This Earth Day, make a resolution to live greener.
You can plant a tree, sell fluorescent light bulbs, sure. You can even sell tree-shaped cookies or picket global warming or chain yourself to a ficus. That’s cool. But to really make an impact, we’re all going to have to think bigger. Much bigger.
In the last century, society has become accustomed to driving big cars that suck up gallons of gas, ignoring the presence of toxic chemicals in everyday products like hairspray, and throwing away just about everything. Disposable clothing even exists, according to a certain international discount fashion store campaign. Environmentally unconscious behavior is a tough habit to break, and it’s even harder when it’s the norm–like driving SUVs, eating individually wrapped snack packs, and using Styrofoam.
Some countries need to clean up their act, yet a few are making green innovations of mind-blowing proportions, in some areas cutting the environmental footprint in half. By examining the construction and engineering methods of those at the forefront of green technology, we might be able to develop plans that can really impact the environment. How’s that for an Earth Day resolution?
To help students and teachers to explore green technologies, Explorica offers a number of in-depth educational tours to areas at the forefront of ecological innovation. One visit might not solve all of the world’s environmental problems, but an awareness of the possibilities could inspire a generation. Globally.
Enjoy green travel with Explorica
Stockholm and Copenhagen
Journey to Europe to visit two of the most environmentally savvy cities in the world: Stockholm and Copenhagen.
In Stockholm, visit a unique eco-friendly development project of Hammarby Sjöstad, a community designed to halve the environmental impact of urban housing and house 25,000 residents. In the neighborhood’s visitors’ center, you can learn about how the renewable energy and green building practices that make this possible.
Travel by train to Copenhagen, and double up on green energy by taking a solar-powered boat tour of Copenhagen’s largest offshore wind farm, Middelgrunden. Learn about the engineering that goes into these 20 enormous wind turbines which contribute 4% of Copenhagen’s power supply, and analyze their positive impact upon the environment.
Panama
If you’re interested in learning about ecosystems, organic farming and biodiversity, Panama is the place to be. Start off by visiting the number of zoological museums in Panama City, including the Punta Culebra Nature Center, an open-air museum dedicated to marine science and conservation. Visit a local farm to learn about composting and local zoology, then step out into the wild to discover the 900 native plant species, 114 mammal species and 396 bird species in Chagres National Park.
Germany and France
Try a different approach to two of our most popular European destinations with this environmentally friendly Germany and France tour.
In Germany, visit the energy-efficient Solar Settlement on Schlierberg in Freiburg. These solar homes use some of the most innovative technologies in the world, including the Plusenergiehaus®, a home engineered to generate more energy than it consumes. This excess power is sold to the public grid, and is distributed amongst other homes in the area.
As if the German engineering behind the Plusenergiehaus® wasn’t intelligent enough, you can learn about even more green technology in the French hometown of the Smart Car. While you might have seen one of these energy-efficient vehicles in the U.S., Smart Cars are one of the most popular vehicles in Europe today. In the Smart Car factory of “Smartville” in France, you will learn about how these vehicles are made and just how their green technology lessens the negative impact on the environment.
What are you doing for Earth Day 2013?