What Havana Can Teach Us about Being Green
The Caribbean’s largest city, Havana, Cuba, has an infectious energy. Resident Habaneros love their city and the warm turquoise waters that surround them. Havana has survived over 500 years of roller-coaster history and still found time to innovate. Whether Havana is green because of skills learned during the lean years of the 1990s, or because they truly care about the environment is debatable. However, Havana can offer the “developed” world some positive tips for living green by reducing, reusing, and recycling. A few days in Cuba’s bustling capital will remind you how easy it is to make small changes to be greener at an individual and societal level, try it.
1) Use your body (reduce): We all know exercise is good for us, yet we rarely incorporate it into our daily life. We drive to the gym and the neighbor’s house. We take the elevator when the stairs are faster. What would happen if people starting using their bodies as a form of transportation and energy? The world would be healthier and so would our bodies. Some Cubans really grasp that their bodies are indeed an efficient source of energy that can be used to walk or even peddle bikes which power knife sharpeners.
2) Give items a second life (reuse): Try finding another use for objects that have outlived their original purpose, and you will find nearly everything can be given a second life. Yogurt containers, rubber bands, boxes, plastic bags, and newspapers do not need to wind up in another trash dump somewhere. During a Cuba vacation you may notice flower pots made out of plastic bottles or even construction hats.
3) Use reusable cups (reduce): Many fresh-pressed juice stands in Havana don’t use to-go cups. Sure in America we have the option to buy a reusable mug which is all great and dandy until you forget to bring it to your favorite café or forget about using it all together. In Havana, it is not uncommon to pay for your juice, and chug it straight from the glass. After you return your glass, it gets dipped in water, and the next guy gets his ounce of fresh juice. We shouldn’t be in such a hurry that we need a disposable cup. Relax and take a moment to stand or sit to finish what you have ordered.
4) Minimalist packaging is okay (reduce): In the U.S. frozen meat is usually overly packaged with a Styrofoam plate surrounded by plastic wrap. In Cuba, it is not uncommon to find chicken unpackaged. The price stickers are slapped onto bare frozen chicken or bundled in simple clear plastic bags. This works fine, but in the U.S. naked chicken would be disposed of due to health concerns. In Cuba, consumers don’t seem to be as worried about the lack of packaging.
5) Turn out the lights (reduce): Cuba’s capital is heedful of energy use, partially to save money, and partially for environmental conservation. Companies that do not need to turn on all of their lights don’t. This includes banks, hotels, eateries, and libraries. They use something called natural light and significantly cut down on artificial light use. You may not even notice the difference at first, and you sure won’t miss it.
This guide to an green vacation in Cuba was written by a Cuba travel expert at Cuba For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Cuba vacations.
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