You may be surprised to hear that solar energy is an important part of the summer games, but you simply can’t count out the importance of green energy and renewable resources when it comes to an event this large. Ecological considerations abound in the village this year, and there are some interesting innovations that we wanted to highlight! As we come together to cheer on all the incredible competitors at this year’s summer games, let us also remember the contributions of these unsung heroes.

Green Design

A lot of thoughtful considerations went into constructing the buildings which would house the competitors at these summer games. Existing structures were used whenever possible, and new construction leveraged both renewable and recycled materials. It is exciting to see this kind of design sensibility embraced by the games, and we’re excited to see this kind of positive contribution made to the host cities. Structures were designed to encourage airflow from the Seine into the interior of the village, which is a crucial feature given the expected temperature of this summer heat. Some of the buildings even have rooftop gardens to encourage internal cooling!

Solar at the Summer Games

Beyond the inclusion of rooftop gardens, roughly a third of the buildings feature solar panels, which will be working hard to turn all that summer sun into clean, renewable energy for those within to use when they’re not competing. With this year’s summer games working hard to ensure as sustainable an event as possible, these solar panels are an excellent inclusion in the  village design, and will be crucial to helping them reach their green energy goals.

Walking on Seashells

One of our absolute favorite inclusions in the efforts to create a cool climate within the village without extensive energy expenditures is the use of seashell sidewalks - an experimental paving stone made of seashells which is meant to absorb rainwater and release it when things heat up, creating a cooling sensation for pedestrians. Other experimental cooling methods are also being leveraged, including geothermal heating and cooling systems which should hopefully help to reduce the expected energy consumption projections of something like a large scale air conditioning system.

The Power of Solar

While many will rightfully look to the summer games for the thrill of exciting competition and athletic achievement, we will be watching closely to see just how effective the conservation efforts are in practice. If they are successful, these powerful green energy initiatives will hopefully continue to be featured at future games! We're always rooting for team solar energy over here, because when our team wins, everyone wins!