calculating solar / mechanical square footage

Gita Nandan

principal architect

thread collective

LEEDuser Basic Member

33 thumbs up

January 5, 2011

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Tristan Roberts

Representative

Vermont House of Representatives

LEEDuser Expert

7780 thumbs up

Sat, 01/08/2011 - 00:32

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 Consultant

Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects

LEEDuser Basic Member

29 thumbs up

Thu, 09/22/2011 - 22:11

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.