TOKYO: A powerful heat wave has been pushing up sales of air conditioners in Japan.

Shipments of air conditioners in July jumped 18 percent year on year to 1,306,000 units, up for four consecutive months, according to data from the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association.

Households are rushing to buy energy-saving products as replacements to curb soaring electricity bills. Demand in cold regions is also rising.

Sales are expected to remain robust as the heat wave is forecast to linger.

The average temperature in April this year hit record highs in regions including the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and the Tokai central region, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. This led to higher demand for air conditioners.

In July, the average temperature in the nation rose to the highest level for the month since the start of statistics in 1898, giving a boost to air conditioner sales.

According to air conditioner makers, power-saving models are popular among consumers.

Selling well at Daikin Industries Ltd. are Urusara X series products capable of automatic power-saving operations.

Fujitsu General Ltd. is seeing strong sales of Nocria W series products that meet the government’s new energy-saving standards.

Also supporting air conditioner sales are local governments’ subsidies for purchases of energy-saving consumer electronics.

Air conditioners are said to account for about 30 percent of electricity consumption by households. Consumers are keen to reduce electricity bills, a public relations official at Daikin said.

With the scorching heat leading to longer use of air conditioners, consumers are paying greater attention to power-saving capabilities, industry sources said.

An increasing number of people in cold areas are also starting to install air conditioners in their houses to prevent heatstroke.

In October, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. plans to release new products from its “Kirigamine” brand featuring enhanced power-saving capabilities in both cooling and heating with a function to estimate desired comfort levels of people inside the room from their pulse and automatically adjust temperatures.

The company will also launch a product whose outdoor unit does not freeze even in very cold weather, a feature enabling the air conditioner to continue to provide heating.

JIJI Press