Feb. 27, 2008 - Seven-Eleven Japan, the largest convenience store chain in Japan, is counteracting skyrocketing electricity costs with a series of energy-saving upgrades to lighting, heating and cooling systems, and refrigeration equipment, Daily Yomiuri Online reports.

Energy-efficient initiatives include switching to light-reflecting ceramic floors that reduce the number of fluorescent bulbs required for adequate lighting (from 85 to 63 in a typical store) and installing condensation-proof refrigerator glass that eliminates the need for internal fans in cold-storage equipment. Seven-Eleven estimates that these two steps alone can cut each store's annual power consumption by 5% - a greenhouse gas savings of about 3.3 tons.

Seven-Eleven currently operates more than 10,000 stores in Japan. So far the company has installed ceramic flooring in 2,000 stores, with plans to upgrade an additional 1,000 stores each year.

Seven-Eleven Japan is not the only convenience store operator in its pursuit of energy-saving, cost-lowering strategies. Lawson Inc., Japan's second-largest chain, has installed reflecting surfaces on signboards to reduce lighting requirements, and third-place Family Mart circulates exhaust heat from refrigerators to help heat the store in cold weather.