Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Won't Miss #119 - lack of insulation

Insulation tape meant to help with the drafts coming from the corners of windows and doors.

Japanese houses and apartments in Tokyo are notorious for their lack of insulation. That means that they are leaking air in both directions every season. This means you have to waste energy trying to keep the place warm or cool. You can choose to constantly run your appliances to control temperature or be uncomfortable. The reason for this is the use of cheap construction materials and the general attitude that homes are disposable. People don't want to invest in expensive insulation when they're going to tear down the buildings every 20-30 years.

I won't miss the lack of insulation and the wastefulness that goes along with it.