Antique photovoltaic panels

Who makes photovoltaic solar panels?

This photovoltaic module was manufactured by Arco Solar in 1979. Installed on my Vermont roof in 1980, it has been exposed to the weather for 40 years. Photo courtesy of Karyn Patno. I purchased and installed my first solar electric panel—technically known as a photovoltaic module—in 1980.

Do historic row houses have solar panels?

Historic row houses often have parapets that block the view of the roof, and when necessary they can sometimes be extended or added on to protect solar panels from the street view. So, the conflict between landmarks and solar collectors typically arises in historic communities with suburban-style houses that are detached and have slanted roofs.

What is photovoltaics & why is it important?

Though solar energy has found a dynamic and established role in today's clean energy economy, there's a long history behind photovoltaics (PV) that brought the concept of solar energy to fruition.

Do urbanists want solar panels in historic districts?

Perhaps no issue pits urbanists against themselves more than the conundrum of solar panels in historic districts. Civic-minded liberals are supposed to be both for renewable energy and preserving architectural heritage and older, typically denser, and more pedestrian-friendly, housing stock.

Are solar panels legal in historic districts?

In historic districts, there is often no specific guidance on solar panels, leaving preservation commissions scrambling on how to evaluate proposals. Often they simply say the rules are the same as for any new roof fixture. But roof fixture standards also vary by locality.

When do solar panels go before Historic Preservation Commissions?

When solar panel installations go before historic preservation commissions in older East Coast cities--where historic districts are mostly filled with flat-roofed row houses--they are typically approved, although sometimes through negotiation and modification.