Wow this reminds me of some of the early issues around energy conservation. When Energy Star started operations in Canada they offered trade in rebates to upgrade appliances like fridges & ac's etc.
They would then ship those energy hogs to needy developing nations as a charitable contribution. I guess they actually did that until someone crunched the carbon and said, all things considered and from a global perspective, it would be better to ship ES units instead. lm not surprised that developing and lesser populated areas would chose perminance and retention of sustainable technology over disposability and repetive wastfullness.
The US has always been the third world; in post columbian discovery, after Eurasia and Africa. Typically, like the youngest in a clan it is favoured, demanding, petulant, selfish and envied. Just like its current president.
As for america not knowing it yet. That too is a condition of the young.
Russell