An excellent way to form a good habit is to be around people with good habits.

On a recent walk to the botanical gardens in Washington, D.C., good examples of conserving energy were everywhere.

Tour groups riding Segways was the first good example I encountered. A Segway is a battery-run scooter that resembles the back platform of a chariot. People stand upright on it. Instead of holding reins in their hands, they grip handlebars that help them maneuver it. Environmentally friendly, it makes no sound or pollution.

As I continued my walk, I noticed several small motorcycles parked on a lot in a space allocated for a single car. They reminded me of our parish secretary’s husband, who recently bought a Vespa motor scooter. It has saved him more than $150 a month in parking fees and gas.

When I entered the west side of the botanical gardens, I noticed children fascinated by a glass-enclosed waterfall. A sign instructed viewers to turn the waterfall’s table. As the children did this, the waterfall lost strength because the solar panel atop it was turning away from the sun.

What was particularly inspiring for me was seeing the children’s eyes dance as they turned the table. “Ah,” I thought, “they are the future of this country, and what better way to teach them about solar energy!”

As I sat down at a table in front of the botanical gardens, I noticed its surface contained several tips on conserving energy. For example:
• “Unplugging electronics when not in use can reduce your home’s energy up to 40%.”

• “Clean your dryer’s lint screen after each load to reduce fire hazard and save up to 30% more energy.”

• “Leave your lawn clippings where they fall to reduce fertilizer use, runoff and yard waste.”

Next to the table was a plaque containing the story of the Philadelphia Orchard Project. This nonprofit group plants orchards of fruits, nut trees and herbs at schools and on several of Philadelphia’s 40,000 vacant lots. This reduces hunger, creates jobs and reduces crime. The beauty of the gardens also brings a community together.

When I left the botanical gardens, I noticed a beautifully sculptured windmill unlike any I had seen before. It was contoured to resemble a swirling blue sky. Little decorative windmills attached to it resembled birds flying when the windmill twirled.

The windmill was created by Susan Pascal Beran. She believes we should be in harmony with our environment. Standing under her windmill was like being beneath a beautiful blue sky set off by rolling clouds and exotic birds.

Upon my return home I thought, “All we need to get into the habit of conservation is to drink in the wonderful, exciting examples of it that surround us.”