Any studies on non solar homes around solar homes?

[Sunking]

Heck most people determine that the HOA contract has rules that were written years ago and are now outdated and need to be changed. I wouldn't call it a breech of contract more like adjusting the rules to meet "today's" new standards.

I went head to head with our board when they wanted someone who just installed a new metal roof to have it removed because the HOA rules stated only shingle or tile roofs were allowed. That metal roof actually raised the value of the house and reduced their insurance due to it being more resilient during high hurricane wind. Needless to say the board backed down with a the possibility of a legal hassle.

I understand, I hate HOA's with a passion. I also have no sympathy for the suckers who sign up and buy in one, then crying foul when the rules suddenly do not match there wants. They knew when they signed up. If I were CZAR all HOA's would be crushed and those moneys go to the local authority.

[SunEagle]

Let's see you signed the papers when you bought your home in an HOA and now want to breech contract.

Heck most people determine that the HOA contract has rules that were written years ago and are now outdated and need to be changed. I wouldn't call it a breech of contract more like adjusting the rules to meet "today's" new standards.

I went head to head with our board when they wanted someone who just installed a new metal roof to have it removed because the HOA rules stated only shingle or tile roofs were allowed. That metal roof actually raised the value of the house and reduced their insurance due to it being more resilient during high hurricane wind. Needless to say the board backed down with a the possibility of a legal hassle.

[Sunking]

Let's see you signed the papers when you bought your home in an HOA and now want to breech contract.

[thastinger]

I'm in SE VA and solar is pretty rare here as well. When I went the ARC for my solar pool heater panels I just took the data comparing CO2 emissions from a natural gas heater of equal output. I live in a historic district so I was the first to attempt any sort of solar install, steeply pitched slate roofs and an abundance of large trees generally makes solar power panels a poor fit here but I have a detached garage roof which was a good fit for the heater. I didn't meet any resistance on it and no change in assessment.

[J.P.M.]

I could see the argument that a solar install could negatively affect the surrounding homes, it all depends on the install.

Take this example which I snapped a picture of the other day, only because it stood out to me of how horrible it looked. I wouldn't want to live next to that.

Back in the day, that would have been close to a good example of what we called environmental trashing of a dwelling.

[HX_Guy]

I could see the argument that a solar install could negatively affect the surrounding homes, it all depends on the install.

Take this example which I snapped a picture of the other day, only because it stood out to me of how horrible it looked. I wouldn't want to live next to that.

[SunEagle]

I have come back. Many of you made some really bad assumptions. My argument was not tied to a single factor of home values or values of homes surrounding solar homes. It was the one issue that I wanted clarification on. I suspect that I did more preparation for my panel application than 99.9% of the people that present a solar appear.

I presented at the board last night. Attending with me were almost ALL of my neighbors that surround my house. I had an environmental lawyer with me. I had a ranking government official on renewables. I presented for 30 minutes over about 23 powerpoint slides, along with a written opening. I had printed poster boards with detailed pictures. I presented letters for realtors and studies previously mentioned along with a ton of other information. At the end of the presentation, I was told my a representative of the management company that in his many years of managing properties, that he had never heard such a well prepared and articulated appeal. The entire board clapped. Then an older gentleman, not with the board, wished to speak. He said that he had attended the meeting planning to voice a lot of concern and ask the board to not approve my proposal. He said that my proposal changed everything, and that he urged the board to approve my request.

I was notified this morning that my panel installation has been approved.

Congratulations on you hard work and well planned presentation. I am glad you were able to sway the people in your HOA to understand and agree that solar panels are not detractors on any level.

As for making bad assumptions (I may be guilty of that) it was based on the information that you provided and my experience with people (in HOA or other community based group) who vote against something that they feel will either harm them or reduce the value of their property in some way.

I am still not sure what the concern(s) was of the people in your HOA but apparently your presentation alleviated any fears or dislikes.

Again contrats on getting the message out concerning that Solar PV is good.

[J.P.M.]

I have come back. Many of you made some really bad assumptions. My argument was not tied to a single factor of home values or values of homes surrounding solar homes. It was the one issue that I wanted clarification on. I suspect that I did more preparation for my panel application than 99.9% of the people that present a solar appear.

I presented at the board last night. Attending with me were almost ALL of my neighbors that surround my house. I had an environmental lawyer with me. I had a ranking government official on renewables. I presented for 30 minutes over about 23 powerpoint slides, along with a written opening. I had printed poster boards with detailed pictures. I presented letters for realtors and studies previously mentioned along with a ton of other information. At the end of the presentation, I was told my a representative of the management company that in his many years of managing properties, that he had never heard such a well prepared and articulated appeal. The entire board clapped. Then an older gentleman, not with the board, wished to speak. He said that he had attended the meeting planning to voice a lot of concern and ask the board to not approve my proposal. He said that my proposal changed everything, and that he urged the board to approve my request.

