As concerns over climate change continue, many people are making a conscious effort to live more sustainably. Switching to solar energy is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and homeowners aren’t the only ones. Many governments and historic organizations are harnessing the power of solar, too.
From the ‘City of Light’ to the sands of Dubai, here are seven famous buildings that use solar power.
1. The White House
That’s right; our nation’s most important building runs on solar. It was Jimmy Carter who first decided to have solar panels installed on the White House in 1979, however they were removed just a few years later due to roof resurfacing. Then, in 2003, the George W. Bush administration reinstalled solar thermal heaters.
For the first installation, a total 32 solar water heating panels were placed on the roof of the famous West Wing. These panels provided close to 75% of the energy used to heat 1,000 gallons of water for the White House’s kitchen.
During President Obama’s time in office, he updated the solar panel system that was reintroduced during the George W. Bush administration and also had a solar water heater installed. Currently, there are 167 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the central maintenance building.
2. The Eiffel Tower
Paris’ most famous landmark needs no introduction. Almost seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower each year, which makes this the world’s most visited monument that requires an entrance fee.
Although the iconic landmark dates all the way back to 1889, there have been more recent efforts toward sustainability in the last decade. On the tower’s first floor there are two VisionAIR5 wind turbines and on the second floor are two vertical-axis termites to maximize wind capture. Despite these massive turbines being 400 feet tall, they are painted so as to blend in with the tower itself. They also made little to no sound and can capture wind from any direction and reportedly produce 10,000 kWh per year.
The Eiffel Tower also features LED lighting, solar panels, high-powered heat pumps, and a rainwater collection system according to CNET.
3. National Stadium Kaohsiung
It’s hard not to marvel at Taiwan’s dragon-shaped, solar-powered stadium. Designed by Toyo Ito, the arena seats 50,000 people and features a 14,155 square meter (152,363.15 square feet) solar roof.
When the stadium first opened, officials ran a test to see how long it would take for the stadium’s entire lighting system that includes 3,300 lights and two jumbo vision screens to power up. The result? Six minutes.
The Guardian reports that the stadium generates 1.14 million KWh per year and prevents the release of 660 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. On days when there is not a game, the government feeds the excess energy to the local grid to support the energy needs of neighboring areas.
4. Alcatraz
While Alcatraz is probably the most infamous prison in the United States, the prison has been closed since March of 1963.
The facilities still stand, however, and remain a popular tourist attraction. Alcatraz Island welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors a year, and as many as 4,000 visitors in a single day.
Most visitors are surprised to learn that solar panels cover the roof of the prison’s main building. The 1,300 panel system was installed in August of 2012 and produces about 400,000 KWh of electricity every year. A secondary benefit is that CO2 emissions are reduced by around 337,000 kilograms annually.
When the sun isn’t shining, the island’s battery system kicks in to keep things running.
5. Vatican City
Aside from being one of the most sacred places among Christians, Vatican City is a shining example of Renaissance architecture. Saint Peter’s Basilica was designed by renowned artists including Michelangelo and is a must-see for anyone visiting Rome.
As ancient as this city-state within a city is, Pope Francis has emerged as an advocate for renewable energy. As reported by The Independent, the Pope aims to make the Vatican the eighth country to achieve 100% green energy.
There are more than 2,000 solar panels installed on one of the Vatican’s main buildings and as a result, the Holy See has reduced its carbon footprint significantly–and by this, we’re talking about 225 tons every year.
6. The Burj Khalifa
As the tallest building in the world, the 163-story Burj Khalifa in Dubai consumes around 250,000 kWh of energy per day.
The Economic Times reports that the Burj Khalifa uses solar panels—378 in total—to heat 140,000 liters of water within a seven hour timespan. This is then distributed to homes and commercial entities within the tower.
Aside from a large solar system, the Burj Khalifa utilized LED lighting. There are more than 1.2 million LED lights that illuminate the building’s facade.
7. Chernobyl Nuclear Site
The Chernobyl disaster that occurred in 1986 is considered the world’s worst nuclear accident. On the morning of April 26th there was an explosion at Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP). The explosion caused a fire and radioactive material was released into the atmosphere.
In 2018, Ukraine uncoiled a solar plant in Chernobyl. While Chernobyl is still mostly inhabitable due to contamination, the 3,800 solar panels do produce enough energy to fully power 2,000 apartments.
Before choosing to install a solar system, Chernobyl hadn’t produced any power since 2000 when the nuclear plant was shut down.
Final Thoughts
Solar is the fastest growing source of new energy, and nations around the world are doing their part to encourage sustainability. Buildings like The White House and The Eiffel Tower receive millions of visitors every year and require substantial amounts of energy to remain powered. In adding solar panels and backup batteries, CO2 emissions are reduced and any excess energy can be offloaded to the local grid.
