In Okinawa, I've noticed six things that seem like environmentally-friendly, sustainable, ideas.
1. (Okinawa is just as hot as Bradenton and even more humid. Most buildings do not have air conditioning.) Buildings are built with windows that open and are constructed with windows across from each other, allowing for cross breezes through the room.
2. The backs of the toilets have sinks. The water that you wash your hands with is the water that goes into the toilet once you flush the tank.
3. The toilets have two flush options. You can either choose light or heavy flush, depending on how much water you want to use.
4. Students (Elementary on up!!!) make the effort to recycle. They break down the milk cartons from lunch in the classroom after eating. They also put all of their uneaten food into a tub, where it can be turned into compost (like what you do at Dayspring).
5. If you want a plastic bag at the grocery store, you have to pay. The cost is only 3 cents, but it reminds you that you should be bringing your own bag.
6. In the hotel room, you have to place your key in a slot by the door for the lights and air conditioner to work. You can't leave the power on when you're out during the day.
Remember that every little bit helps! Have the builders broken ground yet on our new green middle school?
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4 comments:
Those all seem like great ideas. I especially like #1 and #5. At Saint Stephen's, we are already doing a good job with #4. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders have a compost bucket for fruit and vegetable scraps. We add it to the big composter for Mrs. Boothby to use in the gardens. We also have recycling bins for the disposable drink containers (I wish there weren't so many bottles and cans getting used on a daily basis), and there is a bin for plastic bags (thankfully we don't have as many of those since the lunchroom gave us green Publix bags to use!) It is great to see the kids getting used to the idea of reducing and recycling.
Early Texans built what they called dog trot houses. These were long. narrow houses which had doors and windows opposite each other in the hallway and rooms so that the house could be opened up. They were then situated so that the prevailing breeze (when it blew) would blow through the house. They really are much cooler.
I have to say that I'm dismayed at the amount of water bottles our group is using. I'm the only one who refills mine, and as I said, it's hot here! I'd say people are going through 6 during the school day. And for whatever reason, they're just taking our stuff to the trash.
But the Japanese are much worse than Americans about wrapping everything, paper for all purchases in the store and little bags for most everything in the hotel room.
So really it's just differences. Good for cultural awareness.
When I was in Greece, we also had to put the key card into a slot in order to run the air and electricity. What a great idea. I also like the idea about the flush option. Sometimes you need a little.. sometimes you need more!
-Lori
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