Homeowners Don’t Have To Wait For Approval For Solar
It is important to understand that this new law does come with some requirements. Solar applicants in multifamily dwellings with common roof areas will likely have to notify each owner in the building of the proposed solar installation. If you share a roof with your neighbor, even though you have your own roof over your condo, you probably have to notify your neighbors that a solar panel installation is coming.
Owners who apply for a solar installation through the HOA might also be required to have homeowner liability coverage. They would need to provide the HOA with proof of insurance within 14 days of approval, and they would need to show proof every year.
It is an exciting time for homeowners who want to go solar
Right now is an exciting time for condo owners in California who feel they are missing the solar revolution. Solar is better, more powerful, and less expensive than ever. Now because it is extended to condo owners under the rule of homeowners associations, everyone who owns a condo or a townhome can enjoy the benefits of going solar.
If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years.
For more information relating to going solar, don’t forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.
Answer: The Rule In Queensland Is That A Body Corporate May Not Carry On A Business However Bodies Corporate May Engage In Business Activities To The Extent Necessary To Carry Out Their Functions
The rule in Queensland is that a body corporate may not carry on a business.
However, bodies corporate may engage in business activities to the extent necessary to carry out their functions.
A general function of a body corporate is to administer the common property and body corporate assets for the benefit of the owners of the lots included in the scheme.
Selling excess power back to the grid is unlikely to be viewed as carrying on a business including because any property owner can do it.
Selling excess power to third parties outside the scheme land may be viewed as carrying on a business.
. and then there are all the scenarios in between!
The precise circumstances of the proposed activities will dictate whether they offend the QLD Legislation.
As always, I recommend that you take legal advice on point.
Michael KleinschmidtP: 07 5406 1282
This post appears in Strata News #497.
Answer: Strata Schemes Would Usually Pass A By
In most cases, strata schemes would pass a by-law prior to an individual owner putting a solar system on a common area roof, which would stipulate that this solar system is the sole responsibility of the individual owner after it is installed.
If there is damage to other parts of the common area roof due to the hail and the solar system needs to be temporarily removed and re-installed in order to allow general roof repairs to occur, usually the solar by-law would make the cost of uninstalling and re-installing the solar system the responsibility of the owner.
Brent Clark
This post appears in Strata News #445.
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Solar Power For The Home: Costs
Solar power is capital intensive, and the main cost of owning a system comes upfront when buying the equipment. The solar module will almost certainly represent the largest single component of the overall expense.
Other equipment necessary for installation includes an inverter , metering equipment , and various housing components along with cables and wiring gear.
Some homeowners also consider battery storage. Historically, batteries have been prohibitively expensive and unnecessary if the utility pays for excess electricity that is fed into the grid . The installation labor cost must also be factored in.
In addition to installation costs, there are some further costs associated with operating and maintaining a PV solar array. Aside from cleaning the panels regularly, inverters and batteries generally need replacement after several years of use.
While the above costs are relatively straightforwardoften a solar installation company can quote a price for these for a homeownerdetermining subsidies available from the government and/or your local utility can prove more of a challenge. Government incentives change often, but historically, the U.S. government has allowed a tax credit of up to 30% of the system’s cost.
Project Model #: Community Solar Project
With this approach, individual units can get a portion of the solar systems production credited to their electricity bills. For example, you could install a 50 kW system on a roof and divide up the systems production among all of the units, or those that elect to participate, with each getting proportional credit for the solar energy produced on their utility bill.
Unfortunately, this approach only works if community solar/ virtual net metering legislation is in place. Learn more about community solar and whether its an option in your state.
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Further Resources For Solar Condo Champions
To provide detailed guidance on solar power for condominiums, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources developed A Solar Guide for Condominium Owners and Associations in Massachusetts in 2015. While this guide is intended for Massachusetts residents, it offers useful advice for condo residents across the country. If youre a solar champion ready to start considering solar for your condominium building, this guide will provide you with comprehensive information for every step of the process.
Do I Need A New Roof Before I Put Solar Panels On
Whether you need a new roof for your solar panels depends on a few factors, but the main factor to consider is the condition of your current roof. Your roof should be fairly new and in good condition if youre going to install solar panels on it.
