121

solar panels and parking lots (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago by GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

61 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Covering large parking lots with solar panels is an idea that goes back decades but in America at least it's an idea that has never really taken off.

What is the reason for that? Is it due to the overall cost or is there something else that keeps Walmart, Target, Costco, Sams Club, Malls, etc. from covering their parking lots with these panels and selling the power?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] aubeynarf@lemmynsfw.com 13 points 3 months ago

in places that have large open lot retail developments, it’s very likely you could just install the solar panels on undeveloped land a few miles away.

why would you complicate both efforts by trying to intertwine them?

[-] jonne@infosec.pub 9 points 3 months ago

Or if you do them on site, there's a roof on the store that you can use first, without needing to do construction work. Covering the parking spaces requires some measure of construction work, underground electrical work, etc that could end up being pretty expensive compared to alternatives.

[-] ChaosCoati@midwest.social 4 points 3 months ago

That assumes the buildings can handle them. A company I used to work for was planning to put solar on pretty much all of their buildings. Until they found out most of their buildings couldn’t handle the weight without significant (expensive) reinforcing. Many of their installations ended up on the ground instead.

[-] variants@possumpat.io 4 points 3 months ago

I've seen a few parking lots by where I live that have solar panels which make great shade. Also a mobile home park that has panels over the mobile homes to keep them cool

[-] Cryophilia@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

That's some really expensive shade to install.

this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2024

121 points (97.6% liked)

Ask Lemmy

26875 readers

929 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Please don't post about US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world

Rules: (interactive)

1) Be nice and; have fun

Doxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them

2) All posts must end with a '?'

This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?

3) No spam

Please do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.

4) NSFW is okay, within reason

Just remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].

5) This is not a support community.

It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.

Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.