Our time in Costa Rica has come to an end. While I’m sad to be finishing this trip, I’m also incredibly grateful for the time we have spent here. Our various excursion provides me with an up close learning experience that deepened my understanding of renewable energy and green infrastructure. Before this trip, my understanding of sustainable business was very shallow because I only knew about it through coursework and research. However, being immersed in a country that prioritizes environmental care allowed me to witness how renewable energy systems and green infrastructure can be integrated into daily life and national policy. This context helped me better connect my team’s theme to practical solutions.
The most impactful excursion was our visit and talks about the Lake Arenal Dam in La Fortuna. This hydroelectric dam and others like it provide the most energy for Costa Rica out of all systems. Seeing how Costa Rica harnesses its abundant water resources to generate clean electricity expanded my understanding of renewable energy into real life examples. Seeing the efficiency of the plant and learning about its role in supplying a large portion of the country’s electricity highlighted how natural resources can be used responsibly to meet national energy demands. This dam demonstrated how investing in green infrastructure can be both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Another important excursion was our visit to the Tejona Wind Farm. Observing the large-scale wind turbines in operation right in front of me helped me to better understand how wind energy contributes to the country’s overall energy output. I also now have a better understanding of how elevation and wind patterns can benefit or harm these operations. Building off of this, our talk about the El Niño (warming of sea temperatures) on the bus before arrival helped me to understand that renewable energy systems like wind farms and hydroelectric plants are vulnerable to erratic weather that make energy supply uncertain. I also learned how wind farms require long-term investment and maintenance. Overall, this excursion expanded my perspective on renewable energy by demonstrating how wind power is beneficial to the environment and economy.
In Monteverde, our visit to the Monteverde Institute provided a smaller example of green infrastructure. The campus used solar technology on their windows and roofs, water ducts from the kitchen to the garden, and composting. These are all incorporations into sustainable agricultural practices and waste management methods. This experience helped me to understand the interconnectedness of agriculture, energy, and environmental conservation. It reinforced the idea that sustainability is not limited to large infrastructure but can also be achieved on a smaller scale.
On the flip side, our visit to Kyndryl in Heredia showed me how sustainability applies to the corporate and technology sections of business. At Kyndryl, we learned how large multinational companies in Costa Rica are integrating energy-efficient practices, data management, and sustainable infrastructure. For example, our guide told us that Kyndryl has gone from 250 data centers to 117 in Costa Rica, and it is their mission to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. This visit broadened my understanding of green infrastructure beyond physical energy sources to include digital systems as well. It demonstrated how big businesses are an important step in achieving environmental sustainability, Observing how a global company implements these practices made the connection between sustainability and business strategy much more real in my eyes.
Overall, this study abroad experience will have a lasting impact on my business career. It allowed me to dip my toes into International business and get a first hand look at environmentally responsible policies. I have developed a deeper appreciation for sustainability as a responsibility and competitive advantage. The firsthand examples that we’ve observed have shown me that environmentally conscious decisions can drive long-term success. Moving forward, I intend to incorporate these principles into my professional life by advocating for sustainable practices, green infrastructure, and considering the environmental impact of business decisions. This experience has given me more knowledge and shaped my perspective as a future business leader.