[MassHistPres] Solar Pannels on Church

Wed Apr 27 18:00:36 EDT 2016

The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) allows solar panels. The Somerville HPC requires that the panels be of a low profile, as close as possible to the color of the roofing materials, and requires them to be places in the least visible location possible in order to still garner the benefits of the panel installation. The HPC cannot force an LHD property owner to put panels on less-optimal portions of the roof just because they don’t like the way it looks, irrespective of being visible or not from a public way; this would defeat the purpose of having the panels installed in the first place. The south-facing portion of a roof is typically the optimal spot; if that is facing the public way or prominent elevation of the structure, so be it.
The HPC will not allow for a roofline, roof pitch, or roof structure to be changed to accommodate the installation of panels. Very careful consideration is also given to how slate roofs are treated in order to accommodate such installations. Installation cannot damage the historic roof or its underlying structure in any way. If additional support needs to be given to the roof in order to accommodate the weight of the panels, the plan for this must be submitted to the Planning Office and preservation staff in order to ensure that the supports installed do not have the potential to cause other damage throughout the historic structure.

To me, arguments such that something is “the moral thing to do” hold no sway in a determination such as this that an HPC has to make; it is outside the bounds of the determination that an HDC has to make. While applicants can make such statements, I don’t feel that it has any place in an HDC discussion or deliberation.

My position (as both a preservation planner and a member of the historical commission in my own community) is that it would be imprudent for an HDC to deny a property owner the ability to install solar panels. They are removable objects that, while perhaps visually distracting, do not alter the fundamental historic character of a structure. Further, allowing such panels helps show the general public that preservation and sustainability/energy savings can co-exist. Lastly, to deny panels because of how they look further damages the already extant negative feelings about historic districts and their commissions in the eyes of the public. It would further underscore for the public that historic districts and their governing bodies cannot adapt to or accept new technologies and that they want their communities to be “museums” and to never change. While such perceptions are unfortunate, they are out there and quite pervasive. Page 13 of the following document from Arlington, MA, provides good guidelines regarding solar panel installation in Chapter 40C-created local historic districts: http://arlingtonma.gov/home/showdocument?id=9772

We are all very much looking forward to the day when solar energy systems are easily and inexpensively incorporated into the roofing material itself. We know that we have a bit of an historic wait in front of us for that…

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Garrett Laws
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 11:17 AM
To: William Moonan
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Solar Pannels on Church

Bill,

Is there the ability to install a stand alone solar array?

The church might also want to do a little research through EPA (I think) to look at the energy necessary to produce the panels and their parts...there are LOTS of BTU's required to make the glass, aluminum, steel and copper necessary to actually install panels. The church I deal with regularly has energy needs that fluctuate dramatically given the buildings use times that require some unusual thought process.

Knowledge is power...

Good luck,
Garrett Laws
Copper & Slate Co.
(781) 893-1916

On Tuesday, April 26, 2016, William Moonan <william.moonan at verizon.net<mailto:william.moonan at verizon.net>> wrote:
The Bedford HDC is being asked to consider placing solar panels on the Southeast facing roofs of our 1720 wedding cake style Unitarian church.  This show piece is in the center of town on the town common.  The church is framing the argument to do so as being

•         The moral thing to do as it reduces the need for fossil fuels

•         Part of a program to take the church off the grid which includes new storm windows and other insulation

•         Provides money (that would have been spent on power) to invest in the preservation of the church

•         And, if the solar panels ever become impractical, they always can be removed.

This is one of the oldest buildings in Bedford and it has become almost a signature symbol for the Town.  The Church has presented examples of other churches (some in historic districts, some not) where solar panels have been installed.

We would appreciate any comments from HDCs that have approved solar panels or from those that have not.  Your reasoning for doing so would particularly be appreciated.

Bill Moonan
Chair
Bedford Historic District Commission

--
Cheers,
Garrett Laws

The Copper & Slate Company, Inc.
Fine Roofing and Exterior Finish Carpentry
238 Calvary Street,
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 893-1916

 Work we do:
http://picasaweb.google.com/copperandslate

 Where we've worked over the years:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=206210316541901083869.00049065ef8543e1ef9c3&ll=42.40115,-71.126862&spn=0.125241,0.289421&t=h&z=12

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