AGRIVOLTAICS: | A solar energy system co-located on the same parcel of land as agricultural production, including crop production, grazing, apiaries, or other agricultural products or services. |
BUILDING-INTEGRATED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS: | A solar energy system that is an integral part of a principal or accessory building, rather than a separate mechanical device, replacing or substituting for an architectural or structural component of the building. Building-integrated systems include, but are not limited to, photovoltaic or hot water solar energy systems that are contained within roofing materials, windows, skylights, and awnings. |
COMMUNITY-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: | A commercial solar energy system that converts sunlight into electricity for the primary purpose of serving electric demands off-site from the facility, either retail or wholesale. Community-scale systems are principal uses and projects typically cover less than twenty (20) acres. |
COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDEN: | A solar energy system that provides retail electric power (or a financial proxy for retail power) to multiple community members or businesses residing or located off-site from the location of the solar energy system. Also referred to as shared solar. |
GRID-INTERTIE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: | A photovoltaic solar energy system that is connected to an electric circuit served by an electric utility company. |
GROUND-MOUNTED: | A solar energy system mounted on a rack or pole that rests or is attached to the ground. Ground-mounted systems can be either accessory or principal uses, however principal uses shall be subject to the application for and the approval of a special use permit. |
LARGE-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: | A commercial solar energy system that converts sunlight into electricity for the primary purpose of wholesale sales of generated electricity. A largescale solar energy system will have a project size greater than twenty (20) acres and is the principal land use for the parcel(s) on which it is located. |
OFF-GRID SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: | A photovoltaic solar energy system in which the circuits energized by the solar energy system are not electrically connected in any way to electric circuits that are served by an electric utility company. |
PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: | A solar energy system that captures solar light or heat without transforming it to another form of energy or transferring the energy via a heat exchanger. |
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM: | A solar energy system that converts solar energy directly into electricity. |
POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY SOLAR: | A solar installation that has been recognized as a pollinator-friendly installation by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, consistent with the Pollinator-Friendly Solar Site Act (525 ILCS 55/1, et seq.) |
RENEWABLE ENERGY EASEMENT, SOLAR ENERGY EASEMENT: | An easement that limits the height or location, or both, of permissible development on the burdened land in terms of a structure or vegetation, or both, for the purpose of providing access for the benefited land to wind or sunlight passing over the burdened land. |
ROOF-MOUNTED: | A solar energy system mounted on a rack that is fastened to or ballasted on a structure roof. Roof-mounted systems are accessory to the principal use. |
ROOF PITCH: | The final exterior slope of a roof calculated by the rise over the run, typically but not exclusively expressed in twelfths such as 3/12, 9/12, or 12/12. |
SOLAR ACCESS: | Unobstructed access to direct sunlight on a lot or building through the entire year, including access across adjacent parcel air rights, for the purpose of capturing direct sunlight to operate a solar energy system. |
SOLAR CARPORT: | A solar energy system of any size that is installed on a carport structure that is accessory to a parking area, and which may include electric vehicle supply equipment or energy storage facilities. |
SOLAR COLLECTOR: | A device, structure or a part of a device or structure for which the primary purpose is to transform solar radiant energy into thermal, mechanical, chemical, or electrical energy. The collector does not include frames, supports, or mounting hardware. |
SOLAR DAYLIGHTING: | Capturing and directing the visible light spectrum for use in illuminating interior building spaces in lieu of artificial lighting, usually by adding a device or design element to the building envelope. |
SOLAR ENERGY: | Radiant energy received from the sun that can be collected in the form of heat or light by a solar collector. |
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM: | A device, array of devices, or structural design feature, the purpose of which is to provide for generation or storage of electricity from sunlight, or the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, daylight for interior lighting, or water heating. |
SOLAR HOT AIR SYSTEM: | (Also referred to as Solar Air Heat or Solar Furnace) A solar energy system that includes a solar collector to provide direct supplemental space heating by heating and re-circulating conditioned building air. The most efficient performance includes a solar collector to preheat air or supplement building space heating, typically using a vertically mounted collector on a south-facing wall. |
SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM: | A system that includes a solar collector and a heat exchanger that heats or preheats water for building heating systems or other hot water needs, including residential domestic hot water and hot water for commercial processes. |
SOLAR MOUNTING DEVICES: | Racking, frames, or other devices that allow the mounting of a solar collector onto a roof surface or the ground. |
SOLAR READY DESIGN: | The design and construction of a building that facilitates and makes feasible the installation of rooftop solar. |
SOLAR RESOURCE: | A view of the sun from a specific point on a lot or building that is not obscured by any vegetation, building, or object for a minimum of four hours between the hours of nine o’clock (9:00) AM and three o’clock (3:00) PM Standard time on all days of the year, and can be measured in annual watts per square meter. (Ord. CO-2022-1, 2-7-2022) |