I just returned from a 10 day road trip throughout middle/northern Spain: One thing I observed was how badly Americans, in contrast, are when it comes to "common sense" conservation and care for the environment, as in:
1. Smart Cars everywhere (many with little children on board).
2. Battery recycling bins at all hotel receptions area. Also found in the battery/film section of the Airport gift shops.
3. Dual Flush Tiolets ( Yes, just what you think, more water for "heavier" objects, less water (and thus saving) for a liquids only flush.
4. I was amazed how many wait staff and chefs thought because my traveling companion and I did not eat everything on our plates that we hated the food--no, we were just like a majority of other Americans who throw away about 30% of their food each year--valuable food that some countries are today rioting about, due to a lack of it!
5. All hotels I stayed at had automatic electrical shut offs, by using your key at a pad the door--sort of a whole room fuse box. When you left the room you had to pull your key out, and thus you automatically shut of all your room lights.
6. Hotel hall lights and gas station bathroom lights with shut off sensors--they only come on when they sensed motion, and therefore saved electricity.
...Why aren't Americans utilizing some of these ideas on a much broader scale as do the Spanish? Or better yet, why isn't American ingenuity inventing more?
1. Smart Cars everywhere (many with little children on board).
2. Battery recycling bins at all hotel receptions area. Also found in the battery/film section of the Airport gift shops.
3. Dual Flush Tiolets ( Yes, just what you think, more water for "heavier" objects, less water (and thus saving) for a liquids only flush.
4. I was amazed how many wait staff and chefs thought because my traveling companion and I did not eat everything on our plates that we hated the food--no, we were just like a majority of other Americans who throw away about 30% of their food each year--valuable food that some countries are today rioting about, due to a lack of it!
5. All hotels I stayed at had automatic electrical shut offs, by using your key at a pad the door--sort of a whole room fuse box. When you left the room you had to pull your key out, and thus you automatically shut of all your room lights.
6. Hotel hall lights and gas station bathroom lights with shut off sensors--they only come on when they sensed motion, and therefore saved electricity.
...Why aren't Americans utilizing some of these ideas on a much broader scale as do the Spanish? Or better yet, why isn't American ingenuity inventing more?
back you two! I remember thinking the same thoughts last summer when we traveled over to Europe. Looking forward to some good trip reports.
