涼しさを求める・・・トンネル内の気温は低く一定

　昔は、暑い＝団扇(うちわ)でした。また、縁側で夕涼みしつつ団欒する姿が見られました。その後、次第に扇風機が各家庭に広まり、現代生活では、暑い＝エアコンです。

　一日中、エアコンを付けたままでは７月～８月の電気代は予想を超え、心配です。それ以上に心配の種は、日本において、電気はその７割が「空気中に二酸化炭素を排出する火力発電」によって作られてます。その上、軒並みエアコン使用となると、外部の空気が温められ、近隣の気温が一斉に急激上昇します。しかも、今や土の地面は少なく、その殆どすべてはコンクリートやアスファルトで敷き詰められてる場合が多いです。

　結果的に、人間は樹木が少ない環境で暮らしてます。最近、建築した町内のある家は土地がかなり広いですが、森のような中で暮らしてる私には考えられないことです。それは広い前庭も広い裏庭もすべてコンクリートを敷き詰めました。おそらく、草が生えないようにらしいです。しかし、樹木のみならず、草も「光合成」し、私たち人間にとって「欠くべからざる酸素」を生成してます。

　ところで、群馬県の碓氷峠には「めがね橋」として有名で、廃線になったＪＲ信越線跡があり、その殆どは、ご覧の通り、トンネルで往復４Kほどウォーキングが出来るようになってます。車は通過しないので内部の気温は低く一定ですから、涼しさとスムースな血液循環を求めウォーキングするには最適です。その上、帰路にトンネルを出ると日帰り温泉「峠の湯」があり、疲れた足を充分にリラックスできます。ここはお薦めです。

Dear my friends who seek for a real coolness

　In the past, when it was hot, we would use a fan made of paper and bamboo, or people would gather on the wooden veranda outside to enjoy the cool evening air. Gradually, electric fans began to be used in every household, and in modern life, when it's hot, they use air conditioning.

　If we use the air conditioner on all day, the electricity bill in July and August will be higher than expectation and we'll be worried about it. What's even more worrying is that in Japan, 70% of electricity is generated by "thermal power generation, which as you know, emits carbon dioxide into the air." On top of that, if everyone uses air conditioners, the air outside will be heated and the temperature in the neighborhood will rise sharply all at once. Moreover, there is little soil on the ground these days, and most of it is paved with concrete or asphalt.

　As a result, in general, humans live in the environment with few trees. One house that was recently built in the neighborhood has a fairly large lot, but the large front yard and back yard have been paved with concrete, which is something I would never have imagined. I think they prevent grass from growing. However, not only trees but also grasses "photosynthesize" and produce oxygen, which is "indispensable" to us humans to live.

　Not change the subject, but Usui Pass in western district of Gumma Prefecture is famous for "Megane Bridge" that means its shape is like a huge Glasses Bridge and is ruins to the abandoned JR Shin-etsu Line, and as you can see, most of it has been turned into a tunnel where we can walk about 4km round trip. As no cars pass through, the temperature inside is low and constant, making it ideal for walking to stay cool and improve our blood circulation. What's more, when you exit the tunnel on your way back, there is a day-trip hot spring called "Tohge no Yu" that means "Spa at mountain Pass where you can fully relax your tired feet. I recommend you to visit this tunnels to avoid heatwave.

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