Nearly 20,000 kilos of carbon dioxide, over 250 trees and 23,000KWh in power – these are the results of the energy-saving efforts put in place by the foreign ministry’s Directorate General for Administration, IT and Communications. For more than a year now, the foreign ministry has been applying a “green” energy policy aimed at encouraging high environmental standards in the use of available resources while at the same time lowering costs.
Solar panels save20,000 kilos ofCO2 and over 8,000 lt. of crude oil
The solar panel system in use at the foreign ministry’s central offices in Rome is one of the first, and is capable of ensuring the autonomous production of enough electrical power to light the building’s façade, with the aim of reducing climate-altering end environmentally harmful emissions. Between 15 March and 31 December2012, the system produced 37.4 megawatt hours, resulting in an emissions reduction of 20,000 kg of CO2, that would have had to be compensated by 2,585 new trees and that, moreover, would have led to the consumption of 8,160.87 litres of oil.
LED light bulbs yield power savings of 23,000 KWh
The Directorate also provided for the replacement of conventional light bulbs with LED bulbs: the illumination of the central entrance to the ministry building alone has resulted in an annual savings of 23,000 KWh (dropping from 32,000 to 8,000); and just last week the installation of sensors in the service areas of the Farnesina Palace have eliminated power wastage during both daytime and nighttime hours; finally, since 2011, the building’s illumination schedule has been adjusted, and currently involves the entire building (except for sensitive areas), with a consequent substantial savings in electrical power.
Economic advantages of green energy
These efforts have also produced a financial return of approximately €32,000 annually (€38,720 VAT included) – results that confirm the fact that energy efficiency not only reduces environmental impact but also has a direct impact on the pocketbook.
