Solar panels for White House roof
Published:Tuesday | October 5, 2010 | 1:43 PM
US President Barack Obama is to install solar panels on the White House roof, a move lauded by climate activists as symbolic of the nation's energy future.
The move was announced by US Energy Secretary Steven Chu at a conference in Washington on ways for the federal government to improve its environmental performance.
The panels will heat the Obamas' water and provide some electric power.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels which were later removed by Ronald Reagan.
George W Bush had also put panels elsewhere on the White House grounds.
Obama is a supporter of renewable energy but legislation aimed at cutting carbon emissions died in the Senate.
The solar panels are to be installed by the spring.