2011 VIP Launch of 'Start Day', Clarence House

Clarence House is the official residence of The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry.  Clarence House is an important part of the nation’s built heritage and, between 2002 to 2003, the House underwent essential renovation and redecoration. The Royal Household Property Services carried out the refurbishment and worked with organisations including the Forest Stewardship Council to specify and buy sustainable materials and timber from responsibly managed forests.

In 2010, The Prince of Wales won permission to install solar panels on the roof of Clarence House as part of efforts to make his 180-year-old London residence “carbon negative”. Some 32 photovoltaic (PV) panels, capable of producing 4,000 kilowatt hours of power a year, are installed on the roof of the 170-year-old residence. This figure is equivalent to the amount of energy used by the average London household each year.

Plans show that the solar PV panels will not be visible from the ground, as they will be hidden from view by a high parapet. A spokesperson for Westminster City Council told the Associated Press: "There were no objections and the application was not considered contentious. We trust it will make a positive contribution to the Prince of Wales's efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of Clarence House."