Bangladesh discourages suits and ties

The government of Bangladesh wants public employees to stop wearing suits and ties. As Bangladesh suffers an energy crisis, suits and ties waste energy on air conditioning.

This order is certainly welcome.

Japanese officials made a similar recommendation to public and private agencies several years ago. This angered tradition-minded execs, but it was based on sensible principles of saving energy and boosting creativity.

Around 1991, a Kentucky politician wanted to discourage such formalwear in state offices - citing the same reasons.

That was around the same time I worked at the public library, where we were under rigid orders not to wear suits and ties.

Unfortunately, there has been no major nationwide movement in America to discourage neckwear and heavy suits. But such a movement would save electricity and reignite the country's ingenuity.

(Source: http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/09/05/to-save-power-bangladesh-bans-suits-and-ties)