Solar - Passive

Energy-Efficient Mortgages

Homeowners can take advantage of energy efficient mortgages (EEM) to either finance energy efficiency improvements to existing homes, including renewable energy technologies, or to increase their home buying power with the purchase of a new energy efficient home. The U.S. federal government supports these loans by insuring them through Federal Housing Authority (FHA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) programs. This allows borrowers who might otherwise be denied loans to pursue energy efficiency, and it secures lenders against loan default.

FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages
The FHA allows lenders to add up to 100% of energy efficiency improvements to an existing mortgage loan

Last Update

2021 Sustainable Building Tax Credit (Personal)

H.B. 15, enacted in April 2021, established a new version of the personal tax credit and corporate tax credit for sustainable buildings in New Mexico. The tax credits apply to both commercial and residential buildings.

Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings which have been registered and certified by the U.S. Green Building Council at LEED Gold or higher for new construction (NC), existing buildings (EB), core and shell (CS), or commercial interiors (CI), and are broadband- and electric vehicle-ready are eligible for a tax credit. The amount of the credit varies according to the square footage of the building, the level of

Last Update

2021 Sustainable Building Tax Credit (Corporate)

H.B. 15, enacted in April 2021, established a new version of the personal tax credit and corporate tax credit for sustainable buildings in New Mexico. The tax credits apply to both commercial and residential buildings.

Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings which have been registered and certified by the U.S. Green Building Council at LEED Gold or higher for new construction (NC), existing buildings (EB), core and shell (CS), or commercial interiors (CI), and are broadband- and electric vehicle-ready are eligible for a tax credit. The amount of the credit varies according to the square footage of the building, the level of

Last Update

New Hampshire - Solar Access Laws

New Hampshire State laws give municipalities broad jurisdiction over solar access regulation. Regulation is directionally intended to encourage the use of renewable energy sources and systems. The state itself creates the forms to declare solar easements.

Note: The 2015 New Hampshire Residential Rooftop Solar PV Permitting, Zoning and Interconnection Guide is an excellent resource to refer to for more details and related information. (Most information is up to date but no guarantees are made)

Section 477:50:1 

Creates Solar Skyspace Easements. Defining the agreement as “An instrument creating a solar skyspace easement shall include, but not be limited to: (a)

Last Update

City of Sebastopol - Solar Access

As a condition of approval of a property subdivision parcel map, the City of Sebastopol has the right to ask for dedication of solar easements for the purpose of assuring that each parcel or unit in the subdivision receives sunlight for any solar energy system. Sebastopol also has the right to place restrictions on vegetation or building that would interfere with solar access. These easements can be required as long as they do not reduce allowable densities or the percentage of a lot that can be occupied by a structure according to applicable zoning laws. The easements do not apply

Last Update

City of Sacramento - Solar Access Regulations

Sacramento City Code, Title 17, Section 17.504.050.I ensures that the Director of Parks and Community Services gives consideration to solar access, to the extent feasible, when selecting and planting residential street trees near residential buildings.

City Code Title 12 section 12.56.100 notes that the city is exempt from the provisions of the Solar Shade Control Act, Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 25980) of Division 15 of the California Public Resources Code. (Ord. 2016-0026 § 4).

Last Update

Connecticut Green Energy Building Solutions

Connecticut Green Bank offers green energy solutions to home, building and multifamily property owners, residential and commercial contractors, towns and cities, and even capital providers. Learn more about their programs here. A list of incentives for each property owner is included below. For more information on the Connecticut Green Bank visit the DSIRE Connecticut Clean Energy Fund program listing.

Homeowners

  • Smart-E Loan: No money down, low-interest financing with flexible terms to help you upgrade your home’s energy performance. Almost any home improvement project that reduces energy use and lowers costs may qualify.
  • Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP): he
Last Update

Portland - Solar Access Developer Guidelines

Purpose: In 2002 Portland created guidelines to encourage variation in the width of lots to maximize solar access for single-dwelling detached development and minimize shade on adjacent properties.

Inclusion: The following applies to lots for single dwelling detached developments created as part of a land division in all zones. Where it is not practicable to meet both the approval criteria of chapter 33 and the standards and approval criteria of other chapters in the 600’s, the regulations of the other chapters supersede the approval criteria of this chapter.

Solar Access Approval Criteria:

All the following must be met:

A. On

Last Update

City of San Diego - Development Regulations

San Diego’s Supplemental Development Regulations passed initially in 1997 but since has had many additions and alterations, some as recent as 2020. San Diego’s Supplemental Development Regulations require that a “Shadow Plan” be developed when it is determined that structures or landscaping within a proposed development may have an impact on neighboring property’s access to solar exposure. This is intended to ensure that potential impacts to solar access will be minimized. (§143.0410 section i)

The Shadow Plan is further fleshed out in §151.0301 – Permitted Development Controls. Detailing that “when, in the opinion of the City Manager, structures

Last Update

PACE Massachusetts Financing

Note: In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has released initial guidelines for using PACE with FHA-secured single or multifamily

Last Update