In Japan, the government has launched a campaign to make office temperatures less frigid. Thailand has mostly failed at such campaigns. But this does not mean it is too late for the government to come up with a long-term strategy to reduce excessive consumption through unnecessarily cold air-conditioning, as well as reducing the number of unnecessary air-conditioners where possible.

Buildings and homes can be designed to be less dependent on air-conditioners, and more accommodating to the tropical environment. Incentives and a drive to achieve this should be a priority for the government. This will entail appropriate use of building and construction materials that are more heat resistant and more reflective of heat. Providing more green space in offices, homes and shopping malls, while choosing plants that are not dependent on intensive watering, is also necessary.

Green architecture and green landscaping can result in considerably reduced carbon dioxide emission levels for Bangkok. The government, along with the departments of architecture and urban planning of various universities, should work in tandem to promote green architecture and make it a reality. We should not be content with having just a few showcase projects to reflect this effort. Incentives, awards and recognition should be given to those who contribute to such efforts.

One thing that people often overlook about the excessive use of air-conditioners is that, while making the inside temperatures cool or cold, they release hot air into the outdoor environment, thus making the wider air temperature higher. Perhaps the government and environmental NGOs ought to consider the possibility of a tax being levied on buildings that use too many air-conditioners unnecessarily. This would be in line with the need to charge for water-treatment fees or garbage collection. Air-conditioners are adding a heat burden to the public environment. This might help reduce the irresponsible attitude of some people who think that simply because they can afford to buy many air-conditioners, and pay for the electricity bill, they can simply turn on as many as they like, at the lowest temperature possible, without having to worry about the environment.

The opposite of this is nurturing green domestic and commercial areas that naturally generate a cooler micro-climate in the immediate vicinity. But it is true that developers and consumers need incentives, support and recognition from the local government in order not to be tempted to utilise every square centimetre of space for commerce and to pave communal areas over with concrete.