Solar Where Feasible

Affordable Solar for Affordable Housing

To address NYC’s commitment to 1 gigawatt of solar by 2030, HPD partnered with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and non-profit Solar One to develop HPD’s Solar Where Feasible program. Solar Where Feasible helps buildings optimize solar across HPD's portfolio while building capacity for builders and designers of affordable housing through free technical support. HPD’s Solar Where Feasible program has supported over 12 MW of cost-effective solar since 2020. The buildings will save approximately $1.9 million on their annual electric bills and reduce 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.

Requirements:All HPD projects are required to install solar where it is deemed cost-effective or is otherwise required (e.g., by a local law or agency requirement). All solar must comply with the Solar Technical Requirements and use an NYSERDA-approved installer. 

A Solar Feasibility Analysis with a signed Solar Approval Form is required on all HPD moderate, substantial and gut rehab projects.

• For new construction projects, a signed Solar Feasibility Analysis will only be required until July 1^st, 2024. New tools will be provided for underwriting solar.
• For maintenance-only projects, a Solar Feasibility Analysis is only required if the scope includes a new or re-warrantied roof
• For the IPNA, a Solar Feasibility Analysis is now only required if the IPNA indicates a roof replacement or significant repairs such that the roof will have at least 15 years of useful life remaining. Note that for the purposes of the IPNA, this is a preliminary screening for budgeting purposes only and is not signed by HPD.

The following projects will be exempt from the requirement to install solar: 

• Per LL92/94, projects installing a green roof over 90% of the sustainable roofing zone, projects where the roof cannot support a minimum system size of 4kW, and (until November 2024) certain affordable housing projects deemed financially infeasible by HPD
• For projects not subject to LL92/ 94, projects that cannot meet a 10-year payback using the Solar Feasibility Analysis are not required to install solar.

Quick links (see bottom of page for additional resources and links):

• Solar One's Solar Feasibility Intake Portal
• Solar Feasibility Analysis
• Solar Technical Requirements

Solar Feasibility Analysis & Process

STEP 1: SUBMISSION (3-4 weeks prior to the HPD Design Consultation)

• The applicant (typically the architect or green consultant) submits a Solar Feasibility Analysis, including a developed roof plan, via the Solar Feasibility Analysis Intake Form.
• Rehabs only: If the project has a preliminary solar screening that was done as part of the IPNA, the architect may submit that version if it accurately reflects the project and scope at the time of the Design Consultation. Otherwise, a new analysis should be submitted to Solar One.
  • The applicant may request assistance from Solar One to complete the Feasibility Analysis. The applicant only needs, at minimum, basic information about the building and any new equipment proposed on the roof. This is strongly recommended for teams new to solar.
  • If the applicant has a proposed solar design or specific information (e.g., actual costs) they may use the Advanced Inputs tab.
  • For projects with multiple buildings, fill out the Multiple Buildings tab and submit the analysis. Solar One will assist the applicant to create one consolidated Solar Feasibility Analysis
  • The applicant should consult the owner, Solar One, or the PM if they have questions about filling in the tax incentives or other sections.

STEP 2: REVIEW & SIGN OFF (2-3 weeks)

• Solar One completes the Solar Feasibility Analysis and sends to HPD PM and Sustainability:
  • Solar One reviews the applicant’s submitted information and checks for accuracy and discrepancies, including eligible incentives and costs and may reach out to the applicant for clarifications or recommend an alternative design for the applicant to consider.
• Once reviewed, the applicant and HPD PM will receive one of the following:
  • A signed Solar Approval Form noting whether solar is required, recommended (but not required), or not required, typically noting the reason.
•  For New Construction: Until July 1, 2024, the signed Solar Approval Form will also note if an HPD-issued letter for a DOB LL92/94 exemption may be granted. Note that HPD Sustainability cannot waive the DEP USWR requirement for green roofs, and starting November 15, 2024, DOB will no longer accept HPD's Exemption Letters - all new roofs and new roof assemblies must comply with LL92/94 regardless of financial feasibility.
• The signed HPD Solar Approval Form is the official record of the project. If at any point the solar design is significantly altered or deleted, a new Feasibility Analysis will need to be performed and the revised Analysis will need to be submitted to HPD Sustainability for signature.

STEP 3: DESIGN & UNDERWRITING

• For projects where solar required, the architect will use the Feasibility Analysis to develop a more detailed Preliminary Design for solar that will be used for bidding purposes.
  • The architect is strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with Solar One, the owner, and HPD PM to answer questions about solar, discuss the design, and next steps. If requested, Solar One can work with the architect to generate a more detailed preliminary design that the architect can incorporate into the Bid and Construction Documents.
  • Architects are encouraged to consult the “Solar for Development Teams” document which contains helpful information about designing and procuring solar.
  • The final solar will be developed by the selected installer after closing.
• If the Preliminary Design is significantly different than the signed Solar Approval Form (e.g. different number of panels and/or different estimated production), the applicant should resubmit the Solar Feasibility Analysis, including the Preliminary Design, to Solar One to recalculate the cost and payback.
• HPD will underwrite the solar into the project. This includes the NY-Sun Incentive and solar tax credits where available. HPD will also underwrite 50% of the estimated annual cost savings from solar for rehabs and 80% for new construction.

STEP 4: BIDDING, COST REVIEW & CONSTRUCTION:

• Solar bids must include the full installation cost and note the estimated NYSERDA NY-Sun incentive. The NY-Sun is typically paid to the solar installer upon completion and will be recognized as a construction source in HPD’s underwriting.
• Solar One can assist architect/ owner with the bidding process (for the solar portion only).
  • Solar One can assist the architect in developing the solar bid package, review the solar bids and provide recommendations.
  • Solar scope is included in the plan and cost review package.
  • Solar One is also able to assist with architect, installer and GC coordination during pre-closing, including assistance with milestone payments and the requisition formatting.
• Solar One can assist project team during construction, closeout and completion, if necessary.
  • If questions or requests for change orders come up during construction, Solar One can help owners or HPD assess and/or understand the issues and/or review change orders.
• Solar One can provide guidance to the owner and GC for procuring applicable incentives and ensure that all staff can understand and use the system monitoring.

Have Questions? Contact affordable@solar1.org for free technical assistance.

Useful Links and Resources

• Solar Technical Requirements
• Solar 101 Brochure
• Solar One's HPD Solar Resources webpage includes recorded workshops, tutorials, case studies, and more
• Solar Ownership One-Pager is a resource for purchasing and installing solar on your rooftop
• Solar PPA One-Pager is a resource that outlines Power Purchase Agreements with a third party of your choice 
• Solar PV System Owner’s Guide includes important information regarding solar PV equipment, costs, warranties, contractors, and best practices for solar on multifamily affordable housing
• New York Solar Map is an online tool to help evaluate a roof’s solar access and whether an existing roof is a good fit for solar
• DOB Service Notice has further information about Local Laws 92 and 94, including links to the text 
• DEP’s Unified Stormwater Rule (USWR)
• Solar Incentive Matrix
• Solar Incentive Detailed Matrix
• Coming Soon: “Solar for Development Teams”
• Coming Soon: “NYSERDA Top Installer List”