Electricity prices are set to hit the highest level in five years this month on the back of energy market chaos set off by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a development that will likely cause even more financial pain for consumers in Japan, which is set for a scorching summer with above-average temperatures.

The nation's 10 major utility firms announced earlier this year that electricity rates in June were set to jump between about 10% and 20% from the previous year, prompting some municipalities to take action, from providing relief to households and businesses to offering tips on how to save energy.

For instance, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government kicked off a campaign last week to encourage people to use easy, free or low-cost means to improve energy efficiency, such as adjusting air conditioner settings or covering windows, thereby helping to save energy and money.

Refrigerators, air conditioners and lighting account for about 50% of the electricity consumed at home. So how can we reduce energy consumption at home or in the office?

Set your air conditioner at 28 degrees Celsius

On the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s website, it explains that the setting would limit air conditioning usage and thus help save ¥1,000 annually. On top of that, cleaning air conditioning filters twice a month would also help save another ¥1,000 per year.

Change the setting of your refrigerator

Authorities suggest that changing the temperature setting from "high" to "medium" would help reduce energy use by 1.8%, enabling savings of around ¥2,000 per year. Meanwhile, placing the fridge 2 centimeters from the wall would help save around ¥1,480 annually, as it would help reduce energy use by 1.3%.

Switch to LED lighting

Lighting fixtures use up a lot of electricity in the home.

Tokyo has been promoting LED lighting as an effective energy-saving measure for several years, encouraging residents to replace their incandescent lighting fixtures with LED lights to cut power consumption by about half. For example, replacing three lighting fixtures with LEDs would help save around ¥6,600 per year.

In May 2017, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike posted a video on YouTube of herself and Pikotaro, creator of the ditty “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen,” singing and dancing to promote the campaign.

Buy eco-friendly equipment

According to Tokyo government data, replacing a 10-year-old 401- to 450-liter refrigerator would save ¥6,500 per year, or ¥65,000 over 10 years.

The metropolitan government is encouraging residents to apply for gift coupons worth up to ¥21,000 to replace old refrigerators and air conditioners. Applications are accepted online or by mail.

Choose solar energy to power your home

Given Japan's goal of a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by April 2030, as well as its higher goal of 50%, the government has been pushing the adoption of solar panels installations on all new public buildings as part of efforts to promote renewable energy.

The environment ministry has been promoting the use of solar power through financing arrangements in which a household has solar panels installed for free and then purchases the electricity from the company that installed the panels, or it leases the panels from the firm.