Solar Energy

The Housing Element of the city's general plan, in support of its goal of maintaining and enhancing housing quality, includes a program on energy-efficient design (Program 1.4). As part of the program, the city will review and recommend changes to ordinances that encourage energy efficient design, will provide education and outreach on topics including solar power, and encourage the use of solar energy systems for all new and existing projects (p. 14). The plan also discusses the importance of energy conservation opportunities, and notes that solar power is one of those opportunities (Sec. 5.5). It notes that important conservation techniques include solar-oriented building design and use of solar energy to generate electricity and heat water (p. 98).