I was notified this morning that my panel installation has been approved.

Well done. Congratulations.

I'd suggest that some bad assumptions were possible, even likely, but most of the posts I read seemed to be responding to the idea that studies dealing with residential property values as they are affected by residential solar energy installs may not be as bullet proof as you seemed to want to believe, and your defense of a position some posters saw as a one sided view. Had you divulged your strategy (which I think would not have been a good idea BTW), or simply written something like "there are other things involved", posters would have indeed had something to make bad assumptions about. I was hoping you were basing your hopes of success on more than a study that a bunch of posters on a forum could do an arguably fair job of demolishing, but that was the impression I took away from your input to the thread. To the extent that was a bad assumption I stand guilty as charged, but I suggest your input has some culpability as well.

What you did took planning, resources and time. Nicely done. We should all do as well. But to accuse posters of making bad assumptions about things they did not know about, or that you did not (probably wisely) mention, and were thus not discussed doesn't seem logical to me. Had you mentioned other strategies - the environmental lawyer, power point, etc. more, there would have been more discussion, pro, con, neutral on those points.

You are now, for better or worse, the solar blockbuster in your HOA. Expect lots of questions.

[carzin]

I have come back. Many of you made some really bad assumptions. My argument was not tied to a single factor of home values or values of homes surrounding solar homes. It was the one issue that I wanted clarification on. I suspect that I did more preparation for my panel application than 99.9% of the people that present a solar appear.

I presented at the board last night. Attending with me were almost ALL of my neighbors that surround my house. I had an environmental lawyer with me. I had a ranking government official on renewables. I presented for 30 minutes over about 23 powerpoint slides, along with a written opening. I had printed poster boards with detailed pictures. I presented letters for realtors and studies previously mentioned along with a ton of other information. At the end of the presentation, I was told my a representative of the management company that in his many years of managing properties, that he had never heard such a well prepared and articulated appeal. The entire board clapped. Then an older gentleman, not with the board, wished to speak. He said that he had attended the meeting planning to voice a lot of concern and ask the board to not approve my proposal. He said that my proposal changed everything, and that he urged the board to approve my request.

I was notified this morning that my panel installation has been approved.

[J.P.M.]

Could go with a reverse tilt although they are not much to look at either. I wonder if the transmission of electricity across state lines could qualify as interstate commerce. In CA we get power from AZ, UT, etc. NC?

I'd think that applies to a utility doing interstate business, but I'm far from an expert.

[J.P.M.]

You may be correct about why the FCC can make a general ruling on satellite reception that it can't be blocked due to interstate commerce.

I know there are some state regulations indicating that someone is not able to "block" the harvesting of solar power (trees or shade from a neighbor). While there may be some local rules, I do not believe there are any Federal rulings that can overturn an HOA for not allowing solar panel installations.

Broadly, the way I understand it, if it ain't mentioned in the Constitution of the United States, it's delegated to the states.

CA has solar access and sunshine statutes as do other states. In CA they try to strike a middle ground. Example: if you have sun 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. on an array when it goes up, you get to keep it. Or HOA's can make a resident modify a proposed array so long as that mod. it does not impeded performance by > 20% or cost more than $2K for the same array. That $2K became $1K on 01/01/2015. I'm still looking for clarification as to the 20% #.

[SoCalsolar]

Could go with a

Could go with a reverse tilt although they are not much to look at either. I wonder if the transmission of electricity across state lines could qualify as interstate commerce. In CA we get power from AZ, UT, etc. NC?

[SunEagle]

A summary of the NC's state solar access laws can be found here, last reviewed in 2012. It does appear that restrictions can legally exist on installations that face roads or other common space.

Too bad. That rules out any single story home where the front faces a city street and due South from installing panels on their roof.

[SunEagle]

Mostly + 1, but I wonder if the satellite issue might be less analogous to solar statutes because it may involve interstate commerce and therefore fed. statutes, not state. Just my $.02.

You may be correct about why the FCC can make a general ruling on satellite reception that it can't be blocked due to interstate commerce.

I know there are some state regulations indicating that someone is not able to "block" the harvesting of solar power (trees or shade from a neighbor). While there may be some local rules, I do not believe there are any Federal rulings that can overturn an HOA for not allowing solar panel installations.

[russ]

A summary of the NC's state solar access laws can be found here, last reviewed in 2012. It does appear that restrictions can legally exist on installations that face roads or other common space.

NC is funny that way. I remember when cell phones became popular. Towers within view of the gated communities (in the Charlotte area) were a real no no. They were the ones with the most cell phones at that!