CBS News

In a bid to increase the building's energy efficiency, the White House will be outfitted with solar panels beginning this week, a White House official said Friday. The installation will mark the realization of a pledge made by President Obama nearly three years ago.

"The White House has begun installing American-made solar panels on the first family's residence as part of an energy retrofit that will improve the overall energy efficiency of the building," the official said. "The retrofit will include the installation of energy-saving equipment, such as updated building controls and variable speed fans, as well as solar generation."