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As more jurisdictions reference HERS
<br />Home Energy Rating Systems) or LEED (Leadership
<br />in Energy and Environmental Design) in
<br />their building codes, they will need to ascertain
<br />the extent to which their modified building codes
<br />are in agreementwith their land-use controls.
<br />CONCLUSIONS
<br />The land-use confrol considerations out-
<br />linedabove not only are essential to pro-
<br />vide for future energy needs and as means
<br />to limit global-warming emissions, they
<br />need to be looked at as a way to improve
<br />the local (i.e., micro).balance of payments.
<br />When less money goes to remote power
<br />companies, more ofthat money can remain
<br />in the focal economy. And the adoption
<br />and enforcement of solar access controls
<br />provide the proper environment for the
<br />creation of newjob skills and employment
<br />options for residents. According to a study
<br />by the University of California, Berkeley,
<br />as many as i.9 million jobs can be cre-
<br />ated by zozo. The American Solar Energy
<br />Society's study projects q.5 million jobs by
<br />zo3o across all regions and sectorsofthe
<br />economy, with the largest growth occurring
<br />in construction, farming, and professional
<br />services. After all, like energy management,
<br />economic development is.also an integral
<br />part of local planning.
<br />Unfortunately, few cities orcounties
<br />have recognized the need for solar access
<br />requirements. For those that have, the
<br />steps taken tend to be very limited. Most
<br />cities and counties have limited the focus to
<br />subdivision regulations, and have no[ rec-
<br />ogriizedthe need to also adjustzoning stan-
<br />dards. Even existingdevelopment can use
<br />whole-building solar design concepts when
<br />renovating. Thus, development standards
<br />need to provide forsolardesign options iD
<br />developed areas: Because solardesigri is
<br />location-specific, no cdmmunity's standards
<br />should be exactly the same as anniher's,
<br />though all need to address the factors out-
<br />lined above. Further, even in a given geo- _,
<br />graphical region, there wilt need to be dif-
<br />ferences inthe specifics ofa standard. For
<br />example, Denver's requirements and those
<br />of Evergreen, Colorado, which is at a higher
<br />elevation, will have different provisions.
<br />Some communities have encouraged
<br />the use of easements to protect solar ac-
<br />cess. W hite these legal mechan isms wilt
<br />work, it is more efficient and beneficial to
<br />have requirements that apply to all proper-
<br />ties. For a communityto reduce its demand
<br />for energy, greater benefit will occurwhen
<br />all development and renovation decisions
<br />recogn ize and provide for solar access. This
<br />statement is also true in southern climates.
<br />Contrary to standard belief, even communi-
<br />ties in places like Florida and Arizona can
<br />benefit by developing land-use controls that
<br />require solar access forihe building, as well
<br />as for the solar hot water and PV panels. I n
<br />the sun ny Southern states the peak energy
<br />demand is duringwiritertime cold spells, not
<br />during summer hea[waves as inthe North.
<br />Flnally, as More jurisdictions reference
<br />HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) or LEED
<br />(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
<br />Design) in their building codes, they will
<br />need to ascertain the extent to which their
<br />modified building codes are in agreement .
<br />with their land-use controls.
<br />,, ,,
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<br />Guide. www.wbdg.org/resources/ c
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<br />
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