Sustainability

Going to New Zealand and Australia really made us understand what a sustainable country really is and how to try and become more sustainable. The country in general seems pretty eco-conscious and tries not to waste anything when possible.

Here are some items I thought it would be nice to see the U.S. try and adopt:

• All the toilets had 2 flushes: One half flush, and one full flush. This was to try and save water when possible.
• Their public bathrooms all had the hand blow dryers so that paper towels weren't being wasted. They were usually the real strong blow dryers that don't stay on long either. 
• The hotels require that you use your room key to turn on the electricity in your room.
• Every plug outlet has a switch for it. You can have so many things plugged into the outlets, but the only ones that will work are the ones that have the switch turned on.
• They had free trolleys and free shuttles around the city and at the airports! I must research to see if they have this in the Bay Area.
• They had recycling cans almost everywhere right next to the "rubbish" bins. I have yet to see that truly get implemented here. 

The trip just made me all the more conscious of what I can do personally to be more eco-conscious. My husband and I made a deal that we were going to make our next house more sustainable and eco-friendly. What are you doing to be more sustainable?