Our Right to Sunlight
This has been an issue for years with people wanting sunlight to grow vegetables and having ‘discussions” between neighbours and planners for the right to sunlight. This has taken on a new twist with the right to collect sunlight on solar panels.
One recent example from Hunter’s Hill in Sydney has left the home owners both out of pocket because of loss of the $8,000 solar rebate and also because the local planners has just approved a development next door that will shade the panels they have just spent $40,00 0 to install.
The home owner said “The whole idea was to reduce our carbon footprint – we knew it would never pay for itself – but that will now be pretty much worthless. We weren’t going to make any money out of doing this. We were basically just trying to do the right thing.”
The 20 panels cover half their roof, and generate about 4.2 kilowatts of electricity when in full sun – enough to meet the energy needs of an average house. The property next door is being renovated, with an extra storey and a parapet to be added.
Should the right to sunlight be a planning consideration? I would have thought so!
Technorati Tags: our right to sunlight, sunlight, growing vegetables, growing veggies, Hunters Hill, Sydney, global warming
Save Money with Simple and Effective Management SystemsJean Cannon is an award winning consultant and trainer helping people and businesses around the world who want to save money by implementing simple and effective management systems. Sign up to discover how YOU can save money with sensible energy management and ISO 14001.
