As record-high temperatures continue to sweep across Japan, even Hokkaido is experiencing unprecedented heat, with the average temperature in July reaching its highest on record. This has led to increased demand for air conditioners. However, the shortage of installation contractors in Hokkaido, compared to the main island of Honshu, poses a challenge to widespread adoption. To address this, major air conditioning companies like Daikin and Panasonic are actively working to support the expansion of air conditioning installations.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in Sapporo in July was 25.8°C, an increase of 2.5°C from the same month last year. Prior to 2021, temperatures in July typically ranged from 20 to 22°C, showing a sharp rise in recent years.
A Daikin survey indicates that air conditioner penetration in Hokkaido is just below 60%. Although this is a significant increase from the 26.6% reported in a 2014 government survey, it still lags behind the national average of over 90%.
The prolonged low adoption of air conditioners in Hokkaido has resulted in a shortage of installation contractors. In response, air conditioning companies are focusing on developing local installation skills. Daikin, for instance, has donated practice air conditioners to Asahikawa Industrial High School, incorporating installation training into the curriculum. Similar initiatives are planned for other schools in the region.
Panasonic has expanded its training programs for contractors, with participation in fiscal year 2024 increased by four times compared to the previous year. This level of training is expected to continue or grow further.
Mitsubishi Electric is also conducting training in multiple areas such as Wakkanai, Obihiro, Hakodate, Sapporo, and Asahikawa. They’ve also introduced “on-site installation training,” visiting contractor offices to provide education.
With the ongoing intense heat expected to continue into August, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the demand for air conditioning in Hokkaido is likely to keep rising, partly driven by the need for heatstroke prevention. Panasonic has expressed its intention to further strengthen training for installation contractors to meet this growing demand.
by MagazineKey4532