Solar pannels and wind turbines

Started by RogerB • 2 replies • 2301 views

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RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067

Posted:

With Obama's push to green I am looking for input on the following questions. My initial thoughts are included.

Q1. Does your HOA have any specific guidelines or regulations pertaining to solar panels or wind turbines?

A1. No.

Q2. What design issues would your HOA consider in evaluating solar panel applications?

A2. a) Appearance and safety
b) Location on property
c) Who is the installer
d) A copy of the building permit; and a copy of the inspector’s report upon completion.

Q3. Are there any conditions of approval (or denial) that might apply to your HOA decision about solar panel applications?

A3. First is consideration of the Federal and state laws regarding solar installations. The Architectural Review Committee
would need to approve the request and approval would be based on the appearance. Any modification included in the
approval of the request would require consideration of any loss in efficiency and any extra costs and/or delay in time
of installation involved.

Q4. What design issues would your HOA consider in evaluating wind turbine applications?

A4. Same issues as for solar.

Q5. Are there any conditions of approval (or denial) that might apply to your HOA decision about wind turbine applications?

A5. Same conditions as for solar.

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By RogerB on 07/20/2009 8:37 AM
Q1. Does your HOA have any specific guidelines or regulations pertaining to solar panels or wind turbines?
Q2. What design issues would your HOA consider in evaluating solar panel applications?
Q3. Are there any conditions of approval (or denial) that might apply to your HOA decision about solar panel applications?
Q4. What design issues would your HOA consider in evaluating wind turbine applications?
Q5. Are there any conditions of approval (or denial) that might apply to your HOA decision about wind turbine applications?

Q1 No regs at all
Q2 probably none.
q3 perhaps setback from property lines
Q4 Noise
Q5: Setback from property lines, proper installation/insulation of electrical lines (with an eye towards proper battery storage, fire prevention mostly), and noise.

In our experience (there's a lot of wind and solar in our HOA), the biggest difference is that wind turbines can be noisy, and bad ones can generate a bass sound "thump-thump=thump" that makes living near them difficult. Solar is very passive (except for the looks) and stays on your property. Wind energy can impact across boundry lines/property lines.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Roger,

Specific Covenants are on solar panels but would probably not stand up in a court argument. They state, "Not to be visable from the street" Some units face directly west/southwest which is the best application, and those are also the street locations. I would hope that the Florida Renewable Energy Act would prevail in this.

Design issues would be size but newer panels are smaller and can have a different color than the usual black.
(HIstory) My Husband is a designer for S.O.L., Solar Outdoor Lighting, which does commercial outdoor lighting. Huge contracts with Military, Africa and California so I have a great resource for information.

No Turbine could be installed, especially in this part of South Florida because the wind(except a hurricane) is uselessly nill.

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