Vatican City Goes Solar

Pope Benedict has recently carried out the project of having 2,400 solar panels installed on the roof of Nervi Hall. Accumulating to a staggering 1.6 million dollars, this environmentally friendly project will potentially generate an estimated 300 MWh per year. The energy generated will be used to light, heat, and cool Nervi Hall. This building is used when the pope addresses general audiences, so when it is not in use the energy produced will be supplied to Vatican City.The installation of these solar panels will ultimately prevent 200 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted every 2 weeks. When looking at this topic from a much larger perspective, it is comforting to know that our environmental predicament is being acknowledged and dealt with as a global crisis, regardless of politics and religion.

*Image taken from AP Images

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