This post came from our friends over at Maryland Solar Solutions.

At our seminars and other live events, one question that comes up all the time is, “Can I add solar electric to my row home?

The short answer is, “Yes, but with a few challenges.” Very few buildings that were not designed for that purpose are going to be 100% perfect for solar, so don’t sweat it if your home doesn’t turn out to be a textbook candidate. Even a smaller system can reduce your carbon footprint and help protect you from electric bills for decades to come.

Below are a list of the issues we see the most in row homes. Keep in mind, every home is different, and we can’t be sure how viable solar is for you until we see your home in person.

Space
Many row homes offer only small amounts of roof space. When you take into account obstacles such as chimney stacks or ventilation pipes, this amount of space may decrease. Higher-efficiency panels can help make the most of the space you have available.

Shade
While many row homes are taller than the local trees, the same chimney stacks, etc. that might be physical barriers to putting down panels are also going to cast shadows. Another common shading culprit in many neighborhoods is the rooftop deck. If your neighbors have one, it might be shading your roof too much to make solar electric a practical choice. Even a small amount of shade reduces a panel’s performance exponentially.

Flatness
While the ideal angle and orientation for solar panels in MD is 39 degrees, facing due south, flat roofs (such as those found on many row homes) are fine for solar. Panels placed flat will be somewhat less efficient than perfectly angled panels. The next question many people have for us is, “Can’t you just mount the panels at any angle you want, since the roof is flat?” Unfortunately, we have to take wind shear into account as well, and panels not placed parallel to the roof provide too much of an edge for a strong gust of wind to get under.

On a flat roof, we can attach your panels with ballasted racking systems designed not to penetrate the roof at all. Or, if you’re thinking of replacing your roof, and are interested in adding solar, let us know. We can work in concert with your roofer to add racking mounts into the underlying structure, and incorporate them into the roof’s membrane. This will reduce your costs.

Also, go for a light colored “cool” roof when you replace yours. Photovoltaic panels function at higher efficiencies when temperatures are lower, and this step can make a difference in your panels’ performance.

Usage
The key to making the most of any solar electric system is to reduce your home energy usage. Older Baltimore-area row homes are notorious for lacking insulation, having drafty windows and doors, and exhibiting other problems that contribute to energy loss.

A residential energy audit can cut your bills and your carbon footprint-a good thing no matter where you live!