Ahead of the full midsummer heat about to begin, the mist generators on the large canopy over the west entrance of the Palaceside Building (known as the Umbrella) started running on the 13th. From the latter half of this week, sweltering days above 30°C will continue, but the “water curtain” sprayed as a fine mist should offer a little cool.
The system, which sprays water to lower the surrounding temperature, was installed in March last year by The Mainichi Newspapers, owner of the Palaceside Building, with a Chiyoda Ward grant for heat-island measures. Twenty-eight spray nozzles were fitted on the inside and outside of the Umbrella, and it ran through last autumn.
This year, too, the mist will be run in daytime hours except on Sundays and holidays when the building is closed, until summer lasts.