Tokyo promotes shorts in offices to fight extreme heat

Published on June 01, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

The metropolitan government of Tokyo has launched a campaign encouraging workers to wear shorts during the summer, aiming to reduce air conditioning usage and alleviate energy costs. The initiative seeks to modernize the formal dress code, offering greater thermal comfort in offices and significant savings on electricity bills for companies and employees.

modern office interior in Tokyo, workers wearing tailored shorts and short-sleeve shirts while standing near large windows, sunlight streaming in, digital thermostat on wall showing high temperature, an employee adjusting a desktop fan, another gesturing toward a smart AC unit with power-saving mode display, laptops open with energy consumption graphs, plants on desks for natural cooling, cinematic photorealistic style, warm golden lighting, sweat droplets visible on skin, relaxed professional atmosphere, ultra-detailed textures on clothing and office equipment, dramatic contrast between indoor brightness and shaded areas

Thermal Efficiency and HVAC System Load Reduction 🌡️

The measure directly impacts climate control engineering. By allowing employees to wear lighter clothing, the setpoint temperature of air conditioners can be raised by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius without sacrificing perceived comfort. This reduces the system's thermal load, decreasing electricity consumption and extending the lifespan of compressors. A simple adjustment that, applied on a large scale, generates tangible savings on the power grid during peak demand.

Goodbye Tie, Hello Knees in the Breeze 🦵

The transition won't be easy for veteran office workers, accustomed to sweating buckets inside their three-piece suits. Now, the biggest corporate dilemma won't be closing a deal, but deciding whether hairy knees are acceptable in a board meeting. Of course, caution is recommended when crossing legs: a sudden move, and the promotion to manager could be exposed.