So … you’ve probably seen rooftop solar on a home or maybe a commercial building, or maybe you have solar on your own rooftop. Emphasis here on the word “own” – the rooftop solar industry has grown-up and thrives on properties where the people occupying the home or business also own the house or building. Renters – that’s over 1/3 of the US population and many of our least affluent -- have generally been left out. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 “𝐠𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫”?
In this episode of Climate+ Podcast, Lincoln discusses the challenges of rooftop solar adoption for renters with Owen Barrett, CEO of Shine Technology. They explore the split incentive problem, where property owners are reluctant to invest in energy efficiency improvements that benefit tenants. The conversation delves into the roles of utilities and government policies, the shortcomings of previous solutions like C-PACE, and the innovative approach Shine is taking to bridge the gap through technology. The episode highlights the importance of financial incentives in driving sustainability efforts and the potential of virtual net metering to simplify solar installations for multifamily properties.