为推广节能，智利近日推出新举措，呼吁男士解下领带，以减少空调用电。

It's the Chilean government's latest slogan: Welcome to Chile, take off your tie.

But it's not an invitation to sit down and relax – it's a call to save energy.

As the summer kicks off in the southern hemisphere, Chile's energy ministry¹ this week launched the campaign, "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 Celsius² – energy costs could go down by over 3 percent, representing million-dollar savings³.

"This small measure will help the country's energy efficiency. Reducing the use of air conditioning will lead to energy savings," energy minister Rodrigo Alvarez said in a statement (in Spanish).

A slew⁴ of（大量的） government ministers launched the initiative this week with a video, uploaded here on YouTube, with each ripping off his striped pink and maroon⁵（栗色的） ties and undoing⁶ top buttons. Joaquin Lavin, minister of social development, for example, takes off his solid blue tie, and says he'll keep it off except for formal meetings.

The older generation might balk⁷（犹豫） . A suit without a tie? How unfinished! But in men's fashion circles across the world, ideas for summer suits without ties abound⁸.

And in many parts of Latin America, forget the tie. In fact, forget the suit altogether. Men in tropical climes have long opted⁹ for the practical and elegant guayabera shirt instead. In Mexico, many a groom¹⁰ has wed¹¹ in this alternative.

Chile's authorities point out that they are taking a cue from Japan and Spain, where earlier no-tie initiatives were tried as energy-saving measures.

But those were not without controversy¹², as is recounted in this anecdote¹³ from Spain in an AP story.

Back in 2008, an industry minister appeared at Spain's parliament for a debate – without a tie. The nerve! The parliamentary speaker took offense¹⁴ and sent the minister a gift: a tie. But the minister refused to don it, and instead sent the speaker his own present: a digital thermometer (an apparent reference to the blasting air conditioning, even after the government had mandated¹⁵ that temperatures be kept warmer in government buildings to save energy). The media reported it to be the first time a male minister had appeared for a debate in parliament without a tie on. Some called it inappropriate, others practical. And the debate raged on.

Let's hope Mr Lavin, who is keeping his blue tie sealed away for special occasions, doesn't forget it at his next formal meeting.