White House goes solar

Washington: Technicians have finished installing solar panels on the White House roof, capping a project US President Barack Obama hopes will send a positive signal on renewable energy.

Mr Obama said in 2010 he would retrofit his family's new home with solar panels starting in 2011, then use the power generated to heat water for the first family and provide some electricity.

Installation finally started in 2013.

Citing security and other concerns, the White House won't say how many panels now encase the top of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or how much they cost.

They are expected to generate 6.3 kilowatts of solar power whenever the sun shines.




The project required technicians to drill down to the concrete on the White House roof, then use epoxy glue and threaded rods to install a gridded subassembly onto which the solar panels could be secured.



"At this pace, we'll solve global warming right about the time that we're 30 feet under water," Mr McKibben said.