Solar Panels for Condos

Innovation often means more infrastructure, roads and skyscrapers. As the urban population increases, there is also the problem of limited space to meet the needs of all the inhabitants of a municipality. This challenge has given rise to box houses or condominiums.

This allows as many people as possible to live in an even smaller space than, for example, an apartment. However, as these places are also in high demand, their prices are also higher. Or, you might even say, on the roof.

As a result, living in these confined spaces can be very expensive, and it may be worthwhile to reduce or even eliminate these bills from the total budget. That’s where solar panels for condos units can really help.

A lot of people think that is not even possible given the space and the rules of the condominium. That’s why this article will clarify this question and provide advice to those who wish to opt for this more environmentally friendly option.

Can You Put Solar Panels on a Condo?

The first thing one must ask is whether condominium solar panels are plausible. In general, condominium developers have specific rules regarding equipment, energy consumption and modifications to the units. Is this possible? The answer is yes. In fact, more and more developers are turning to this option.

However, this transformation requires a series of decisions, from the board of directors of the apartment to the owner of the unit through the owners’ association. But once everything has been agreed upon, all apartment residents can benefit from this environmentally friendly energy source. Condo solar panels will require an initiator, a professional contractor and the support of the residents and owners.

The project may involve the entire condominium or just a few willing individuals. There are also micro-inverters, which can be used to supply solar energy to a property without the need for a condominium-wide installation. In the next section, we will review the various projects involving this solar transformation.

Condo Solar Projects

Let’s first look at the ownership of the system. One way to acquire condo solar panels is to own the system directly. This means that you will finance the entire system yourself and reap the benefits, such as tax advantages, for yourself. It also means that you will have to bear the burden of the expenses yourself and obtain all the necessary authorizations and permits to carry out the installation.

In this type of project, the owners’ association and the developer must provide approval. If you live in a 100-unit building, the roof is most likely considered a shared space. As such, its maintenance costs are shared among all the owners of the unit. If you are considering installing a roof, you may encounter many disagreements or inconveniences.

That’s why condominium ownership is the most likely option. The more people who will benefit from solar energy, the more likely you will be able to get the owners’ agreement to install condo solar panels. This means that the costs will be shared between the parties involved, and you will also be able to share the benefits of the renewable energy system.

Members of the homeowners’ association can get their share of the tax incentive based on the money they have spent. However, for this work, the condominium owners’ association must be labelled as eligible under Article 528(c)(1) of the Tax Code in order for the incentives to be granted accordingly.

If you live in a condominium with 5 or 6 units, the procedure to fix solar panels for condos use may not be as complicated as for tower-type infrastructure. All you have to do is convince your co-residents to commit to the project, which is not difficult to do if you explain to them the environmental and financial results of the transition. You also want to involve them in the choice of the solar system to avoid conflicts and disagreements.

Tips for Using Solar Panels in a Condo

So you’re fixated on the idea of becoming solar, but you’re not sure if it’s going to work. There are several elements for a solar project on the scale of a condominium to see the light of day. First of all, there has to be a spearhead for the project.

If you’re not up to the task, you can convince one of the leaders of the condominium association to get involved in the cause, and he or she can, in turn, convince the rest of the members of the association. You want to look for someone who truly believes in the cause and has good persuasive and diplomatic skills.

With the right individual, you can get the support of the group to get the solar panels for the condos project up and running. The more individuals who appreciate the benefits of the transition, the more likely it will have a ripple effect.

You also want to discuss among the investors how the profits will be distributed among the members. You can opt for compensation for the consumption of the common areas, which will allow you to reduce your monthly co-ownership contributions.

You can also opt for a system of an individual connection to the electricity meters, so that you will not have to divide anything up and everything will be calculated per unit. Finally, you can opt for a community-style system, so that everyone benefits from a portion of the tax credits.

Once you have convinced a sufficient number of people (this number can be decided by the developer or the condominium administration), it is time to decide which signs to use. The best way to make this decision is to get a vote from the members involved, so that you can hear their ideas and concerns. Next, you should look for an installer who specializes in the installation of condominium buildings. Since this installation is not as easy as installing a residential roof and may require more panels than an ordinary household, you want an expert to do the fastening.

Conclusion 

Switching to a solar solution is a great idea. It would have been quite simple if you owned the property and had your own roof. However, that doesn’t mean that condominium owners can’t make the switch. In fact, many developers are now supporting this venture because of the environmental and financial gains it can bring. If you want to make this change, you should first talk to your building administration to understand their policy and how you can make this possible.

Then, spearhead or find the spearhead and convince enough people to make the change. Decide together which brand and company you want to invest in, and how you want to allocate credits or energy savings. Once all this is done, you can benefit from a cost-effective system for years to come.