in calculating the 50% area of a roof to be installed with a green roof for this credit, one can deduct the mechanical area and area covered by solar systems. in our project, our solar array is a canopy cantilevered off of the rooftop bulkhead, and one can walk below it. Can we still deduct this area, below the solar array, since the rooftop will be shaded by it? or do we need to count it because one can walk below it.
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Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
January 7, 2011 - 7:32 pm
Yes, appurtenances including solar panels can be deducated. However, I would count the area under the cantilever since it's really just shaded, not covered by the panels. Shading is not considered a compliance option here.
Michelle Teague
Architect, LEED ConsultantPolk Stanley Wilcox Architects
39 thumbs up
September 22, 2011 - 6:11 pm
If the roof area below it meets the minimum SRI, you will come out better to not deduct the area of your PVs. However, if you have non-qualifying roof areas it is good sense to shade them with solar panels. In my opinion LEED should allow doubling the area of any rooftop solar array, whether it is directly on the roof or an overhang just like they count double area for vegetated roofs. This would be an added incentive for getting more solar on roofs in the south where power is cheap.