"Sustainability is not just a goal to be attained. It's a mindset that knows no beginning and no end." Quote from the BMW Plant, Munich
One of the biggest differences between the US and Germany when it comes to environmental policy, is that Germany is far more results oriented. In my first class, I learned about how Germany committed to a stringent plan to reduce emissions. The rest of the EU also made similar plans. The US has still not made concrete plans.
If you sit on a train in Germany, no matter where you travel, you will pass the tiniest of villages in the middle of mountain valleys. These villages will be equipped with solar panels. A small farm in the middle of no where will be equipped with solar panels. I'm sure there is some contemplation of cost vs. benefit within these communities, but they take the risk to be more environmentally conscious. They want the results. They want the number of their emissions to be reduced from previous years. I don't want to give the impression that I live in an 100% eco-friendly house with all renewable energy, because I definitely do not, but it is the principal of it all. Germany started to integrate clean technology into their daily lives a long time ago. Now, it is easier for them to continue the infrastructure that already exists. It is easier for their consumers to see the benefits associated with going green and the trend will only continue. Quite frankly, I don't think it is possible for the US to catch up to them any time in the near future. Cities with weather comprable to Chicago utilize solar panels. To me, this sounds a bit strange because it is not always sunny in Chicago so utilizing solar panels would waste a great deal of money, but this is the point. Germans seem to want the clean technology more than us. I agree, it is smarter to implement these kinds of technology in places like Texas, Florida, Georgia, etc. but the fact is at some point we will need to make the switch to renewable energy all over. It may not be convenient everywhere, but it will happen. It is actually a good sign that we have concrete proof of a country who has already been doing the things we will need to do! We have proof that it works in the long run, which is even more important.
Aside from the big things, Germany has implemented many pieces of technology that you would need to come into direct contact with it to notice it. One example being motion-sensored escalators. This may not seem like a big deal, but can you imagine how much energy all of the cities in the US would save if they did not run in the late hours of the night or during rainy days when no one is around? If you add all of that up, it would make a huge difference. Another example is that in hotel rooms, you have to place your key card inside a small swiper inside the room in order to get electricity. This is smart for a couple of reasons. First of all, you never lose your room key because it will always be in the little box. Second of all, you never leave the lights on when you leave the room. This is a small idea, but the electricity you can save when you think about it on a larger, perhaps even global scale, is an enormous amount. This would be a great idea for all of my college friends with roommates that leave their apartment with 100 lights on- money saver!
If you sit on a train in Germany, no matter where you travel, you will pass the tiniest of villages in the middle of mountain valleys. These villages will be equipped with solar panels. A small farm in the middle of no where will be equipped with solar panels. I'm sure there is some contemplation of cost vs. benefit within these communities, but they take the risk to be more environmentally conscious. They want the results. They want the number of their emissions to be reduced from previous years. I don't want to give the impression that I live in an 100% eco-friendly house with all renewable energy, because I definitely do not, but it is the principal of it all. Germany started to integrate clean technology into their daily lives a long time ago. Now, it is easier for them to continue the infrastructure that already exists. It is easier for their consumers to see the benefits associated with going green and the trend will only continue. Quite frankly, I don't think it is possible for the US to catch up to them any time in the near future. Cities with weather comprable to Chicago utilize solar panels. To me, this sounds a bit strange because it is not always sunny in Chicago so utilizing solar panels would waste a great deal of money, but this is the point. Germans seem to want the clean technology more than us. I agree, it is smarter to implement these kinds of technology in places like Texas, Florida, Georgia, etc. but the fact is at some point we will need to make the switch to renewable energy all over. It may not be convenient everywhere, but it will happen. It is actually a good sign that we have concrete proof of a country who has already been doing the things we will need to do! We have proof that it works in the long run, which is even more important.
Aside from the big things, Germany has implemented many pieces of technology that you would need to come into direct contact with it to notice it. One example being motion-sensored escalators. This may not seem like a big deal, but can you imagine how much energy all of the cities in the US would save if they did not run in the late hours of the night or during rainy days when no one is around? If you add all of that up, it would make a huge difference. Another example is that in hotel rooms, you have to place your key card inside a small swiper inside the room in order to get electricity. This is smart for a couple of reasons. First of all, you never lose your room key because it will always be in the little box. Second of all, you never leave the lights on when you leave the room. This is a small idea, but the electricity you can save when you think about it on a larger, perhaps even global scale, is an enormous amount. This would be a great idea for all of my college friends with roommates that leave their apartment with 100 lights on- money saver!