German parliament powered by renewable energy

[Maciamo]

Germany is known for its eagernes to protect the environment as a way to to improve the quality of life. It is also one of the few European countries where the Greens have a major say in politics. One of their achievements has been to replace traditional, polluting sources of energy by eco-friendly ones. For example, between 1990 and 2005, Germany's total greenhouse-gas emissions decreased by 18%, while they surged by 16% in the U.S. and 40% in Japan !

It is always a good idea for the goverment to show the good example. That's what they did in Germany, as Time magazine pointed out this week.

TIME : Lessons From Germany

Clustered along the banks of the River Spree in central Berlin, Germany's parliament buildings are designed to make the most of natural light and the flow of air. Electricity and heat are provided by biofuel generators in the basement. The excess heat is then stored in great underground chasms to warm the buildings during winter ― when cold from the outdoors is stored underground to cool the buildings again in summer. Even the Reichstag, originally built in the 19th century, now gets 60% of its power from renewable energy. So when lawmakers surveyed their environmental performance last month, you might have expected some self-congratulatory pats on the back. Their ruling? Not good enough. By the end of 2008, if all goes to plan, the Reichstag will run entirely on renewables.
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[^ lynx ^]

Impressive. Well done Germany.