Comments on: Innkeeper HEARTS Green Guests

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 03:48:02 +0000

Here in MA, Brookline does have recycling receptacles on many street corners! And as Christine mentioned, you’ll often find me shopping at the Harvest Coop in Cambridge with my reusable bags (a bridesmaid gift from an eco-conscious bride). My boyfriend hates when I BYO bags, because they’re a lot more rare in conventional grocery stores and sometimes they slow down the baggers, who are used to paper or plastic. (I’ll win him over one of these days.)

I love that you provide reusable bags for guests.

By: Christine @ Origami Mommy

Christine @ Origami Mommy — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:08:53 +0000

Here in Japan I see two different things. Hyper-consciousness about recycling (which is mandatory), frugality, abhorrence of waste, but on the other hand – the extensive use of extra wrapping persists. But I do see things changing and the younger generation especially is much more environmentally aware.

I was interested in seeing, when I went to Cambridge, MA recently, that many more people are using eco-bags there – here, they are trendy, but not as commonly used on a daily basis. Back in the U.S. in general, though, I don’t see at all as much widespread eco-awareness as I do here.

By: Stephanie Stiavetti

Stephanie Stiavetti — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:37:38 +0000

Jennifer mentions the turning off of lights in hotel rooms when you remove your key, and I had a similar experience in NY this summer. Interesting what ideas people come up with when you put your mind to it!

By: Casey@Good. Food. Stories.

Casey@Good. Food. Stories. — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:30:08 +0000

Jennifer, that Indian hotel idea is SO SMART! If only it would catch on elsewhere.

By: Vera Marie Badertscher

Vera Marie Badertscher — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:08:18 +0000

My husband and I have been learning from other countries for years. In New Zealand, about 15 years ago, we had a lightbulb go on (or rather OFF in this case) when we saw that people automatically turned off the lights when they left a room. Seems so logical, but until then, our family had the bad habit of just leaving all the lights on all the time. In Greece we learned that we had better bring our own bag for groceries, unless we wanted to stuff those olives in our pockets. In Greece and Spain and many other countries, we had to remember that when we took the room’s key card out of the light switch socket the lights would go out. (So it is not limited to India by a long shot.)
I congratulate Chez Sven for doing their bit.

By: Sheryl

Sheryl — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:46:00 +0000

How interesting to hear the green ways of other countries. Why are we so woefully behind, I wonder? We need to learn some lessons before it’s too late. I enjoyed reading your guest post and learning all about ways you strive to make a difference.

By: Joules

Joules — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:02:07 +0000

Sigh… And I know people here in America who leave the T.V. and air-conditioning on during the day for their dogs.

I’ll be traveling to Sweden soon, and am excited to learn how their systems work!

By: Jennifer Margulis

Jennifer Margulis — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:31:46 +0000

In India electricity is SO EXPENSIVE that they do something very clever in hotels. You must put your key or key card in a socket in order to use the lights. Then when you leave and you take your key, everything is automatically turned off. I think we really need to put these kind of changes into effect immediately. So simple! So obvious! And huge savings for everyone.

I think I would like living in Germany too. I wish Americans would get more conscious a little more quickly!

p.s. Beth, I’m sorry to hear you are having some eyesight troubles. I hope you get better soon.

By: Nick Palmer

Nick Palmer — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:54:16 +0000

Blimey, if the average Brit is being lauded as some sort of super-green customer, I can only imagine how appalling the average American must be! Disclosure – I’m a Brit. We look up to the Scandinavians and Germans – quite a long way up…

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:04:57 +0000

That bed and breakfast sounds fantastic. I am trying (with a mixed level of success) to get my campus to quit using plastic bags in their bookstores etc. One of my ideas was a contest to design cloth bags as well and the manager of the bookstore at least seemed to really love that!