The right to the sun in the urban design

Abstract

All the initiatives aimed at removing obstacles to the widespread use of renewable energy sources have costs for the Community. May they be economic, such as grants, reductions on taxation, discounts on concession or town planning charges, as prizes of cubic capacity building. But even in the case of mandatory standards the question of “solar rights” of existing buildings and open spaces during a given period of the year. Remains a crucial issuel in fact, among the various design strategies aimed at energy efficiency standards required, pursuit of those who use solar energy are determined. In the face of such costs created by the public authorities and the legal constraints, the current legislation does not guarantee the solar right in the urban planning. It is absurd to legislate and use collective resources to encourage or even force the adoption of strategies that are based on the solar energy and plan the city with rules that deny access to neighboring lots.