Green Apple Hoi An: Vietnam, Hoi An Private Solutions

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Vietnam, Hoi An Private Solutions

WhatsOrb Global Sustainability X-Change

02-06-14

Our own Green Apple Land solar installation is now working for a few weeks. Still we have to learn a lot about all the preset settings on the inverter and the loading behavior of the batteries.

A week ago I suddenly ended up in a hefty discussion about the polluting batteries I use and the fact that most environmental interested people & politicians not seem to know that the internet - computers - are energy consuming devices.I like this discussions because all is a learning process which could bring us to a next level if we are willing to listen to each other.
Yes, we need better battery technology. Yes, wee need to recycle metals. Yes, we need to recycle the acid we us in batteries. Yes, we need to to put in place all the conservation and efficiency strategies to make the impact of batteries as little as possible on the environment! Fortunately most of what goes into a battery is recyclable. Over ninety five percent of lead-acid cells used under the hood of vehicles will most likely end up being recycled into another battery. Europe takes the lead in efficiency by recycling nearly one hundred percent of their starter batteries.
Fossil fule use started around 1800. Our whole life & economy is based upon it. At the moment more than 7 billion people rely on mainly fossil fuel. You are not gonna change this overnight with directly the right materials which are all 100 % recyclable and produced. Solar will be not so beautiful on your house and windmills will 'destroy' your view, kill birds and make noise. But it's one of the many phases we have to go through! So, yes the internet uses a lot of electricity. I red 2 % of what we produce. If we slowly start to use alternatives, start generating a money flow which researchers can use to develop greener energy and try to use 2 % less of 'dirty' energy a year we could make a big difference in 50 years. Keep always in mind that if we all would stop flying, using cars etc our economy would collapse. If we do it gradually, people would give it a chance and allow people to make mistakes we will have chance!

Environment protection starts from small things like turning off the lights when you go out of a room” – Singer Duc Tuan

'Private Solutions' are often the most simple! They cost nothing and have mainly to do with our awareness of our environment.
In the 'Travelers Solutions' chapter I mentioned already some like:

Use your fan instead of the air conditioner!

Low AC temperature doesn’t just harm your health but also the earth” – Actor Quoc Thai

Put the air conditioner off - if you use it - when you leave your room!
Drink local juices instead of canned drinks
Take a bicycle! (see also 'green activities')
Eat local food!
Use a metal refill water bottle!
Order your drink without a straw!
Use a solid bag instead accepting plastic bags!

Take out what you take in! (National parks, beaches etc!)

Fortunate the world's opinion and positive thinking about saving the environment and living sustainable finds more support. Also in Vietnam many people change habits!

We have seen them all; women collecting (our) plastic bottles, cans, board, metal and other items to keep the environment clean, recycle and earn some money!

Below some of them and thanks to them Hoi An is a little cleaner!