Solar Ready Buildings and Homes : Planning and Promotion Practices

Solar ready design is important if photovoltaic (PV) or solar hot water (SHW) technologies are to be installed on a building at any time during the building's lifespan. Solar ready also allows owners to take advantage of a changing energy market. The economics for installing solar on a new building are not always compelling, but, in the future, that picture could change with rising electricity prices and/or falling solar technology costs. It is important to recognize that solar ready itself does not reduce energy use or replace conventional energy with green energy. Solar ready does not contribute toward carbon emissions reduction until actual solar capacity is installed. Instead, solar ready has the potential to act as a catalyst for future installations and market expansion by reducing balance of system costs at the time of installation. In order to see this benefit, solar ready must become a widespread practice. This book explores the mechanisms for encouraging solar ready design and construction.