June 26, 2010

As more and more people convert to solar power, they sometimes find opposition from homeowners' associations. The associations, and even city planning commissions, sometimes fight to prevent installation of solar electric and solar water heating on rooftops. Apparently there are some disagreements about what is aesthetically acceptable.  Homeowners are winning their battles in court and also in out-of court settlements.

But there are other issues. Safety experts are concerned about fire danger from rooftop installations. There have been a few instances where firefighters had difficulties putting out home fires because of solar modules that could not quickly and easily be turned off. Underwriters Laboratories is working on standards that will require devices to sense controller malfunctions and immediately shut off power flowing into a building. Local building codes will be updated to require emergency switches to cut power flowing from solar panels.

George Rothert