Vatican switches on 2,400 solar panels

BY CAROL GLATZ
SOLAR PANELS covering the roof of the Paul VI hall were turned on last week during the Pope's weekly general audience.
The 2,400 panels were donated and installed by the German company Solar World. The gift is estimated to be worth $1.55 million dollars.
An electronic board has been hung in the hall to keep count of how many kilowatt hours are being produced and how much oil and carbon dioxide is being saved.
The project earned the Vatican the 2008 Euro Solar Prize. awarded by a European association promoting renewable energy.
Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, who received the award. a small silver and glass globe, said he would make sure it would go to Pope Benedict XVI, who repeatedly has called on humanity to show more care for creation. The association's president, Hermann Scheer, said he hoped people would be inspired by the Vatican's efforts.
Mr Scheer said the only way to inspire more people to tap into solar power was for a well-respected, "worldwide institution. indeed. the Catholic Church with its global importance". to show it could be done. He said he hoped the Vatican's new solar-panel roof will help "overcome the mental block many people have toward new sources of energy".
Pier Carlo Cuscianna. director of technical services for Vatican City, told reporters another solar-panel system was being installed above the Vatican's employee cafeteria to help provide power for heating and cooling the building.
The Vatican has said its aim is to use renewable energy sources for 20 per cent of its energy needs by 2020, thetarget date set by the European Union for its members.