A Bold Proposal: HOA Approval for Solar Panels for My Home in Cypress, Texas

Q: Can efficiency trump aesthetics?

As mentioned in previous blog posts, we're adding solar panels to our Lennar home in Cypress, Texas.

• A Bold Proposal: Solar Plans for My Home Energy in Cypress, Texas
• A Bold Proposal: Proposed Layout of Solar Panels for My Home in Cypress, Texas
• A Bold Proposal: Proposed Schedule for Solar Panels for My Home in Cypress, Texas

Our home is located in the Wildwood at Oakcrest community, and as such, we need homeowner association (HOA) approval for our project.

Working with our contractor/supplier, Freedom Solar, we have submitted plans to the HOA:

• PROPOSED DESIGN

  Our system consists of 14 panels that are visible from the street (facing South) and 28 panels that are on the side (facing East).

  

  Though locating panels on the part of the roof that's the front of the house is not ideal from an aesthetic point of view, this placement of panels generates the most power based on its orientation to the sun.

  

  Although our home's energy consumption will typically be higher than the standard used for calculations (since we have a pool), for 10 years, this is an $8,020 savings for an average homeowner. Also, energy rates can increase in the next decade.

• ALTERNATIVE DESIGN

  Having been a board member in previous HOAs (i.e., Village at Canyon View, Pelican Bay, Crown Harbor) that I have lived in, I know that an HOA's job is to maintain property values, so it is natural that there would be concern about aesthetics with regard to panels facing the street. With this in mind, our HOA submission includes a less desirable plan where there are 14 panels on the side (facing West) and 28 panels that are on the side (facing East).

  

  As mentioned, the problem with this configuration is that it reduces the effectiveness of the system.

  

  For 10 years, this is only a $6,800 savings for an average homeowner. Since our home's energy consumption will typically be higher than the standard used for calculations (since we have a pool), the loss for us will be more than $1,220. Also, energy rates will probably increase in the next decade which exacerbates the problem with this configuration.

• NORTH DESIGN

  Just to cover all bases, our submission also included the results if the panels facing East were relocated to face North.

  

  For 10 years, this is only a $4,500 savings for an average homeowner. Since our home's energy consumption will typically be higher than the standard used for calculations (since we have a pool), the loss for us will be more than $3,520. Also, energy rates will probably increase in the next decade which exacerbates the problem with this configuration.

As the Texas Legislature has recognized the weighing of choice between aesthetics and effectiveness, Texas Property Code § 202.010 provides HOAs with guidance in this matter:

“The law stipulates that the HOA may designate where the solar device should be located on a roof, unless a homeowner can show that the designation negatively impacts the performance of the solar energy device, and an alternative location would increase production by more than 10%."
— NC Clean Energy Technology Center

In our case, our proposed panel configuration is more than 10.5% more effective (15.53% more effective and 44.12% more effective) than alternatives that the HOA might want to stipulate:

Our project received HOA approval to proceed using our original configuration given that it is the most effective and follows the guidelines outlined by the Texas Legislature.

A: Yes, energy efficiency can trump aesthetics.

The approval process is alive in the lab.