While IT efficiency is important, it’s only a small part of the
larger quest for energy efficiency. I unexpectedly found a great
practical example in
It was my good fortune over the holidays to spend time in
During our visit, we attended a Papal Audience held in a huge solar powered
auditorium. I didn't realize the solar power part 'til my son Conor
spotted the lobby display board. It details how much energy the solar
plant is producing as well as how much CO2 and oil equivalent is being saved.
So what else, I wondered, was the
The rooftop solar plant was installed in 2008, thanks to equipment
donated by a German Solar company. It
supplies all the power needed for the huge auditorium and when that’s not in
use the power is routed to the
In April of 2009, the world’s smallest state began construction of
the biggest solar plant in Europe near the village of Santa Maria de Galeri
just north of
Seems that Pope Bendedict is acting on his convictions:
“The destruction of the environment, its improper or selfish use, and the violent hoarding of the Earth’s resources cause grievances, conflicts and wars, precisely because they are the consequences of an inhumane concept of development.”
The
commitment even extends to plans for a gasification plant at his summer
residence,
And he continues to reiterate. On January 1, POPE BENEDICT XVI issued his message celebrating the “World Day of Peace”. It’s titled “IF YOU WANT TO CULTIVATE PEACE, PROTECT CREATION”. It’s worth a full read but here is one quote:
“A sustainable comprehensive management of the environment and the resources of the planet demands that human intelligence be directed to technological and scientific research and its practical applications. “
Seems like
wise advice to me. And he’s acting on it
too.