Germany: Marburg City Council Approves Law Requiring Solar

[tinrobot]

The times they are a-changin'. The bucolic skylines of tiled roofs which define cities in Germany could soon be sporting a new look: solar.

If the Marburg City Council gets its way, Marburg will be the first city in Germany to legally require solar collectors on rooftops of private and commercial buildings. The goal of Fritz Kahle, the Green Mayor of Marburg:

No south-facing roof shall be left unused.

Kahle further defines his goals for Marburg: "We don't want to save the World and we don't claim that Marburg will revolutionize climate action. But we must chart new territory in order to ensure a future supply of energy independent of oil and gas." The City Council has passed the law, which will not take effect until approval of the regional authorities in Giessen is granted.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/first-solar-city-germany-marburg.php

[LiberalFighter]

1. What's the cost of installing solar and how long would it take to recoup those costs?

[kristopher]

2. Is that the relevant question?

Wouldn't a better first question be, "what is the goal of the program?"

Many policies have a variety of functions, some are narrowly defined. I'd suggest that there are probably considerations of establishing demand to drive manufacturing investment.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Of course it's relevant!!! The residents of that city will think it is relevant!

Money is relevant! When they start to participate they will do so knowing that within 5 years or however long it takes will be the break even point.

I would like to know too how long it would be before my savings would begin if I installed a solar roof.

[Boomer]

4. Must be nice not to worry about money

Much as I support the principles of this approach, most of the homeowners in my neighborhood can barely afford to pay their water bill and taxes. They don't have any money with which to buy solar panels, and even taking out a home loan would be disastrous.

So unless the government was actually supplying solar panels for free, such an intiative would never pass in my US town.

[kristopher]

5. So y'all have about the same range of vision as the average corporate CEO?

And you expect that same range of foresight from your government?

Personally, I want my governement to think about the big picture - otherwise WTF is the point of them being there? If that's the outlook we CAN just let the corporations run everything.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x156725