As carbon dioxide emissions from households continue to increase, many businesses have begun putting up Internet Web sites that advise consumers how to save energy for free.

According to the Environment Ministry, household carbon dioxide emissions in fiscal 2003, which ended on March 31, 2004, were about 30 percent higher than the level for fiscal 1990.

This was attributed chiefly to the increase in the number of nuclear families and greater use of household electric appliances.