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Soccer fans now have more to cheer for than their favorite teams. The 2014 World Cup host, Brazil, has been working hard to make its new stadiums energy efficient.

In May, Brazil unveiled the Mineirão, a stadium complete with six thousand solar panels installed on its roof that could supply power to roughly 1,200 households. And on June 14th, during the match between Greece and Columbia, the world watched as the energy efficient stadium powered its first world cup match.

The stadium uses photovoltaic panels that transform sunlight into energy. The Mineirão is not only the first stadium in Brazil to be retrofitted with such a large number of panels, but also the first to have its own solar power facility! Our Energy 101: Solar PV video does a great job describing how photovoltaic panels work.

Brazil didn't stop with the Mineirão. The Maracanã stadium was designed in an attempt to garner the LEED certification (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design). This stadium also has a photovoltaic power system, which can produce enough energy to power approximately 240 households, as well as a roof retrofitted with over 50,000 square meters to collect rainwater that will be reused in bathrooms.

Their approach to efficiency also included modernized hydraulics that allows for a 25% less water use and a new electricity system which includes 23,500 energy-efficient light bulbs. When rebuilding the Maracanã, Brazil reused 75% of the demolished material from the previous stadium, and old seats were reused in other stadiums across Brazil.

So whether your favorite teams win or lose, you can always root for the energy saving tactics of Brazil!