats and adventures but staff appreciate the lifestyle opportunities that come with focusing registrations to the week. Likewise, the solar powered nature retreat holds most events on long weekends (Thursday-Sunday) allowing the business operation to close for what has traditionally been slower times.

Just think about your 24 hours of convenience, what lifestyle changes could you make to lessen your carbon output?