President Barack Obama is aiming to be the greenest world leader by making his home, thee White House, eco-friendly.

But he’s not the first American leader to use renewable energy at the presidential palace. In 1979 President Jimmy Carter installed a solar hot water heating system on the roof of the West Wing of the White House. He wanted to show the country that it needed to be less dependent upon oil to make energy and heat homes. However, the panels were removed in 1986 when Ronald Reagan was president.

But as Mr Obama understands, and Jimmy Carter before him, the world’s oil resources will not last forever and alternative sources of energy need to be found. Solar power uses the sun’s heat and light and is called renewable energy because it doesn’t run out. Other renewable energy sources are wind and hydro, tidal and wave which all use water to make power.

Bill McKibben, who has campaigned for Mr Obama to put solar panels back on the White House, said: “Solar panels on one house, even this house, won’t save the climate, of course. But they’re a powerful symbol to the whole nation about where the future lies. ”

Campaigners, like Bill, hope the American parliament will pass new laws to reduce the amount of CO2 the country emits every year.

Juliet Davenport from 100% renewable energy company Good Energy in the UK is pleased Mr Obama has taken these steps and says: “It’s great to hear that one of the most powerful individuals in the world is signalling his support for generating your own electricity. It’s a powerful message and, hopefully, one that people will heed. Let’s hope David Cameron follows Obama’s lead and puts solar panels on 10 Downing Street.”