A new study out of Stanford University found that individuals are more likely to install solar panels if their neighbors have them.
From Good Magazine:
"More specifically, it finds that for every 1 percent increase in the number of installations in a particular zip code, the time until the next adoption of solar decreases by 1 percent. Or, as Vote Solar's Adam Browning put it: Solar is contagious!"
According to Ben Jervey, the causes for this "snowball effect" include:
- "Social caché." "Call it Keeping up with the Joneses. Homeowners see others putting up solar panels, and they want to project the same green image."
- Information transfer. "It gets easier to find out about solar panels if there are people in your zip code who have them. Neighbors talk to neighbors, explaining the benefits of rooftop solar, and demystifying the installation process."
- "Companies are taking a hyper-local approach to marketing and sales." "It benefits the company to have a lot of projects in one area, so they'll target a city or town, blast through, and move on."
FULL STORY: New Study Finds Solar Panels Are "Contagious"
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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Texas Bills Aim to Tackle Housing Affordability
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions