Meshing Old with New – Do Solar Panels Belong on Historic Buildings?

Historic buildings are loved, admired, and critiqued based upon their originality. As you stroll through the historical district of a city, you admire the beauty and majesty of the old-fashioned architecture. Whether it is the delicate trims or stately columns, old buildings are nostalgic and draw on our sentimental sides. Furthermore, unlike the many manufactured products that make up new home construction, these buildings are full of natural products from wood to various stones. With all of this classic beauty, it is easy to understand why some may object to placing solar panels on the roof. Although you can’t get much more natural than solar energy, the panels do tend to represent more of a modern contemporary appearance than a historical one.

Naturally, this topic draws a lot of debate and differing opinions. Most environmentalists and conservationists welcome more energy efficient fuel sources, but also appreciate the irreplaceable historical appeal of old buildings. They argue that there is almost always a way to disguise or hide the panels somewhere on the building – on a back roof, or high enough to not be noticed. (more…)

Meshing Old with New – Do Solar Panels Belong on Historic Buildings?