The Shocking History of Electricity in the White House and Where We Are Today
The most famous house in America has changed with the times. In some ways, the White House was behind the times for many years. The building that sits on Pennsylvania Avenue now is a far cry from the one built in 1792, back before Washington D.C. was the nation’s capital. As such, the history of electricity and the White House tells a tale of mankind’s ascension to the modern age we enjoy today.
Electricity First Installed on Pennsylvania Ave
When electricity first came to the White House, it was feared and distrusted by the building’s inhabitants. Back then, the White House’s light was created by candle flame and gaslight. The president at the time, Benjamin Harrison, and his wife refused to touch the light switches for fear of electric shock. Electricity as a commercial enterprise was in its infancy then, which was why the inhabitants were hesitant. Instead, the White House staff had to turn the lights on and off.
At the time, the White House was part of a job to get electricity to the State and War & Navy building nearby. The historic job was awarded to the Edison Company, founded by Thomas Edison.
Thermal and Solar Energy in the Nation’s Capital
Jump ahead to the 1970s to see the first use of solar energy at the White House. Under President Jimmy Carter’s administration, 32 solar panels were installed on the roof. The electricity from the solar panels was used to heat water, but they were short-lived. When the Reagan administration came to power, President Reagan had the solar panels removed from the White House, as his view of energy was all about coal or oil, not solar.
It wasn't until 2002 that the White House saw solar panels again. The National Parks Service was put in charge of installing 167 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of the maintenance building. These, too, were used to heat water for the maintenance building as well as the hot tub and shower nearby.
“Green” Energy Changes To the White House
Over the years, under various presidents, the White House has undergone several “green” energy changes. The house is massive, and there’s rarely a time when staff isn’t hard at work in the place. This takes a lot of energy, so many presidential administrations focused on both big and little things to reduce that energy expenditure without interfering with the important work done there.
Light bulbs have been updated several times as higher-efficiency bulbs became available. Natural light was used whenever possible to reduce energy expenditure. A 2018 Washington D.C. energy bill will ensure that the White House undergoes even more change in the coming years. It states that all the buildings in D.C. run on 100% renewable energy by the year 2032. Even the seat of power on Pennsylvania Avenue is not immune to this new initiative.