Condo Solar Panels: What to consider?

More homeowners are making the switch to solar to conserve energy. Condominium building board members, community managers, and unit owners have a different set of considerations for rooftop solar panel projects than single-family homeowners.

Much like an individual home, location matters for condo buildings. “The condo needs to confirm the solar panel has a suitable place with a view of the sun sufficient to produce enough output to pay for the cost of the project and produce some kind of reasonable return,” says Ned Levi, president of the Murano Condominium Association in Philadelphia.

“Sometimes, particularly with rooftop installations, the roof orientation and the surrounding area with potential obstructions is such you can’t get enough sun to make the panels viable, or to configure the panels to get enough sun, the extra cost of installation to achieve solid orientation is such that they aren’t financially viable,” adds Levi.

Depending on the building’s construction, rooftop locations, and general conditions, there also may be problems with insurance.

Levi recommends condos address the following questions before moving ahead on solar:  

• What do state and local laws and building codes say about the installation? What do your governing documents say? Who benefits directly from the installation?
• Who owns the panels if the association is responsible for roofs? 
• If owners install them for their unit only, how does that legally and physically affect maintenance and replacement of the roofs underneath the panels?
• Can the current roofs withstand the weight of the panels? What structural components will be necessary to ensure the safety of the installation and use of the panel? Is the layout of the roofs even conducive to successful installation and operation of the panels?
• Does there need to be a standard for installation design? Should the association dictate a design parameter?
• From a visual and architectural point of view, will the installation of panels detract from the aesthetics of the community?

Condominium association board members, managers, and unit owners should consult an engineer and the association attorney to address the questions above and for additional guidance on the installation and maintenance of solar panels.