Chile’s Bid to Save Energy: Men, Take off Your Ties1 It’s the Chilean government’s latest slogan2: Welcome to Chile, take off your tie.
But it’s not an invitation to sit down and relax―it’s a call3 to save energy.
As the summer kicks off in the southern hemisphere, Chile’s energy ministry launched the campaign,4 “In summer, take off your tie” in an effort to save $10 million in four months. The thinking goes something like this: If buildings use less air conditioning―letting temperatures rise between one and three degrees Celsius5―energy costs could go down by over three percent, representing million-dollar savings.
“This small measure will help the country’s energy efficiency. Reducing the use of air conditioning will lead to energy savings,” energy minister Rodrigo Alvarez said in a statement.
The older generation might balk6. A suit without a tie? How unfinished! But in men’s fashion circles across the world, ideas for summer suits without ties abound7. And in many parts of Latin America, forget the tie. In fact, forget the suit altogether. Men in tropical climes have long opted for the practical and elegant shirt instead.8
Chile’s authorities point out that they are taking a cue from Japan and Spain, where earlier no-tie initiatives were tried as energysaving measures.9
1. Chile: 智利（南美洲国家）；bid:（为争取某物而作出的）努力。
2. slogan: 标语，口号。
3. call: 号召，召唤。
4. kick off: 开始；hemisphere: 地球的半球；campaign:（为取得某种结果而进行的政治、商业或社会性的）运动，活动。
5. Celsius: 摄氏温度。
6. balk: 畏缩不前，犹豫。
7. abound: 大量存在。
8. tropical: 热带的；opt: 选择；practical: 实用的。
9. take a cue from sb.: 学某人的样；initiative: 主动的行动，倡议。