Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRI) conducted an analysis of the influence of clothing style on indoor air conditioning: a regulated seasonal shift from jackets and ties in favor of casual wear can have a noticeable impact on domestic energy consumption, good for the climate and cost reduction.

An analysis of data for Uzbekistan showed that reducing the temperature of air conditioners by 2 degrees in the premises would save 293 million kWh of electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 155.8 thousand tons of CO2.

Space cooling accounts for 10% (2,000 TWh) of global electricity consumption and nearly 4% of annual greenhouse gas emissions (1,950 Mt).

Increasing the temperature of the air conditioner (in cooling mode) by 1°C saves 7% of electricity consumption, and wearing light clothing increases the ideal room temperature by two degrees Celsius.

The range of comfortable temperature varies from 23.5°C (for a worker in a suit) to 29°C (summer clothes). But often the thermostat control is set to the lower limit, as a result of which a significant part of the workers wear warm clothes even on the hottest days of the year.

Some countries are trying to avoid the need for air conditioners to keep suit and tie workers at a comfortable temperature and to move away from jackets and ties in favor of casual wear. A prime example would be:

Japan has an annual government-led campaign, Cool Biz, to help save energy by encouraging a change in dress codes in offices.

South Korea has also been implementing a similar Cool Biz campaign since 2006.

The UN Secretary-General launched the "Cool UN" initiative to reduce energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of the UN Headquarters in New York.

In Shanghai’s Lujiazui District, 32 participating office buildings changed their business suits and ties to light clothing and raised the room temperature to 26°C.

Dressing "for the season" means dressing for the weather and dressing according to comfort. The benefits of this will be especially noticeable for domestic energy consumption, and it will also be beneficial both for the climate and for reducing costs.