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Solar panels are installed on the Vatican's roof
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by Amy Judd | October 2, 2008 at 09:26 am
161 views | 2 Recommendations | 4 comments
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The first of many solar panels were installed on the Vatican's roof Monday.
He is the first pontiff to 'go green' in this way.
Workers began putting photovoltaic cells on the roof of the hall to convert sunlight into electricity. In sunny Rome, engineers say the cells will produce enough electricity to illuminate, heat or cool the hall.
The hall is used for weekly papal audiences during winter and other times of year when the weather is bad.
Pope Benedict XVI's has made conserving resources an important concern of his papacy.
There are 2,700 solar panels, and will convert sunlight to electricity, which will in turn generate enough power to light, heat or cool the 6,000 seat hall inside.
Since he was elected in 2005, Benedict XVI has criticised "the unbalanced use of energy" in the world.
He has also said environmental damage was making "the lives of poor people on earth especially unbearable".
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 09:56 on October 2nd, 2008
as requested :)
oO-Bunty-Oo has contributed a photo to this story.
at 10:53 on October 2nd, 2008
amyjudd, I can't wait to see what other changes they make!
at 11:04 on October 2nd, 2008
Maybe they'll use the solar panels to power much-needed air conditioners... :)
at 15:02 on November 23rd, 2008
While it's commendable that the Vatican is recognizing the importance of clean renewable energy, they need to go a step further to the real cause of the climate change crisis.
If the Pope and the many Christian followers would realize that human overpopulation is the real issue straining the planet's energy and food resources, then they'd be acheiving something meaningful.
So, "Hey, Pope, how about teaching the importance birth control and family planning first, then work on the sloar panels?"