Practical Commitments & Heavenly Power

 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 Rome - at the Vatican.  

It was my good fortune over the holidays to spend time in Italy with my family.  A long-planned trip, we hit  all of the top tourist spots, among them, the Vatican in Rome.   And while it may be the smallest country in the world, it still has some very big energy needs.  How about heating and lighting St Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church? 

 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 Vatican up to in the realm of conservation and energy?  Turns out, quite a lot.

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 Vatican power grid. 

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 Rome.  The 100 megawatt plant will supply all of Vatican city’s power, with excess to sell into the Italian power grid.

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, Castel Gandolfo.

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.