The Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, India, one of the richest shrines with an annual income of $340 million, is using its resources to go green. The temple trust installed solar dishes on its massive community kitchen roof that generate over 4,000 kg of steam daily at 180 degrees Celsius, saving about 500 liters of diesel per day. This is the first project to receive Gold Standard certification for carbon credits, which the temple sells, including to the German government. Beyond solar cooking, the temple manages surrounding reserve forests as carbon sinks. With 50,000 to 100,000 visitors daily, the temple aims to lead by example and influence public opinion on sustainable energy. The project demonstrates how large institutions can use renewable tech to cut costs and emissions while earning from carbon markets.
