Japan has to rely on imports for most of its domestic demand for fuel resources. In such a situation, the country's energy consumption is increasing at a high level with the development of the national economy in recent years – which had led to expansion in production, distribution and consumption – and with changing people's lifestyles. However, there is the constant possibility of a global crisis in energy supply and demand. On the other hand, global warming, which is mainly caused by energy use and resulting generation of carbon dioxide, is posing a grave problem that may have ill effects on the very basis of our survival.

With this in mind, these Fundamental Policies prescribe the matters needed for the comprehensive promotion of rational use of energy at factories or workshops (hereinafter referred simply to as “factories”) and buildings and for machines, etc.

In carrying out these matters, we should pay attention to the fact that energy consumption is affected by the development of the national economy and by the efforts to promote the rational use of energy.

Industrial structures, corporate behaviors, traffic systems and changes in people's lifestyles and other social factors also have an impact on energy consumption.