I̶t̶’̶s̶... Easy Being Green

In recent years there has been somewhat of a shift toward “greener” and more environmentally responsible practices in the U.S. In comparison to what I’ve seen in Israel, I would classify it as more of a slow crawl. It’s no secret that Tel Aviv is highly congested due to it’s thriving economy, but what doesn’t necessarily get reported is how forward thinking they are in their green initiatives.

Cars are smaller while bikes , motor scooters and public transportation are widely used. Part of this is due to the fact that one can never successfully find a parking space in Tel Aviv, but there is also a mentality of each one taking ownership over protecting the environment. There are huge recycle bins on every corner that most people will go out of their way to use in lieu of just dumping it in a more conveniently located trash can.

My company’s offices are located in a large building in a business park just outside of Tel Aviv. The Air Condition is timed to go off after every hour so as not to be wasteful of energy. The water pressure in sinks is low so that people only use the water that they need. Above every toilet in Tel Aviv are two buttons, one for a less intense flush and the other for, well, you know. There is a switch outside of our bathroom that needs to be activated in order to produce hot water when taking a shower. Glass cups are about half the size of those in the states and so you really begin to notice that you take only what you need. Aluminum cans filled with soda and juice are typically smaller, which also reduces consumption. Our group listened to a speaker in a conference room at a Hotel in Jerusalem, and noticed that if we stood still for longer than 5 minutes, then the lights would automatically shut off. The elevators completely shut down after a short bout of inactivity. I could go on and on!

Just a couple of months ago, a Green Bike Sharing service was launched by a company called Tel-O-Fun. There are over 1500 lime green bikes at 150 stations all over Tel Aviv that have anywhere from 2-10 bicycles available for rent. You simply pay a small fee at the corresponding automated station and ride to your destination that will most likely have another station for drop off. How cool is that? This cuts down on waste and clutter on the streets of Tel Aviv while providing a compelling transportation option.

Tel Aviv certainly has the right idea in creating an environment that is wholeheartedly committed to supporting responsible practices at every level. The U.S. has certainly come a long way over the years, but immersion in Tel Aviv has opened my eyes as to just how far we have to go.