Solar versus historic districts: a conflict that we need to resolve

Editor's Note: Scientific American George Musser will be on their experiences in the installation of solar panels in the solar home (formerly 60-second solar). Read his introduction here and see all the posts here.

A few posts ago, I spoke about the tragic conflict between preserving historic homes and reducing their carbon emissions. I thought that had achieved our solar evade the controversy. Our panels were mounted on the back of our House in the mid-19th century, far from the street; The city, after some delays, construction Department approved the project;and the city inspectors signed work when it has hecho.Pero two months ago, I received a notice alarming executing construction code city: our range violated the rules of the historic district.

As readers of this blog will recall that we had many problems with our Installer, 1st light energy, and the person who took our project was dismissed pasado.Su year replacement is sensitive and really knows his stuff. Once he mopped up the problems created by his predecessor, inclined to feel all the good ends well - until we reach that letter.

The problem was due to the inclination of the panels, the top edge of one of them was visible from the other side of the street (see picture). Quickly accepted Installer to blame, though I believe that the Department responsible for building some, too. All in all, our permission request had mentioned the inclination of the matrix and the mounting location and was supposed to Department us historical problems have been reported before it issued the permit.

Our people proud things working out in a way not lawyerly, so didn't respond by saying: "approved, so go away." Neither wanted to invoke a recently adopted New Jersey law which relaxes the local stenosis renovable.Estoy committed to our historic district energy project planning. That said, I could not help feeling victim of double standards.In other parts of the city, people have built questionable home additions, contractors have shot down old houses, and then a developer built a mini-mall requiring large numbers of variaciones.Aquí were under threat of removal of our parent due to a wandering panel that won't unless you actively that was looking for.

My wife and our contact at 1st Light were before the city historic preservation Commission to defend our case.Ultimately, that off the crisis was that additional space on the roof, so the installer can relocate the errant panel.Lawyer the utility of the said modification would be fine (not trigger a full reassessment of the matrix), and in fact does not appear to have reduced the power of the system.

However, this incident shows that cities are still climbing the learning curve when it comes to solar to permitan.Para many houses in our city, the historic district dismisses period panels solares.Y that is a problema.No we have the luxury of choosing between environmental conservation and preservation of the arquitectura.Necesitamos both.

Wandering, solar panel before transfer; photo courtesy of George Musser