[MassHistPres] solar panels in historic districts

[Dennis De Witt]

On the one hand there is general pro-solar energy language in 40c, which you should be aware of but which does not trump your right to review.  On the other hand, there is nothing to prevent you from having guidelines related to solar panels.  It is much harder to fend off an inappropriate application with nothing about solar collectors in your guidelines.

Having crafted guideline language it is then easier to disallow panels that are not flush with the surface, or the bulky hot water collectors that sit on the roof like huge skylights.

Solar photovoltaic shingles can be put on in a way that is minimally objectionable if they cover the entire S-facing roof surface, including using "dummy" matching "shingles" as needed.  Note that application requires putting down a set of 2x4 "sleepers" with the 4" side against the roof sheathing so that the edge condition will be affected -- but not nearly as badly as by hot water collectors.  Complex roof forms where asphalt and photovoltaic shingles meet can be problematic.  Ridges and hips may need copper caps and they have to be used constantly not just at the solar/asphalt joints.  And the rest of the roof probably will have to be re-roofed to match to minimize the contrast -- including using larger-scale asphalt shingles that are not of the highly textured "architectural" type.  

It is also not unreasonable to forbid allowing photovoltaic shingles, much less any other type of solar panel, to replace 100 year old slates.

Below are two images from the same LHD.  

The upper is carefully reviewed solar shingles installed about three years ago.  Incidentally the owner admitted that realistically the payback did not justify the investment but for him it was a matter of principal.  

Below is amish mash of solar hot-water, skylights for passive heating, and other panels that has accrued over 20 years through several different commission decisions and which since this PIC has become even more overwhelming and industrial-looking with the addition of a big photovoltaic array that covers most of the remainder of this roof face but stops shy of the edges with a resulting step-down in height because of the sleepers.  (At least the commission required that they all be flat on the roof.)


Dennis De Witt

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On Sep 1, 2011, at 10:35 AM, Roseanne Saalfield wrote:

> A veritable blizzard of solar panels are about to descend on the roofs of Harvard.  I hope to have a focused conversation about this important topic at our meeting next week but would love input from other towns that have already addressed this issue.
> 
> Frankly, I cannot see how historic district commissions can exert any control over panels visible from a public way given that we do not involve ourselves in questions relating to storm windows or electric meters. Much as I personally find the panels often quite ugly (though I support the effort to find sustainable energy sources) and will not put them on the perfectly oriented south facing roof of my antique farmhouse(outside of the district) I don't know whether we have standing in this issue at all.  Engineering trumps all in this case, I feel.
> 
> But I seek to learn ...
> 
> thanks
> Roseanne Saalfield
> Chair
> Town Of Harvard
> Historic Commission
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