The CUSP

I was reading through an engineering e-mail mag on monday and stumbles across a new building in France that is 40 years ahead of it's time. Why, it had solar, and a few other alternative energy sources to produce all it's own energy.

Now i'm no genius but haven't we had solar panels around since the early 70's? So how is using something that we have presently, and have had for nearly 40 years, 40 years ahead of it's time?