One homeowner posted on Reddit looking for suggestions to fly under the radar of their busybody homeowners association.
"Sneaky solar panel pergola build ideas in HOA neighborhood?" they wrote. "My HOA doesn't allow solar panels. Period. But I want to have solar panels on top of a DIY pergola build in my backyard in a way where it's hard to tell it's solar unless you're in my backyard. Has anyone had to do something like this to sneak solar into their setup? All 'solar pergola' ideas seem to simply be more solar panel on posts than pergola."
It's no wonder that the original poster is interested in solar panels. They're perhaps the best way to shrink your power bill by generating your own clean energy for free from natural, plentiful sunlight. A well-designed solar setup pays for itself and then some, all while benefiting the planet — that's why so many people are using tools like EnergySage to find providers in their area and compare quotes.
However, HOAs famously hate solar panels for ruining the aesthetic of homes and often forbid homeowners from installing them.
That's why the original poster hoped to get around the rules by creating a hidden, stand-alone structure to support their solar dreams. Commenters wanted them to get access to this clean energy technology, though they didn't all go about it the same way.
"Genuinely don't get how the HOA has managed to turn into [a] mini-mafia," one commenter said. "I get best intentions and all but that just sucks when they don't allow solar."
"Solar access laws for all states," said another user, linking the original poster to a resource designed to help them determine if they had a legally protected right to install solar panels in their state. Many states do have these laws, protecting the rights of citizens to access clean energy.
"Go through the process (HOA and local permits) to install a pergola," suggested another commenter. "Make sure it has top braces that match your solar panels' width & height, or a solid roof. Get all inspections done (HOA & local building codes). Then mount your solar panels on top of the pergola. What they don't see, they can't b**** about."
"See if you can get some of that stuff Elon was making his solar roofs out of, the stuff looked like roofing," suggested a third Redditor. Indeed, there are many new products, like solar roof tiles, that generate energy without using traditional solar panels.
If the original poster needs help finding those options, they can look to EnergySage and save money. The average buyer can save up to $10,000 on solar installation by finding and claiming green energy incentives using its free tools. EnergySage's mapping tool displays the average solar installation costs in each state as well as details on statewide incentives.
However, these incentives won't last forever; Solar Builder reported that at least one relevant tax credit could be gone by the end of the year. Acting now could be worth thousands of dollars.
|
What's the biggest factor stopping you from investing in solar panels? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
The cost 💰 
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
More From EnergySage
💡Go deep on the latest news and trends shaping the residential solar landscape
Cool Picks
