Could residents generate a little of their own electricity?
A recent Washington Post Future Coach newsletter caught my attention with a piece about “balcony solar” — small solar systems that are beginning to appear in the United States after becoming much more common in Europe. That article is the trigger for this discussion, but the subject raises broader questions that seem especially relevant to residents of continuing care and life-plan communities.
These systems are quite different from conventional rooftop solar. A typical plug-in solar system might consist of one or more small photovoltaic panels placed on a balcony, patio, railing, fence or other sunny location. The panels feed a small inverter, which supplies electricity to the home. The attraction is that the system can be relatively inexpensive and much simpler to install than rooftop solar.
The Post described an 800-watt system that could offset roughly 10 to 15 percent of an average household’s annual electricity use. Depending on local electricity rates and sunlight, the payback period could range from only a few years to considerably longer. Smaller starter systems cost only a few hundred dollars.\
There are important qualifications. Plug-in solar is still developing in the United States. Electrical codes, utility rules and state laws vary, and safety standards are evolving. UL Solutions has begun developing certification for complete plug-in photovoltaic systems, and a growing number of states are considering legislation
specifically permitting them. The Post reported that, as of September 2026, 11 states had enacted plug-in solar legislation.
For residents of life-plan communities, however, there is another wrinkle. Many of us do not own our roofs or exterior walls. Some residents have cottages, balconies or patios; others live in apartments. Some pay separately for electricity, while others have utilities included in their monthly fees. Building appearance, electrical safety, insurance and maintenance are usually community responsibilities.
So the more interesting question may not be simply “Would you buy one?” but “Could small-scale resident solar have a useful place in our communities?”
Give Your Opinion (3 questions)
Please add a comment. Experiences from communities that have already considered resident solar would be especially helpful. Who owns the equipment? Who approves installation? Who gets the benefit of the electricity produced? Have there been concerns about appearance, wiring, insurance, maintenance or safety?
This may be a small technology, but it raises a larger question about life-plan community living: how much opportunity should residents have to adopt new technologies in and around the homes they occupy when the physical property and infrastructure are collectively managed?
Richmond Shreve
NaCCRA Board Member & VP
Forum Moderator