Solar Ready Guidelines
“Solar Ready” refers to designing and constructing a building in a way that makes the installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system easier to do at some point after the building has been constructed. Solar-ready design can make future PV system installation more cost-effective by reducing the need for infrastructure upgrades, ensuring solar technical feasibility, and planning for PV system optimization. Several states such as the State of California, and municipalities like Tucson, Arizona, have already started including solar-ready design mandates in their building ordinances and policies.
Solar Ready Guidelines specify a number of design considerations and modifications architects and builders can make to new and renovated buildings in preparation for the installation of a future solar thermal system or solar photovoltaic system. Establishing a community-specific Solar Ready Guideline document can make significant regional appropriate information and resources available to building project design and construction teams.