According to the National Association of Home Builders , asphalt shingle roofs by far the most popular roofing material last about 20 years. Of course, condition does not always directly correlate with age, so its important you know not only how old your roof is but also what sort of shape its in currently. Especially if your roof is more than five years old, you should consider having a professional evaluation done on your roof to help determine whether it is holding up well and is ready for solar panels.
If your roof is nearing the end of its projected lifespan or is in poor condition, then you are typically better off replacing it before installing solar panels. This ensures your roof will be able to support the solar panels, which weigh about the same as adding a second layer of shingles, and keeps you from having to pay to take down the panels when it comes time to replace the roof and reinstall them after the new roof goes on.
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Permission From Strata Management To Install Solar
If you live in a building that has a Strata Plan, you will need permission to install a solar system on any roof section Many of our customers have successfully had bye-laws passed in order to install a solar system, however in most cases it has been for homes that have their own roof for example, townhouses. In buildings with a common roof such as multi-storey unit blocks, we do not see many successful applications mainly due to the cost, hassle and legal implications.
The other type of strata agreement we see is in new housing developments such as parts of The Ponds and around Kellyville in Western Sydney. In these areas, there can be restrictions on using a street-facing roof for solar power. In almost all cases we are permitted to use the roof along the side of your house or out the back. If you have a strata agreement it is important to check with your strata management company that you are permitted to install a solar power system.
How A Typical Community Solar Setup Works
The typical community solar setup can be shown in five simple steps:
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Pennsylvania Solar Panel Incentives Or Rebates
Concerned about the costs of going green? Fortunately, there are many ways to save on your solar investment through both federal solar tax credits and Pennsylvania solar incentives. Heres how they work.
At the federal level, youre eligible to receive a 26% tax credit if you install solar panels on your primary or secondary residence. Theres no limit on the credit, so you can claim it no matter the size of your solar set-up. Its valid for installations in 2021 with a scheduled expiration date in 2022, so its a smart idea to add your system sooner rather than later if you want to guarantee your refund.
In terms of Pennsylvania solar incentives, the state permits you to collect Solar Renewable Energy Certificates from your solar generation and exchange the credits for cash. The Keystone State also has a net metering arrangement, which allows you to sell your unused solar electricity back to the utility at retail prices.
You may also be entitled to local incentives, depending on where you live. For example, the city of Philadelphia offers a rebate for solar installations .
Solar Access Laws: New York
New York State, like California, allows property owners to negotiate solar easements. In addition, certain towns and cities in New York have zoning rules that allow for solar access protection. For example, some local zoning rules limit the height of certain types of vegetation that might shade solar panels, or limit the height of new buildings altogether. These zoning laws vary throughout the state, so they may not exist in every town or city. Currently, there are no state-level laws regarding solar rights.
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How Do Solar Panels Work
Simply put, solar panels absorb photons that then tap electrons free. Once theyre free from the atoms, it creates electricity! Solar panels take in light and directly turns it into a flow of electricity to use.
- Solar panel cells absorb sunlight
- They convert the light into DC power.
- All systems need some type of inverter to convert that power to AC power.
- The electricity is then sent through wires into your home
- That powers everything connected to it
- Any excess of electricity produced is then fed into the electric grid
Solar systems are not complicated and easy to understand once you have the basics down. Now that you understand how they work, lets take a look at how long they last
Do Solar Panels Make Sense For Your Home
As you weigh the pros and cons of solar energy, it makes sense to consider the overall impact on your property value. You’ll also want to take into account factors including:
- How much you spend on utility bills each month: If you live in an area that has high average electricity rates, you’ll get a better return on your solar energy investment.
- How much sunlight your home gets throughout the year: Some homes are better positioned for solar panel installation than others. If your home is situated at an optimal angle for harnessing the sun’s energy, it makes more sense to go solar.
- Financial incentives available to you: All American homeowners are eligible for the federal solar tax credit, but many states and municipalities have added rebates, low-interest loans and other financial incentives for their own residents as well.
For many homeowners, the question of whether to buy solar panels comes down to cost. If you want to see how much solar panel installation would cost for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from a top solar company in your area by filling out the form below.
