Just in time for Earth Day, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to put in place solar requirements for new construction: all new commercial and residential buildings with 10 floors or less will be required to install solar photovoltaic, solar water panels or a combination of the two starting 2017.
The ordinance is a key step towards San Francisco’s goal of moving the City’s full electrical demand to renewables. The measure was supported by the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, the U.S. Green Buildings Council, the Building Inspection Commission, and Brightline Defense, a non-profit that supports the development of sustainable environments in low-income communities and communities of color.
The legislation for this ordinance came forward under Supervisor Scott Weiner, who shares: “By increasing our use of solar power, San Francisco is once again leading the nation in the fight against climate change and the reduction of our reliance on fossil fuels,” said Supervisor Wiener. “Activating underutilized roof space is a smart and efficient way to promote the use of solar energy and improve our environment. We need to continue to pursue aggressive renewable energy policies to ensure a sustainable future for our city and our region.”
More coverage is available here. San Francisco joins California cities of Lancaster and Sebastopol, which have similar solar requirements.