Chiles Bid to Save Energy: Men, Take off Your Ties1

Its the Chilean governments latest slogan2: Welcome to Chile, take off your tie.

But its not an invitation to sit down and relax—its a call3 to save energy.

As the summer kicks off in the southern hemisphere, Chiles 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 countrys 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 mens 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

Chiles 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（南美洲國家）；bid:（為爭取某物而作出的）努力。

2. slogan: 標語，口號。

3. call: 號召，召喚。

4. kick off: 開始；hemisphere: 地球的半球；campaign:（為取得某種結(jié)果而進行的政治、商業(yè)或社會性的）運動，活動。

5. Celsius: 攝氏溫度。

6. balk: 畏縮不前，猶豫。

7. abound: 大量存在。

8. tropical: 熱帶的；opt: 選擇；practical: 實用的。

9. take a cue from sb.: 學(xué)某人的樣；initiative: 主動的行動，倡議。