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When Is Solar Not Suitable For My Home
Most homes and businesses in Australia aresuitable for solar energy There are, however, a few instances when a solarpower system is not worthwhile.
Some examples include:
1.Very small daytime power users who only have south facing roof.Generally even exporting almost all solar power back to the grid and collectingthe feed-in-tariff will save a household some money over 5-10years. However, combining this with south facing panels lowers generationin the order of 30-50%. The investment cost of the solar is unlikely tobe recovered in this situation.
2.Complicated roofs with limited space due to chimneys, solar hot watersystems, pool solar heat tubing, skylights or stench pipes maynot physically have the space for solar panels.
3.Where shading from trees & other buildings is substantial, micro-inverters or optimisers will be a huge help, but in some situations, even with this technology, solar systems may not be economic. Your authorised LG solar installer can advise you on this.
4. The roof of your home is made from asbestos. In this case it is essential to replace the roof before installing solar power.
5. Where roof tiles are very old, crumbling, weak or slate and break easy when stood on. Or the metal roof is very rusted. In this situations fixing the roof will be needed beforeinstalling a solar system.
6. If the system has to be installed at a distance from the home and the additional cost of cabling and installation outweighs the return on investment.
Are Buyers Looking For Homes With Solar Panels
Another question to consider when figuring how much solar panels would increase your home value is just how enticing a solar system is to buyers in your community. This is something that will vary by geography, and specifically by local solar literacy. Simply put, buyers won’t be as willing to invest in a solar system if they don’t really understand how solar panels work or how they can benefit from them.
With that said, there’s some data that shows homeowners to be pretty open to energy efficiency features, for the most part. For example, more than 80% of homebuyers say that energy efficiency is a priority, according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report.
Some earlier data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows that homes with solar panels sell 20% faster and for 17% more than those without.
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Why I Am Not Buying Tesla Solar Panels Or Solar Roof For My House Yet
Tesla has plans to make Tesla Energy as large as its automotive business. Read this article to learn about some of Tesla’s recent successes in the energy market.
National Situation
The a US Tax Credit to middle and upper-income taxpayers is 26% in 2020. If you don’t make enough to use the tax credit yourself, you use a company that takes the tax credits and rents or leases the panels to you and passes on most of the benefit. This is scheduled to go down to 22% in 2021 and to 10% for 2022 and beyond. This would be a reason to buy solar sooner rather than later if it wasn’t for 2 countervailing factors.
State Situation
Local Situation
Your Individual Situation
You Need To Be Prepared For The Cost
How much does solar energy cost in Virginia? The cost is made up of a few key factors. First the system size and the type of system youre installing – roof mount or a ground mount.
Virginia homeowners should be prepared to spend between $20,000 and $45,000 for a grid-tied solar system. Businesses and farmers in Virginia can expect to spend $80,000+ depending on the amount of energy the system needs to produce.
It’s important to keep in mind the costs above are before utilizing the available tax incentives and potential grants.
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What Are Negative Effects Of Solar Energy
The potential environmental impacts associated with solar powerland use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturingcan vary greatly depending on the technology, which includes two broad categories: photovoltaic solar cells or concentrating solar thermal plants .
Calculating Solar Power Costs
Once the above costs and benefits are determined, a solar system can theoretically be evaluated using the discounted cash flow method. Outflows at the beginning of the project would consist of installation costs , and inflows would arrive later in the form of offset electricity costs .
Rather than using DCF, the viability of solar power is usually evaluated by calculating the levelized cost of electricity , then comparing it to the cost of electricity charged by the local utility. The LCOE for household solar will typically be calculated as cost/kilowatt-hour – the same format commonly used on electricity bills. To approximate the LCOE, one can use the following equation:
LCOE = Net Present Value of the Lifetime Cost of Ownership / Lifetime Energy Output
The useful life of a PV solar module is generally assumed to be 25-40 years. The cost of ownership includes the maintenance costs, which must be discounted to find the NPV. The LCOE can then be compared to the cost of electricity from a utility remember, the relevant price is that which occurs during times at or near peak PV solar production.
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