We have received this question about installing solar for apartments from one of our power LookUpStrata readers, a Committee Member in NSW:
Question: We are looking into solar panels for apartments. As all roof areas are invariably common property and there are both good (solar efficient) and not so good areas on any roof structure, how does the strata committee go about defining where individual lot owners can position their solar PV panels?
There have been a number of incentive programs to encourage owners corporations as well as individual lot holders to take advantage of solar for apartments. As all roof areas are invariably common property and there are both good (solar efficient) and not so good areas on any roof structure, how does the strata committee go about defining where individual lot owners can position their solar PV panels?
Our townhouse complex has sufficient roof space to accommodate solar panels for any lot owner wishing to take advantage of solar for apartments. There are however significant variations in the roof’s solar collection effectiveness. This will mandate far more costly solar panel installation for the less solar efficient areas.
Not all owners’ PV arrays can be accommodated on the optimum roof areas. So what guidelines can be applied to logically (and equitably) assign any common property roof area to any one owner for their solar collection panels?
Is it reasonable to allocate the premium collection site to PV panels collecting electricity for the strata, requiring lot owners to accept a lesser power option for their personal electrical needs?
Here are some resources which may assist with your research into Solar for Strata Apartments:
- Raising the roof: Solar for renters and apartment dwellers
- Get in on the ground floor: how apartments can join the solar boom
- More of us are living in apartments. Where does that leave rooftop solar?
- Frequently Asked Questions: Solar Power – Strata apartments and townhouse
- SOLAR POWER – including Case Studies
We are looking for information from our community on this topic. Have you installed solar panels in your building? What is working / not working? Do you have a solution to dividing up the roof space equally? Are you researching the topic of solar panels in your building? Please comment below.
Read More:
- QLD: Q&A Solar panels and strata – which account do we debt?
- Solar Panels on Strata Buildings: ‘Going Green’ on the Cheap Could be Costly
This post appears in Strata News #219
Visit Maintenance and Common Property, Apartment Living Sustainability OR NSW Strata Legislation.
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