Getting a Fair Share of Solar
The U.S. residential solar sector has scored
a first: during the first quarter of 2014, more megawatts of residential PV were installed than commercial PV, prompting cheers from industry observers. But while such growth demonstrates the mounting strength of the residential solar sector, opportunities for enjoying the benefits of residential solar are not unlimited.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory believes that in some areas of the country, as little as 25 percent of homes may be suitable for a PV system due to physical limitations of rooftops, poor building orientation, and/or inadequate solar
resource. Other hurdles that stand
between residents and solar can include building ownership, easements, and building restrictions, upfront costs of system ownership, and difficulties in obtaining financing.
Considering these limitations, how can residential solar maintain head-turning levels of growth, and how can more residential consumers join in? If only residential consumers could choose to utilize solar energy virtually, generated by systems installed somewhere other than their own rooftops (or their landlords' rooftops). But wait; they can!
