Neighbors bothered by glare of solar panels

[Liberal_in_LA]

Newport Beach neighbors are glaring at solar panels

Newport Beach residents say the panels on a hillside home are reflecting too much sunlight and want them moved to the roof. The owners say that the panels are staying.



Stephen and Mashid Rizzone long planned on creating a fully "green" dream home and impart a legacy of environmental responsibility to their children.

Toward that end, 168 solar panels were installed in May on the back of the Rizzones' hillside Newport Beach home, facing the northeast side of Balboa Island. And although the panels may indeed be environmentally responsible, they are also imparting a lot of glare on the island neighbors.

"I'm all for going green, and I'm not trying to stop anyone from having solar panels," said Bob Olson, who says the porch of his Balboa Island home is now subjected to an intense glare for 2 1/2 hours a day because of the Rizzones' solar panels. "What I don't understand is why in the world they didn't put the panels on the roof, where it would be more fitting with the look of the community."

So Olson is organizing a coalition of homeowners to take action against the project, starting with a petition to have the panels moved to the Rizzones' rooftop.

"We are certainly concerned about our neighbors, and we have tried to respond to all concerns as best we can," Stephen Rizzone said. "We have made every effort to comply with all laws and regulations. The project is fully permitted and approved by the city."

And the solar panels, he said, are here to stay.The glass covering the Rizzones' solar panels is treated to decrease glare, said Rita Edwards, marketing manager for Northern California-based Premier Power Renewable Energy, which installed the panels and has used the same tempered glass coverings on other projects with success.

Olson, who designed and had a hand in building his Balboa Island home in 2005, said he planned his residence with the intention of preserving the "village look" of the neighborhood.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-newport-green-house-20100622,0,1412004.story

[Robb]

1. Barring visual impact regulations on the books, the "community" is out of luck here.

That said, I don't feel like two stories of solar panels on a huge house in Newport Beach is exactly saving the planet. :shrug:

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. They probably have a lil compost buck in the kitchen also. lol

[KurtNYC]

13. they could be fully off the grid -- you don't need AC in Newport Beach

He has more than 4000 watts of capacity. Looks ready for an oil-free world to me.

[hedgehog]

3. What kind of solar panel reflects large amount of light?

[blondeatlast]

5. Depending on the angle, some can reflect a tremendous amount. I'd LOVE

to have solar panels (I'm in an apartment) but I've seen the glare from non-roof mounted ones and it isn't pleasant.

[flyarm]

18. +1,000!!

[Orsino]

14. Inefficient ones. n/t

[blondeatlast]

4. I hate to side with the neighbors, but I do. On the roof, fine. The glare from solar panels

can be downright painful.

Now, that being said, does anyone know how I can get solar in a rental apartment? (I'm serious) :shrug:

[Abq_Sarah]

9. You probably can't.

Even if you have a balcony/patio, there are probably rules that restrict you from placing panels out to capture available light. It won't hurt to ask, though.

[TheKentuckian]

6. Eye sore complaints for renewables should be sent to the circular filing cabinet

Suck it, I sez and if you have the ability join in. The investment will pay for it's self in about eight years and benefit you and everyone else.

[Toucano]

22. I couldn't care less about "preserving the look" of any community.

The "look" of our communities has to evolve with the community's needs.

Right now, renewable energy is a far more pressing need than suburban conformity.


The neighbors who are receiving glare from the project should plant some shade trees.

[formercia]

7. "..a legacy of environmental responsibility"

and still living large.

Give me a fuckin' break.

[WeDidIt]

8. So long as he got all the right permits while building

there's not much anybody can do to stop it now.

[SunnySong]

10. I am glad to see he is being enviromentally responisble...

I'm sure he drives a Prius and has his staff separate out plastics...

I only wish that some day I can reach the level of environmental self awareness as Mr and Mrs Rizzone.

[Subdivisions]

11. First of all, the roof is flat. They would have to build a mega-rack

on there to get the panels at the right angle for maximum exposure to the Sun. The hill apparently provides the angle needed. Also, the 168 panels weigh ~3340 kilograms. That's probably way too much weight to put on the roof.

The Rizzone's apparently met all the permit and engineering requirements. As for the coalition Olson is organizing, they have to realize that all these requirements were met and the Rizzones will have the upper hand short of having the laws and ordinances changed.

If we're going to transition to a cleaner energy technology, people will just simply have to learn to live with a few inconveniences.

[supernova]

12. He's probably in the right here

but I do wonder why he wanted them on the ground and not on the roof?

[SoCalDem]

16. The steep (unusable) hillside makes perfect sense, actually

Putting them on the roof makes them vulnerable to wind, and actually MORE visible, and having them where they are, probably was a recommendation by the solar panel company.

the people passing by on their boats, can just avert their gaze :)

[MicaelS]

15. This just proves no matter environmentally friendly ...

Someone will complain. For decades we have been hearing "Solar and Wind".

Well know we are finally starting to have both, and people complain about turbines killing birds, or turbines and now solar panels ruining their view.

The fact is humanity will NOT be able to have a zero footprint lifestyle. Someone or something is going to be inconvenienced, or possibly harmed.

With crap like these people, and those spoiled rich people trying to stop various wind projects, I wonder why we should even try.

[Donnachaidh]

17. ahh, taking the American belief a step further

A "Me First, F*CK y'all" that's gone Green :rofl:

Can't wait till the panels start popping up in all those wealthy beach communities. :rofl:

[FBI_Un_Sub]

19. I am more bothered by such things as

I am more bothered by such things as

1. The wounded and dead coming back from our resource wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (see Michael T. Klare's books)
   
2. The accompanying Gold Stars in the windows.
   
3. The inability to get Gulf Shrimp and Oysters at my bistros.
   

[roscoeheater]

20. "All for going green", the LA Times loves the lie of omission.

It is Newport Beach. The playground of the rich and famous. 
Nicolas Cage has one of his houses down the street. 
Donald Bren lives in the neighborhood. 
Did the reporter ask their opinions? 
Did the reporter inform you that Bob Olson 
is the same Olson of R.D. Olson, 
the CONSTRUCTION COMPANY?

Yeah, "Bob" is "all for going green" 
but has not and will not.
 
His company website makes no mention of LEED certification, 
nor solar projects, nor does it mention 
"green" initiatives. 

They don't "do" green, they do luxury. 

"Bob" is also a member of the Balboa Yacht Club 
and yes, the sun glares off the sea too. 

[devilgrrl]

25. Great info and welcome to DU!

:toast:

[jp11]

21. I can't tell from the photo but another reason not to place solar panels

on the roof is to have better access to clean them. While I wouldn't want to have a glare outside a beautiful view of my home for 2+ hours, I don't plan on living near other people when I finally settle down. Civilization and communities are about dealing with other people, something I'd prefer to do via the intertubes for the most part.

[Toucano]

23. The Solution: Photovoltaic Laminate

http://www.uni-solar.com/products/commercial-products/pvl/

Made in the U.S.A., too.

[IDemo]

24. That angle looks way too steep for optimum effectiveness

At about 33 degrees latitude, the panels should be angled less vertically, no more than 45 degrees. I know it's a fore-shortened view in the photo, but they look to be closer to 60 degrees or higher. I'm assuming they are facing the south, which would also maximize efficiency.