Green Technology

Started by MattG • 8 replies • 1278 views

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MattG (Georgia)
Posts: 6

Posted:

Just curious what other HOA's document say about green technology(ie. solar,wind). My document say nother about green techology but I have had a few question about it in the past. People want to know what the HOA will allow and what will not be allowed. We are looking to update our Design Standard to address this but I would like to know what others are doing.

TracieS (Colorado)
Posts: 460

Posted:

Hi Matt,

I think you'd have better luck with researching ways the gov't has made it so HOAs CANNOT just willy-nilly restrict green technologies. I don't know if anyone here would really have documents that are THAT up-to-date, which are in compliance with federal law.

How are you folks leaning? Being more exclusive (allowing some things, disallowing others) or being more inclusive (allowing as many things as are possible). Are you talking only on energy issues (wind, solar, drying clothes on the line, panels, etc) or are you also thinking of ways to replace items that are currently there (fencing, xeriscaping, roofing, etc) with more environmentally friendly materials?

How restrictive are your covenents now?

MattG (Georgia)
Posts: 6

Posted:

We were thinking about energy items like solar panels and wind generators. Cloths line are prohibited in our design standards already. Eco-friendly materials that like that original material would be fine in my opinion. We are looking at things that are going to stick out from the norm. We would like to update are Design Standards before a request to modify comes in rather than after. Just trying to stay one step ahead.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Matt,

Tell me, is a windmill more or less obtrusive looking than a clothesline? So far, Georgia is behind in any energy protection acts therefore only your own covenants and ACC guidelines would matter. Solar, wind power and clotheslines are the way of the future so it would be a good idea to address these things while you still have some free rein.

I am a xeriscaping person and my Husband is a designer for a commercial solar light company so we both think alternative sources for saving energy and our natural resources.

If you remember the last 3 years during the droughts when much of your State was searching for water. As I drove past Lake Altoona and saw bare bottom of the lake, that would be a hint that everyone must rethink how you use your natural resources

TracieS (Colorado)
Posts: 460

Posted:

I would take a close look at how you "prohibit" clotheslines, as well. The way I understood it, associations can limit the length of time, the location, etc, but CANNOT disallow them completely.

If I were you, I'd just start researching ALL the ways owners can conserve energy/have less of an impact on the environment. You won't be able to rely on "if it looks like the original material, it's fine with me". See the post about metal roofing. Looks like the original to me, but some communities disallow it. Why? I have no idea.

There are SOOOOO many new and emerging technologies. What if someone in your development wanted to use a stormwater collection (is that what they're called?) system for their landscape watering? Those are ugly, but environmentally sensitive. If they weren't prohibited by my municipality, I'd be looking at them for our townhome association common area watering.

A balance needs to be found. I totally appreciate that you're trying to get a handle on this now, though. It's a big issue...lots of research...

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By TracieS on 10/21/2009 6:40 AM
I would take a close look at how you "prohibit" clotheslines, as well. The way I understood it, associations can limit the length of time, the location, etc, but CANNOT disallow them completely.

If I were you, I'd just start researching ALL the ways owners can conserve energy/have less of an impact on the environment. You won't be able to rely on "if it looks like the original material, it's fine with me". See the post about metal roofing. Looks like the original to me, but some communities disallow it. Why? I have no idea.

There are SOOOOO many new and emerging technologies. What if someone in your development wanted to use a stormwater collection (is that what they're called?) system for their landscape watering? Those are ugly, but environmentally sensitive. If they weren't prohibited by my municipality, I'd be looking at them for our townhome association common area watering.

A balance needs to be found. I totally appreciate that you're trying to get a handle on this now, though. It's a big issue...lots of research...

I think some of the western states are way ahead of some of the others in regards to clotheslines, etc. There is nothing in Kentucky that restricts what sort of restriction on clothes lines an HOA has. Probably the same in Georgia, but I'm just guessing.

Of course, we don't have HOA laws anyway, so. . . .

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Neither does Tennessee but Florida???, they are getting better every legislative session. The SUNSHINE STATE has the renewable Energy Act which allows for most all means of saving energy. Now we need to nudge our Federal government to get with the program. I know that it's in the works but works take soooo long.

MattG (Georgia)
Posts: 6

Posted:

I am completly for green tech. I am trying to have this added to our design standards to allow it here. I sure their will be a compromise with others that don't want anything in my HOA. Thanks for the help everyone.

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Go for the pocketbook.

Our solar panels were just installed last weekend.

My husband has been logging the daily ...

We're averaging a Negative 10 kilowatts.

He's a very happy camper!

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