Protecting solar access for residential development: a guidebook for planning officials

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6081782· OSTI ID:6081782

Jaffe, M.; Erley, D.

The purpose of this manual is to show planners how to use conventional land use controls to protect solar access in new residential development for space heating and cooling and domestic hot water. Protecting solar access essentially means regulating development in such a way that buildings and vegetation do not block sunlight and prevent solar energy use by neighboring buildings. In other words, protecting solar access means regulating to control shadows. While at first this may seem like a revolutionary idea, it will quickly be seen that protecting solar access is closely akin to traditional regulation to protect access to light, air, and views. This manual shows how solar access can be protected using existing authority of the police power or by private agreements. In addition to zoning, other traditional public regulations can be used to protect solar access, including subdivision regulations and environmental impact statements. Municipalities also can affect solar access in residential areas by planting street trees with an eye toward protecting solar access for the future. Finally, solar access can be protected by private agreements, usually covenants or easements, which communities often review as part of the development process.

• Research Organization: American Planning Association, Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 6081782
• Report Number(s): HUD-PDR-445
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140400* -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
140901 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
140907 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
AIR CONDITIONING
COMMUNITIES
HEATING
LAND USE
LANDSCAPING
PLANNED COMMUNITIES
PLANNING
PLANTS
REGULATIONS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SHADING
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR RIGHTS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR WATER HEATING
SPACE HEATING
TREES