The World’s Dedication to Phase Out Fossil Fuels Is Symbolized In Modifications Made To its Most Beloved Structures

Though I’ve never read it cover-to-cover, I have to love what Mark Twain wrote in “The Innocents Abroad”:

“The gentle reader will never, never know what a consummate ass he can become until he goes abroad. I speak now, of course, in the supposition that the gentle reader has not been abroad, and therefore is not already a consummate ass. If the case be otherwise, I beg his pardon and extend to him the cordial hand of fellowship and call him brother. I shall always delight to meet an ass after my own heart when I have finished my travels.”

It is for this reason, i.e., wishing to avoid coming off as an ass, that I make very few references to my travels.  I will note, however, that I have had numerous good reasons to be in Paris over the years on a variety of business trips, and that I think the Eiffel Tower is cool.  It is of no surprise to me that the Parisians decided to retrofit this quintessential landmark with tastefully constructed wind turbines and high-efficiency lighting.

Those who take the time to go through the article will note that many of the world’s other most recognizable buildings have incorporated these (or similar) technologies.  The point of such modifications, obviously, is not to produce a significant dent in our reliance on fossil fuels, but to make a statement: modernity honestly cares about the quality of the environment, and points itself in the direction of a sustainable future for humankind.